2020 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania

The 2020 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, as part of the 2020 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated.[3] Pennsylvania voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, President Donald Trump, and running mate Vice President Mike Pence against Democratic Party nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, and his running mate California Senator Kamala Harris. Pennsylvania has 20 electoral votes in the Electoral College.[4]

2020 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania

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Turnout76.5%[1]
 
NomineeJoe BidenDonald Trump
PartyDemocraticRepublican
Home stateDelawareFlorida
Running mateKamala HarrisMike Pence
Electoral vote200
Popular vote3,458,2293,377,674
Percentage50.01%48.84%


President before election

Donald Trump
Republican

Elected President

Joe Biden
Democratic

Although Trump had won the state in 2016 by a narrow margin of 0.72%, Biden was able to reclaim the state, winning it by a similarly narrow 1.17% margin. Because of the way the state counted in-person ballots first, Trump started with a wide lead on election night. However, over the next few days, Biden greatly closed the margin due to outstanding votes from Democratic-leaning areas, most notably Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, as well as mail-in ballots from all parts of the state which strongly favored him. On the morning of November 6, election-calling organization Decision Desk HQ forecast that Biden had won Pennsylvania's 20 electoral votes, and with them the election.[5] The following morning, November 7, at the same time that the Trump campaign was holding a press conference outside of a Philadelphia landscaping business,[6] nearly all major news organizations followed suit and called Pennsylvania for Biden, proclaiming him president-elect.[7]

One key to Biden's success in the state was his improvement on Hillary Clinton's margins in the large Philadelphia-area suburban counties: he won Bucks by 3.60% more than Clinton did, Delaware by 4.38% more, Montgomery by 4.80% more, and Chester—which Mitt Romney had narrowly won just eight years prior—by 6.60% more. At the same time, he reclaimed two of the three large industrial counties which had voted Democratic for at least six consecutive elections before Trump flipped them in 2016: Erie and Northampton. While Trump prevailed in the third, Luzerne County, he did so by a reduced margin with respect to 2016; and Biden increased the margin of victory in his birth county, Lackawanna County, which Trump had nearly flipped in 2016. Biden halted the four-election Democratic slide in formerly traditionally Democratic Westmoreland County, where, before 2020, Al Gore had been the last Democrat to improve on the previous nominee's vote share (and which had given Trump his margin in the state in 2016). He also improved on Clinton's margins in Lehigh County by 2.9% and won Allegheny County with the largest percentage of the vote since 1988. However, Biden's vote share in Philadelphia County actually declined slightly compared to Hillary Clinton's, although he still outperformed either Al Gore in 2000 or John Kerry in 2004 in the county. Biden would also become the first Democratic candidate running for president to garner at least 100,000 votes in the Republican stronghold county of Lancaster.[8][9] He also became the second presidential candidate since 1964, the last time the county voted for a Democrat, to get at least 40% of the vote.[9] This was due to the large number of votes Biden received from the city of Lancaster and a competitive margin in voting precincts in and around Lititz and Columbia.[10]

Despite Biden's victory, Pennsylvania weighed in for this election as 3.28% more Republican than the national average. This is the second consecutive presidential election in which Pennsylvania voted to the right of the nation. Previously, it had not done so since 1948.

With Ohio, Florida, and Iowa backing the losing candidate for the first time since 1960, 1992, and 2000 respectively, this election established Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan as the states with the longest bellwether streak still in effect today. The last time any of them voted against the winning candidate was 2004, when all three voted for the losing Democrat John Kerry.

Biden became the first Democrat to win the White House without carrying Luzerne County since Harry Truman in 1948. This was the first election since 1932 that the county voted for the statewide loser.

Primary elections

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The primary elections were originally scheduled for April 28, 2020, also originally joining several northeastern states in holding primaries on the same date, including Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Rhode Island.[11] On March 26, Pennsylvania joined several other states in moving its primary to June 2 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12]

Republican primary

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Even though the Republican National Committee mailed Pennsylvania voters encouraging mail-in voting, describing it as a "convenient and secure” option, most Republicans expressed opposition to the prospect. Earlier, the Republican-controlled House blocked a proposal to mail every Pennsylvanian a mail-in ballot application. This was in response to President Trump's skepticism of the practice, expressing concern mail-in voting may result in voter fraud that would potentially benefit the Democratic Party.[13]

2020 Pennsylvania Republican presidential primary[14]
CandidateVotes%Delegates[15]
Donald Trump1,053,61692.1%34
Bill Weld69,4276.1%0
Rocky De La Fuente20,4561.8%0
Total1,143,499100%34

Trump was declared the winner in the Republican primary, and received all of the state's 34 pledged delegates to the 2020 Republican National Convention (the state also has 54 unpledged delegates).[15]

Democratic primary

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2020 Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary[16]
CandidateVotes%Delegates[17]
Joe Biden1,264,62479.26151
Bernie Sanders (withdrawn)287,83418.0435
Tulsi Gabbard (withdrawn)43,0502.70
Total1,595,508100%186

Green Caucus

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The Green Caucus was held during April 2020 and was won by Howie Hawkins.[18]

General election

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Final predictions

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SourceRanking
The Cook Political Report[19]Lean D (flip)
Inside Elections[20]Lean D (flip)
Sabato's Crystal Ball[21]Lean D (flip)
Politico[22]Lean D (flip)
RCP[23]Tossup
Niskanen[24]Likely D (flip)
CNN[25]Lean D (flip)
The Economist[26]Likely D (flip)
CBS News[27]Lean D (flip)
270towin[28]Lean D (flip)
ABC News[29]Lean D (flip)
NPR[30]Lean D (flip)
NBC News[31]Lean D (flip)
538[32]Likely D (flip)

Polling

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Graphical summary

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Aggregate polls

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Source of poll
aggregation
Dates
administered
Dates
updated
Joe
Biden

Democratic
Donald
Trump

Republican
Other/
Undecided
[a]
Margin
270 to WinOctober 22 – November 2, 2020November 3, 202049.4%45.7%4.9%Biden +3.7
Real Clear PoliticsOctober 29 – November 2, 2020November 3, 202048.7%47.5%3.8%Biden +1.2
FiveThirtyEightuntil November 2, 2020November 3, 202050.2%45.6%4.2%Biden +4.6
Average49.4%46.3%4.3%Biden +3.1

2020 polls

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Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size[b]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump

Republican
Joe
Biden

Democratic
Jo
Jorgensen

Libertarian
Howie
Hawkins

Green
OtherUndecided
Susquehanna Polling & Research Inc.Nov 1–2499 (LV)± 4.3%49%[c]48%1%-0%[d]0%
SurveyMonkey/AxiosOct 20 – Nov 26,045 (LV)± 2%47%[e]52%--
Pulse Opinion Research/Rasmussen ReportsOct 31 – Nov 1800 (LV)± 3.5%47%[c]50%--1%[f]
Research Co.Oct 31 – Nov 1450 (LV)± 4.6%46%52%--2%[g]4%
AYTM/AspirationOct 30 – Nov 1340 (LV)49%51%--
Change Research/CNBCOct 29 – Nov 1699 (LV)± 3.71%46%50%2%-2%
Marist College/NBCOct 29 – Nov 1772 (LV)± 4.4%46%51%--1%2%
Monmouth UniversityOct 28 – Nov 1502(RV)± 4.4%45%50%1%-0%[h]4%
502 (LV)44%[i]51%--
45%[j]50%--
Swayable Archived November 13, 2020, at the Wayback MachineOct 27 – Nov 11,107 (LV)± 3.9%48%50%2%-
Data for ProgressOct 27 – Nov 11,417 (LV)± 2.6%45%52%2%0%0%[k]
Ipsos/ReutersOct 27 – Nov 1673 (LV)± 4.3%45%[l]51%1%1%2%[m]
44%[n]51%--3%[o]2%
46%[p]52%--2%[q]
TrafalgarOct 30–311,062 (LV)± 2.93%48%46%2%-1%[r]4%
Frederick Polls/Compete Everywhere[A]Oct 30–31879 (LV)± 3%48%52%--
Insider Advantage/Center for American Greatness[permanent dead link][B]Oct 30–31500 (LV)± 4.4%48.7%47.4%1.3%-2.6%
Siena College/NYT UpshotOct 26–311,862 (LV)± 2.4%43%49%2%-0%[s]5%[t]
Morning ConsultOct 22–312,686 (LV)± 2%43%52%--
Emerson CollegeOct 29–30823 (LV)± 3.3%47%[c]52%--2%[g]
AtlasIntelOct 29–30672 (LV)± 4%50%49%--2%
Targoz Market Research/PollSmartOct 25–30998 (LV)42%56%--2%[u]
Public Policy Polling/American Bridge PAC[C]Oct 28–291,012 (V)45%52%--3%
Redfield & Wilton StrategiesOct 26–292,125 (LV)45%50%1%-1%3%
Harvard-Harris/The HillOct 26–29901 (LV)46%51%--3%
ABC/Washington PostOct 24–29824 (LV)± 4%44%51%3%-0%[v]1%
Muhlenberg College/Morning CallOct 23–28419 (LV)± 5.5%44%49%--4%[w]2%
SurveyMonkey/AxiosOct 1–2810,599 (LV)± 1.5%46%52%---
RMG Research/PoliticalIQ Archived October 29, 2020, at the Wayback MachineOct 25–27800 (LV)± 3.5%45%[l]51%--2%2%
44%[x]52%--2%2%
47%[y]49%--2%2%
Quinnipiac UniversityOct 23–271,324 (LV)± 2.7%44%51%--1%[r]4%
SwayableOct 23–26491 (LV)± 6%46%52%2%-
Civiqs/Daily KosOct 23–261,145 (LV)± 3%45%52%--2%[g]1%
Ipsos/ReutersOct 20–26655 (LV)± 4.4%44%[l]51%3%0%1%[z]
45%[n]50%--3%[o]2%
Insider Advantage/Center for American Greatness[B]Oct 25400 (LV)± 4.9%48.5%45.5%3.3%-2.8%
Trafalgar GroupOct 24–251,076 (LV)± 2.91%48%48%2%-1%[r]1%
Wick SurveysOct 24–251,000 (LV)± 3.1%49%47%--
Franklin & Marshall CollegeOct 19–25558 (LV)± 5%44%50%2%-1%[aa]3%
Univision/University of Houston/Latino
Decisions/North Star Opinion Research
Oct 17–25723 (RV)± 3.64%45%50%--3%[ab]2%
Gravis MarketingOct 23602 (LV)± 4%44%51%--5%
Public Policy Polling/American Bridge PAC[D]Oct 21–22980 (V)46%51%--4%
Civiqs/Dan HopkinsOct 17–211,577 (A)3%46%52%--2%
YouGov/University of Wisconsin-MadisonOct 13–21669 (LV)± 4.45%44%52%--3%[ac]
Citizen DataOct 17–201,000 (LV)± 3.1%39%44%9%0%1%7%
CNN/SSRS[permanent dead link]Oct 15–20843 (LV)± 4%43%53%2%-1%[ad]1%
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Archived November 3, 2020, at the Wayback MachineOct 13–20416 (LV)± 5.5%44%51%--2%[ae]4%
Morning ConsultOct 11–202,563 (LV)± 1.9%43%52%--
Fox NewsOct 18–191,045 (LV)± 3%45%50%1%-1%[af]2%
Pulse Opinion Research/Rasmussen ReportsOct 18–19800 (LV)± 3.5%47%50%--2%[q]3%
Quinnipiac UniversityOct 16–191,241 (LV)± 2.8%43%51%--1%[r]5%
Change Research/CNBCOct 16–19574 (LV)[ag]47%49%--
Suffolk University/USA Today[1]Oct 15–19500 (LV)± 4.4%42%49%1%-4%[ah]4%
Ipsos/ReutersOct 13–19653 (LV)± 4.4%45%[l]49%2%0%3%[ai]
45%[n]49%--3%[o]4%
Trafalgar Group/Restoration PAC[E]Oct 13–151,041 (LV)± 2.96%46%48%3%-2%[g]2%
HarrisX/The HillOct 12–151,289 (LV)46%51%--
Insider Advantage/Center for American Greatness Archived October 17, 2020, at the Wayback Machine[B]Oct 12–13400 (LV)± 4.9%43%46%2%-9%
Redfield & Wilton StrategiesOct 10–131,289 (LV)43%[ag]51%1%0%
Trafalgar GroupOct 10–121,034 (LV)± 2.97%45%47%3%-3%[ab]2%
RMG Research/PoliticalIQ Archived October 14, 2020, at the Wayback MachineOct 7–12800 (LV)43%[l]49%1%1%6%
42%[x]50%1%1%6%
45%[y]47%1%1%6%
Civiqs/Rust Belt Rising[F]Oct 8–11600 (LV)± 4.2%45%52%--2%[g]1%
Ipsos/ReutersOct 6–11622 (LV)± 4.5%45%[l]51%1%0%2%[aj]
44%[n]51%--1%[ak]4%
Morning ConsultOct 2–112,610 (LV)± 1.9%44%52%--
Redfield & Wilton StrategiesOct 9–101,145 (LV)44%[ag]49%1%-
Whitman Insight StrategiesOct 5–9517 (LV)± 4.3%46%51%--1%[r]3%
Baldwin Wallace UniversitySep 30 – Oct 81,140 (LV)± 3.1%45%50%1%0%0%[al]4%
YouGov/CCES Archived November 1, 2020, at the Wayback MachineSep 29 – Oct 72,703 (LV)44%52%--
Redfield & Wilton StrategiesOct 4–6927 (LV)± 3.22%42%49%1%-1%[am]7%
Emerson CollegeOct 4–5688 (LV)± 3.7%47%[c]51%--2%[g]
Quinnipiac UniversityOct 1–51,211 (LV)± 2.8%41%54%--1%[r]3%
Ipsos/ReutersSep 29 – Oct 5605 (LV)± 4.5%45%50%--2%[an]3%
Change Research/CNBCOct 2–4468 (LV)46%50%--
Monmouth UniversitySep 30 – Oct 4500 (RV)± 4.4%42%54%1%-0%[h]2%
500 (LV)43%[i]54%--
45%[j]53%--
YouGov/CBSSep 30 – Oct 21,287 (LV)± 3.2%44%51%--2%[ao]5%
Siena College/NYT UpshotSep 30 – Oct 2706 (LV)± 4.1%42%49%3%-0%[s]5%[t]
SurveyMonkey/AxiosSep 1–304,613 (LV)46%52%--2%
ABC News/Washington PostSep 21–26567 (LV)± 5.0%45%54%--0%[ap]1%
Siena College/NYT UpshotSep 25–27711 (LV)± 4.3%40%49%2%-0%[s]8%[t]
TIPP/The FederalistSep 24–26774 (LV)± 3.6%45%50%--1%[aq]4%
Redfield & Wilton StrategiesSep 23–251,015 (LV)± 3.08%44%50%0%1%[am]5%
Fox NewsSep 20–23856 (LV)± 3%44%51%2%1%[af]2%
910 (RV)± 3%43%51%2%2%[ar]3%
Baldwin Wallace UniversitySep 9–221,012 (LV)± 3.6%45%47%2%0%1%[as]5%
Trafalgar Group/Restoration PAC[E]Sep 18–211,006 (LV)± 2.99%46%48%1%1%2%[g]2%
YouGov/UW-Madison Elections Research
Center/Wisconsin State Journal
Sep 10–21642 (LV)45%49%--
Change Research/CNBCSep 18–20579 (LV)45%49%--
Franklin & Marshall CollegeSep 14–20480 (LV)± 7.8%42%48%--
Hart Research Associates/Human Rights Campaign[permanent dead link][G]Sep 17–19400 (LV)± 4.9%42%53%--
CPEC[H]Sep 15–17830 (LV)± 2.3%45%50%--1%[at]4%
Trafalgar Group (R)Sep 15–171,006 (LV)± 2.99%45%47%2%1%2%[g]2%
Ipsos/ReutersSep 11–16611 (LV)± 4.5%46%49%--2%[an]4%
Civiqs/Rust Belt Rising[F]Sep 11–15704 (RV)± 4.4%45%52%--1%[r]2%
Redfield & Wilton StrategiesSep 12–141,036 (LV)± 3.04%44%49%1%1%0%[au]5%
Climate NexusSep 8–11659 (RV)± 4%43%48%--3%[av]6%
Benenson Strategy Group/GS Strategy Group/AARPAug 28 – Sep 81,600 (LV)± 2.5%46%49%--1%[aw]4%
Marist College/NBC NewsAug 31 – Sep 7771 (LV)± 4.4%44%53%--1%2%
Morning ConsultAug 29 – Sep 72,227 (LV)± (2%–4%)45%[ax]50%--
Change Research/CNBCSep 4–6829 (LV)46%50%--4%[ay]
TargetSmart Archived October 4, 2020, at the Wayback MachineSep 3–6835 (LV)± 3.4%44%51%--3%3%
Susquehanna Polling & Research Inc.Aug 26 – Sep 4498 (LV)± 4.3%42%44%--6%[az]7%
Redfield & Wilton StrategiesAug 30 – Sep 31,053 (LV)± 3.02%43%48%1%1%1%[am]7%
Quinnipiac Archived September 3, 2020, at the Wayback MachineAug 28 – Sep 11,235 (LV)± 3%44%52%--1%[r]3%
ALG Research/Progressive Policy Institute[I]Aug 26 – Sep 1500 (LV)44%50%--
Monmouth UniversityAug 28–31400 (RV)± 4.9%45%49%2%0%1%[ba]4%
400 (LV)46%[bb]49%--2%3%
47%[bc]48%--2%3%
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC[E]Aug 26–31600 (LV)45%51%--4%
SurveyMonkey/AxiosAug 1–313,531 (LV)45%53%--2%
Morning ConsultAug 21–302,158 (LV)± (2%–4%)45%49%--
Pulse Opinion Research/Rasmussen ReportsAug 25–271,000 (LV)± 3%48%[bd]48%--4%[be]
GQR Research/Unite the Country PAC[J]Aug 20–24971 (LV)± 4.4%43%52%--5%
Franklin & Marshall CollegeAug 17–24681 (RV)± 5.2%42%[c]50%--3%[bf]7%
Change Research/CNBCAug 21–23984 (LV)46%49%--
Global Strategy Group/Climate Power 2020
/League of Conservation Voters/Sierra Club
[K]
Aug 13–19801 (RV)± 3.5%42%[l]50%2%1%5%
43%[bg]53%--4%
Redfield and Wilton StrategiesAug 16–171,006 (LV)± 3.1%41%48%1%1%1%[am]8%
Civiqs/Rust Belt Rising[F]Aug 13–17617 (RV)44%51%--3%[ab]1%
Muhlenberg College/Morning CallAug 11–17416 (LV)± 5.5%45%49%--3%[bh]3%
Morning ConsultAug 7–161,777 (LV)± (2%–4%)44%50%--
Emerson CollegeAug 8–10843 (LV)± 3.8%47%[bi]53%--
Change Research/CNBCAug 7–9456 (RV)44%48%--
YouGov/CBSAug 4–71,211 (LV)± 3.7%43%49%--3%[bj]5%
OnMessage Inc./Heritage Action[L]Aug 2–4400 (LV)± 4.7%46%50%--4%
YouGov/University of Wisconsin-MadisonJul 27 – Aug 6742 (RV)± 4.9%41%50%--2%[bk]5%
SurveyMonkey/AxiosJul 1–314,208 (LV)48%50%--2%
Change Research/CNBC[2]Jul 24–26382 (LV)46%48%--
Franklin & Marshall CollegeJul 20–26667 (RV)± 5.5%41%50%--2%[q]6%
Morning ConsultJul 17–262,092 (LV)± 2.1%42%50%--
Gravis Marketing[3]Jul 22–241,006 (RV)± 3.1%45%48%--8%
Zogby AnalyticsJul 21–23809 (RV)± 3.4%43%44%4%2%-8%
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC[E]Jul 17–22600 (LV)45%51%--5%
Redfield & Wilton StrategiesJul 19–211,016 (LV)41%48%1%0%2%[bl]8%
Fox NewsJul 18–20793 (RV)± 3.5%39%50%--5%[bm]6%
Pulse Opinion Research/Rasmussen Reports/American Greatness PAC Archived July 31, 2020, at the Wayback Machine[B]Jul 15–16750 (LV)± 4%46%51%--2%[q]1%
Spry Strategies/American Principles Project[M]Jul 11–16700 (LV)± 3.7%48%47%--5%
Monmouth UniversityJul 9–13401 (RV)± 4.9%40%53%--3%[bn]4%
401 (LV)42%[bb]52%--3%3%
44%[bc]51%--2%3%
Change Research/CNBCJul 10–12743 (LV)42%50%--
Trafalgar GroupJun 29 – Jul 21,062 (LV)± 2.92%43%48%--6%[bo]3%
SurveyMonkey/AxiosJun 8–302,184 (LV)48%50%--2%
Change Research/CNBCJun 26–28760 (LV)[ag]44%50%--
Susquehanna Polling/Fox 43Jun 15–23715 (LV)41%46%--5%8%
Redfield & Wilton StrategiesJun 14–161,125 (LV)± 2.92%39%49%1%1%1%[bp]9%
Siena College/NYT UpshotJun 8–16651 (RV)± 4.2%40%50%--3%[bq]6%
Change Research/CNBCJun 12–14491 (LV)[ag]46%49%--3%[br]
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC[E]Jun 8–11600 (LV)± 4.0%42%54%--4%
Civiqs/Dan HopkinsJun 6–111,221 (A)3.6%46%49%--5%
Civiqs/Dan HopkinsMay 30 – Jun 22,045 (A)2.4%46%49%--5%
Change Research/CNBCMay 29–31579 (LV)[ag]50%46%--2%2%
Morning ConsultMay 17–262,120 (LV)44%[ag]48%--
Redfield & Wilton StrategiesMay 10–14963 (LV)± 3.2%39%48%--2%[bs]11%
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC[E]May 9–13600 (LV)± 3.0%51%46%--4%
Harper Polling (R) Archived May 1, 2020, at the Wayback MachineApr 21–26644 (LV)± 3.9%43%49%--8%
Public Policy Polling[N]Apr 20–211,251 (RV)44%51%--5%
Fox NewsApr 18–21803 (RV)± 3.5%42%50%--
IpsosApr 15–20578 (RV)± 5.0%40%46%--
Susquehanna Research/Fox 43Apr 14–20693 (LV)42%48%--
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC[E]Apr 16–18600 (RV)± 3.0%47%47%--6%
Civiqs/Dan HopkinsApr 4–81,912 (A)2.5%47%47%--6%
Baldwin Wallace University Great LakesMar 17–25973 (RV)± 3.9%47%45%--9%
Change ResearchMar 21–23510 (LV)50%47%--4%
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC[E]Mar 19–21600 (RV)47%45%--
Civiqs/Dan HopkinsMar 14–181,589 (A)2.7%48%46%--6%
YouGov/Yahoo NewsMar 6–8725 (RV)40%46%--5%[bt]8%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived December 9, 2019, at the Wayback MachineMar 5–7533 (RV)± 5.3%45%44%--
Civiqs/Dan HopkinsFeb 27 – Mar 32,462 (A)2.2%48%46%--7%
Muhlenberg College/Morning CallFeb 12–20424 (RV)± 5.5%47%47%--2%4%
YouGovFeb 11–201,171 (RV)± 4.0%45%46%--
Quinnipiac University Archived May 13, 2020, at the Wayback MachineFeb 12–18849 (RV)± 3.4%42%50%--6%[bu]3%
Expedition Strategies/Progressive Policies InstituteFeb 6–18500 (RV)42%47%--11%

2017–2019 polls

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Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size[b]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump

Republican
Joe
Biden

Democratic
OtherUndecided
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived December 9, 2019, at the Wayback MachineDec 3–5, 2019598 (LV)± 4.3%45%41%8%[bv]6%[t]
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Archived November 14, 2019, at the Wayback MachineNov 4–9, 2019410 (RV)± 6.0%43%52%4%2%
Siena College/NYT UpshotOct 13–25, 2019661 (LV)± 4.4%45%46%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived September 12, 2019, at the Wayback MachineSep 7–9, 2019527 (LV)± 4.2%41%45%14%
Firehouse Strategies/ØptimusJun 11–13, 2019565 (LV)± 4.2%42%43%15%
Quinnipiac UniversityMay 9–14, 2019978 (RV)± 4.2%42%53%1%3%
WPA IntelligenceApr 27–30, 2019200 (LV)± 6.9%45%46%8%
Emerson College Archived April 20, 2019, at the Wayback MachineMar 26–28, 2019808 (RV)± 3.4%45%55%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived April 3, 2019, at the Wayback MachineMar 19–21, 2019632 (LV)± 4.0%43%50%4%


Former candidates and hypothetical polling

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Former candidates

Donald Trump vs. Michael Bloomberg

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size[b]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Michael
Bloomberg (D)
OtherUndecided
Muhlenberg College/Morning CallFeb 12–20, 2020424 (RV)± 5.5 %48%45%2%5%
Quinnipiac University Archived May 13, 2020, at the Wayback MachineFeb 12–18, 2020849 (RV)±3.4%42%48%6%[bw]3%
Expedition Strategies/Progressive Policies InstituteFeb 6–18, 2020500 (RV)39%48%13%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived December 9, 2019, at the Wayback MachineDec 3–5, 2019598 (LV)± 4.3%45%41%9%[bx]5%

Donald Trump vs. Pete Buttigieg

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size[b]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Pete
Buttigieg (D)
OtherUndecided
Muhlenberg College/Morning CallFeb 12–20, 2020424 (RV)± 5.5 %46%45%3%5%
Expedition Strategies/Progressive Policies InstituteFeb 6–18, 2020500 (RV)40%46%14%
YouGovFeb 11–20, 20201,171 (RV)±4.0%44%44%
Quinnipiac University Archived May 13, 2020, at the Wayback MachineFeb 12–18, 2020849 (RV)±3.4%43%47%8%[by]2%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived December 9, 2019, at the Wayback MachineDec 3–5, 2019598 (LV)± 4.3%46%40%7%[bz]7%[t]
Firehouse Strategies/ØptimusJun 11–13, 2019565 (LV)± 4.2%45%32%23%
Quinnipiac UniversityMay 9–14, 2019978 (RV)± 4.2%44%45%4%6%

Donald Trump vs. Kamala Harris

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size[b]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Kamala
Harris (D)
OtherUndecided
Quinnipiac UniversityMay 9–14, 2019978 (RV)± 4.2%45%45%3%5%
Emerson College Archived April 20, 2019, at the Wayback MachineMar 26–28, 2019808 (RV)± 3.4%49%51%

Donald Trump vs. Amy Klobuchar

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size[b]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Amy
Klobuchar (D)
OtherUndecided
Muhlenberg College/Morning CallFeb 12–20, 2020424 (RV)± 5.5 %45%44%3%8%
YouGovFeb 11–20, 20201,171 (RV)±4.0%43%43%
Quinnipiac University Archived May 13, 2020, at the Wayback MachineFeb 12–18, 2020849 (RV)±3.4%42%49%6%[bu]4%

Donald Trump vs. Beto O'Rourke

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size[b]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Beto
O'Rourke (D)
OtherUndecided
Quinnipiac UniversityMay 9–14, 2019978 (RV)± 4.2%46%44%4%5%
Emerson College Archived April 20, 2019, at the Wayback MachineMar 26–28, 2019808 (RV)± 3.4%49%51%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived April 3, 2019, at the Wayback MachineMar 19–21, 2019632 (LV)± 4.0%47%40%8%

Donald Trump vs. Bernie Sanders

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size[b]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Bernie
Sanders (D)
OtherUndecided
Baldwin Wallace University Great LakesMar 17–25, 2020973 (RV)± 3.9%48%42%10%
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC[E]Mar 19–21, 2020600 (RV)49%43%
YouGov/Yahoo NewsMar 6–8, 2020725 (RV)41%43%6%[ca]10%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived December 9, 2019, at the Wayback MachineMar 5–7, 2020533 (RV)± 5.3 %46%42%
Muhlenberg College/Morning CallFeb 12–20, 2020424 (RV)± 5.5 %46%49%3%3%
YouGovFeb 11–20, 20201,171 (RV)±4.0%45%47%
Quinnipiac University Archived May 13, 2020, at the Wayback MachineFeb 12–18, 2020849 (RV)±3.4%44%48%5%[cb]1%
Expedition Strategies/Progressive Policies InstituteFeb 6–18, 2020500 (RV)43%45%12%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived December 9, 2019, at the Wayback MachineDec 3–5, 2019598 (LV)± 4.3%48%37%8%[cc]6%[t]
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Archived November 14, 2019, at the Wayback MachineNov 4–9, 2019410 (RV)± 6.0%45%50%4%1%
NYT Upshot/Siena CollegeOct 13–25, 2019661 (LV)± 4.4%45%44%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived September 12, 2019, at the Wayback MachineSep 7–9, 2019527 (LV)± 4.2%42%44%14%
Firehouse Strategies/ØptimusJun 11–13, 2019565 (LV)± 4.2%44%41%15%
Quinnipiac UniversityMay 9–14, 2019978 (RV)± 4.2%43%50%2%3%
Tulchin Research (D)[O]Apr 14–18, 2019400 (LV)± 4.9%43%51%
Emerson College Archived April 20, 2019, at the Wayback MachineMar 26–28, 2019808 (RV)± 3.4%45%55%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived April 3, 2019, at the Wayback MachineMar 19–21, 2019632 (LV)± 4.0%44%44%8%

Donald Trump vs. Elizabeth Warren

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size[b]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Elizabeth
Warren (D)
OtherUndecided
Muhlenberg College/Morning CallFeb 12–20, 2020424 (RV)± 5.5 %47%47%4%3%
YouGovFeb 11–20, 20201,171 (RV)±4.0%45%45%
Quinnipiac University Archived May 13, 2020, at the Wayback MachineFeb 12–18, 2020849 (RV)±3.4%44%47%8%[by]2%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived December 9, 2019, at the Wayback MachineDec 3–5, 2019598 (LV)± 4.3%47%40%8%[cc]5%[t]
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Archived November 14, 2019, at the Wayback MachineNov 4–9, 2019410 (RV)± 6.0%45%50%4%1%
NYT Upshot/Siena CollegeOct 13–25, 2019661 (LV)± 4.4%46%44%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived September 12, 2019, at the Wayback MachineSep 7–9, 2019527 (LV)± 4.2%41%43%16%
Firehouse Strategies/ØptimusJun 11–13, 2019565 (LV)± 4.2%45%34%21%
Quinnipiac UniversityMay 9–14, 2019978 (RV)± 4.2%44%47%3%4%
Emerson College Archived April 20, 2019, at the Wayback MachineMar 26–28, 2019808 (RV)± 3.4%48%52%
Zogby AnalyticsAug 17–23, 2017813 (LV)± 3.4%38%46%16%
Hypothetical polling

Donald Trump vs. Generic Democrat

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size[b]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Generic
Democrat (D)
Undecided
Baldwin Wallace University/Oakland University/Ohio Northern UniversityMar 17–25, 2020997 (RV)± 3.7%48.6%[cd]49.2%2.1%[ce]
Expedition Strategies/Progressive Policies InstituteFeb 6–18, 2020500 (RV)38%51%11%
Baldwin Wallace University/Oakland University/Ohio Northern UniversityJan 8–20, 20201,037 (RV)± 3.2%39.7%[cd]49.5%10.7%
KFF/Cook Political ReportSep 23 – Oct 15, 2019752 (RV)± 4%29%40%22%

Donald Trump vs. Generic Opponent

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size[b]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Generic
Opponent
Undecided
Muhlenberg College/Morning CallOct 23–28, 2020419 (LV)± 5.5%42%54%4%
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Archived November 3, 2020, at the Wayback MachineOct 13–20, 2020416 (LV)± 5.5%44%51%5%
Muhlenberg College/Morning CallAug 11–17, 2020416 (LV)± 5.5%44%53%3%
Muhlenberg College/Morning CallFeb 12–20, 2020424 (RV)± 5.5%42%54%4%
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Archived November 14, 2019, at the Wayback MachineNov 4–9, 2019410 (RV)± 6.0%42%57%2%
F&M/PoliticsPAMar 18–24, 2019540 (RV)± 5.5%36%61%[cf]4%

Electoral slates

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These slates of electors were nominated by each party in order to vote in the Electoral College should their candidates win the state:[33]

Donald Trump and Mike Pence
Republican Party
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris
Democratic Party
Jo Jorgensen and Spike Cohen
Libertarian Party
  • Kyle Burton
  • Henry Conoly
  • Daniel Cooper
  • Thomas Eckman
  • Greg Faust
  • Kevin Gaughen
  • Willie Harmon
  • Ken Krawchuk
  • Brandon Magoon
  • Roy Minet
  • Paul Nicotera
  • Paul Rizzo
  • Richard Schwartzman
  • William Sloane
  • Kathleen Smith
  • Jake Towne
  • Glenn Tuttle
  • Stephen Wharhaftig
  • John Waldenberger
  • Daniel Wassmer

Results

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Results by metropolitan area

9,098,998[34] residents registered to vote by the voter registration deadline on October 15, which had been extended from its original date on October 13 by court order.

Results by municipality
2020 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania[35][36]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic 3,458,229 50.01 +2.55
Republican3,377,67448.84+0.66
Libertarian79,3801.15−1.23
Total votes6,915,283 100% +12.16
Democratic win

Results by county

edit
County[37]Joe Biden
Democratic
Donald Trump
Republican
Jo Jorgensen
Libertarian
Various candidates
Other parties
MarginTotal votes cast
#%#%#%#%#%
Adams18,25432.13%37,56766.13%8141.43%1740.31%−19,313−34.00%56,809
Allegheny430,75959.43%282,91339.03%8,3611.15%2,7670.38%147,84620.40%724,800
Armstrong8,45723.22%27,48975.47%4241.16%560.15%−19,032−52.25%36,426
Beaver38,12240.38%54,75958.01%1,2411.31%2750.29%−16,637−17.63%94,397
Bedford4,36715.82%23,02583.39%1820.66%360.13%−18,658−67.57%27,610
Berks93,11645.08%109,92653.22%2,9241.42%5870.28%−16,810−8.14%206,553
Blair17,63627.67%45,30671.07%6531.02%1530.24%−27,670−43.40%63,748
Bradford8,04626.61%21,60071.45%5131.70%730.24%−13,554−44.84%30,232
Bucks204,71251.53%187,36747.16%4,1551.05%1,0570.27%17,3454.37%397,291
Butler37,50833.00%74,35965.42%1,4381.27%3580.31%−36,851−32.42%113,663
Cambria21,73030.71%48,08567.96%7591.07%1770.25%−26,355−37.25%70,751
Cameron63425.98%1,77172.58%291.19%60.25%−1,137−46.60%2,440
Carbon11,21233.28%21,98465.26%4331.29%600.18%−10,772−31.98%33,689
Centre40,05551.42%36,37246.70%1,0661.37%3980.51%3,6834.72%77,891
Chester182,37257.76%128,56540.72%3,5651.13%1,2510.40%53,80717.04%315,753
Clarion4,67823.96%14,57874.67%2371.21%310.16%−9,900−50.71%19,524
Clearfield9,67324.49%29,20373.94%5461.38%740.19%−19,530−49.45%39,496
Clinton5,50231.15%11,90267.39%2211.25%360.20%−6,400−36.24%17,661
Columbia10,53233.67%20,09864.25%5411.73%1090.35%−9,566−30.58%31,280
Crawford12,92430.69%28,56167.82%5211.24%1080.26%−15,637−37.13%42,114
Cumberland62,24543.78%77,21254.30%2,1381.50%5920.42%−14,967−10.52%142,187
Dauphin78,98353.40%66,40844.90%1,9771.34%5330.36%12,5758.50%147,901
Delaware206,70962.75%118,63936.02%2,9810.90%1,0750.33%88,07026.73%329,404
Elk4,52226.68%12,14071.64%2441.44%400.24%−7,618−44.96%16,946
Erie68,28649.66%66,86948.63%1,9281.40%4110.30%1,4171.03%137,494
Fayette20,46932.87%41,25166.24%4680.75%910.15%−20,782−33.37%62,279
Forest72827.43%1,88270.91%361.36%80.30%−1,154−43.48%2,654
Franklin22,42227.67%57,24570.65%1,1161.38%2420.30%−34,823−42.98%81,025
Fulton1,08513.58%6,82485.41%680.85%130.26%−5,739−71.83%7,990
Greene4,91127.75%12,57971.08%1791.01%280.16%−7,668−43.33%17,697
Huntingdon5,44523.84%17,06174.69%2861.25%510.22%−11,616−50.85%22,843
Indiana12,63430.60%28,08968.03%4751.15%910.22%−15,455−37.43%41,289
Jefferson4,52919.80%17,96478.54%3371.47%420.18%−13,435−58.74%22,872
Juniata2,25318.66%9,64979.93%1411.17%290.24%−7,396−61.27%12,072
Lackawanna61,99153.58%52,33445.23%1,0850.94%2850.25%9,6578.35%115,695
Lancaster115,84741.17%160,20956.94%4,1831.49%1,1360.40%−44,362−15.77%281,375
Lawrence15,97834.59%29,59764.08%5011.08%1110.24%−13,619−29.49%46,187
Lebanon23,93233.30%46,73165.03%9891.38%2060.29%−22,799−31.73%71,858
Lehigh98,49853.21%84,41845.47%2,1761.17%5630.30%14,0807.58%185,655
Luzerne64,87342.26%86,92956.63%1,5190.99%1780.12%−22,056−14.37%153,499
Lycoming16,97128.57%41,46269.80%8211.38%1430.24%−24,491−41.23%59,397
McKean5,09826.13%14,08372.18%2851.46%440.23%−8,985−46.05%19,510
Mercer21,06736.25%36,14362.19%7441.28%1630.28%−15,076−25.94%58,117
Mifflin4,60321.36%16,67077.37%2291.06%450.21%−12,067−56.01%21,547
Monroe44,06052.43%38,72646.08%1,0431.24%2050.24%5,3346.35%84,034
Montgomery319,51162.41%185,46036.23%5,1861.01%1,7630.35%134,05126.18%511,920
Montour3,77138.41%5,84459.53%1561.59%460.47%−2,073−21.12%9,817
Northampton85,08749.64%83,85448.92%2,0011.17%4570.27%1,2330.72%171,399
Northumberland12,70329.94%28,97568.28%6571.55%1000.24%−16,272−38.34%42,435
Perry5,95024.06%18,29373.98%4091.65%760.31%−12,343−49.92%24,728
Philadelphia604,17581.21%132,87017.86%4,8540.65%2,0670.28%471,30563.35%743,966
Pike13,05240.02%19,24158.99%3230.99%00.00%−6,189−18.97%32,616
Potter1,72619.00%7,23979.68%991.09%210.23%−5,513−60.68%9,085
Schuylkill20,72729.29%48,87169.07%1,0051.42%1520.21%−28,144−39.78%70,755
Snyder4,91025.60%13,98372.90%2471.29%410.21%−9,073−47.30%19,181
Somerset8,65421.30%31,46677.45%4231.04%830.20%−22,812−56.15%40,626
Sullivan92125.60%2,61972.79%551.53%30.08%−1,698−47.19%3,598
Susquehanna6,23628.59%15,20769.72%3091.42%610.28%−8,971−41.13%21,813
Tioga4,95523.45%15,74274.51%3781.79%510.24%−10,787−51.06%21,126
Union7,47537.02%12,35661.19%2841.41%770.38%−4,881−24.17%20,192
Venango7,58528.51%18,56969.81%3741.41%730.27%−10,984−41.30%26,601
Warren6,06629.37%14,23768.92%3471.68%70.03%−8,171−39.55%20,657
Washington45,08837.97%72,08060.70%1,3101.10%2780.23%−26,992−22.73%118,756
Wayne9,19132.65%18,63766.21%2610.93%580.21%−9,446−33.56%28,147
Westmoreland72,19235.16%130,29963.46%2,3531.15%4860.24%−58,107−28.30%205,330
Wyoming4,70431.57%9,93666.68%2181.46%420.28%−5,232−35.11%14,900
York88,11436.85%146,73361.36%3,6241.52%6750.28%−58,619−24.51%239,146
Totals3,461,22149.87%3,379,05548.69%79,4451.14%20,7280.30%82,1661.18%6,940,449

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

edit

By congressional district

edit

Biden and Trump both won half of the 18 congressional districts in Pennsylvania,[38] including each winning one held by the opposite party.

DistrictTrumpBidenRepresentative
1st46.6%52.4%Brian Fitzpatrick
2nd29.1%70.1%Brendan Boyle
3rd8.1%91.3%Dwight Evans
4th37.4%61.5%Madeleine Dean
5th34%65.1%Mary Gay Scanlon
6th41.9%56.9%Chrissy Houlahan
7th47%51.8%Susan Wild
8th51.7%47.3%Matt Cartwright
9th64.5%34.1%Dan Meuser
10th50.7%47.8%Scott Perry
11th60.2%38.3%Lloyd Smucker
12th67.3%31.2%Fred Keller
13th71.6%27.2%John Joyce
14th63.2%35.7%Guy Reschenthaler
15th71.2%27.5%Glenn Thompson
16th58.7%40%Mike Kelly
17th48%50.7%Conor Lamb
18th34.4%64.5%Mike Doyle

Analysis

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Throughout the year, Pennsylvania was regarded as the most important (or likely tipping-point) state in the entire election; Pennsylvania had 20 electoral votes, and it was one of the closest states of the 2016 presidential election. Both candidates aggressively played for the state; Trump needed the state as it represented his narrow path to re-election, while Biden needed the state to rebuild the blue wall, which Trump had broken in 2016 by carrying the northern industrial states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.[39]

Historically, Pennsylvania has usually been a competitive state. During the Second Party System from 1828 to 1852, it voted for the winner of every election. From the Civil War on, it has generally had a partisan lean; during the Third and Fourth Party Systems, Pennsylvania was a classic Yankee Republican state. When Franklin Roosevelt carried it in 1936, he became the first Democrat in eighty years to do so. Between 1936 and 1988, neither major party carried Pennsylvania for more than three straight presidential elections, although between 1952 and 1988, it voted Democratic in every close election (1960, 1968, 1976), and consistently voted more Democratic than the nation. Starting in 1992, Pennsylvania became part of the blue wall—the group of states that voted Democratic for six straight elections from 1992 through 2012. In 2016, it was one of three blue wall states that Trump won on his way to an upset victory.

State Republicans sought to require that only mail-in ballots received by Election Day be counted. The Commonwealth's Supreme Court rejected their demands, deciding that, due to probable delays due to the ongoing coronavirus and U.S. Postal Service crisis, ballots received up to three days after Election Day would also be counted.[40] Republicans then appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. Supreme Court justices produced a 4–4 tie (as the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat remained vacant when the ruling was issued), with Chief Justice John Roberts siding with the three liberal justices, allowing the state supreme court decision to stand.[40]

At 1.17%, Biden's winning margin percentage in Pennsylvania was the smallest ever for a Democratic presidential candidate who won Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania remained redder than the country in 2020 even as Biden won it, by about 3.3%. As in Michigan and Wisconsin, Biden ran behind Barack Obama's performances in 2008 and 2012, though he received more votes total in the state this cycle due to record-breaking turnout.

As for Trump, he easily set the record for total number of votes for a Republican candidate in Pennsylvania history (as with Biden, largely due to record-breaking turnout). With 48.84% of the vote, he did slightly outpace both his own vote share in 2016 (48.18%) and George W. Bush's in 2004 (48.42%), the latter of which had previously stood as the highest Republican vote share in the state since 1988.

Biden's strongest base of support was the Philadelphia metro area. In the city of Philadelphia itself, Biden won by 63.4%, a weaker win than Hillary Clinton's 66.9% margin in the city in 2016, but still better than Kerry's 61.1% margin in 2004 or Gore's 62.0% margin in 2000.[41] Donald Trump improved his vote share in Philadelphia by 2.5%,[42] and, as of the counting on November 8, held a majority of the vote in the 26th, 58th, and 66th wards. However, Biden improved on Hillary Clinton dramatically in the Main Line counties of Montgomery and Chester, as well as, to a lesser extent, Delaware, increasing the Democratic vote share in these counties by 4.2%, 5.9%, and 3.5%, respectively, and winning them all by double digits. Before 1992, all three had been Republican strongholds in the state, and Chester had been considered a swing county as recently as 2012, when Romney narrowly carried it, but all three have drifted towards the Democratic column, as they tend to be socially liberal.[43]

Biden also performed strongly in Pennsylvania's other urban, suburban, and exurban areas. Crucially, he carried Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) by 20.4%, the widest margin any nominee had won the county by since 1992.[44] Centre and Dauphin both remained in the Democratic column; in the past, these counties voted Republican, though Centre County is home to Pennsylvania State University, while Dauphin County, home of Harrisburg, has followed the trend of urban areas becoming more Democratic. Biden also narrowly reclaimed two counties anchored by industrial cities which had long voted Democratic before Trump flipped them in 2016, Northampton (Bethlehem and Easton) and Erie (Erie), and improved on Hillary Clinton's margin in his birth county of Lackawanna County (Scranton), a county Hillary Clinton had barely kept in the Democratic column in 2016. In suburban Cumberland County, adjacent to Harrisburg, Biden shaved Trump's margin from 17.8% to 10.5%.[45] Northampton and Erie were the only counties to flip from one party to the other; Northampton has voted for the winner of the state in every election from 1952 on.

Trump maintained much of his momentum throughout rural and industrial Pennsylvania from four years earlier, with convincing victories in counties that were once competitive or even Democratic-leaning. He kept Luzerne County (Wilkes-Barre), which had voted Democratic six elections in a row before 2016 (and which had voted with the winner of the state from 1936 through 2016), in his column, although his margin in it was cut from 19.3% to 14.3%. Trump also won the former Democratic stronghold of Westmoreland County, although his margin in this county, crucial to his win in 2016,[46] declined.[47] Other previously competitive counties that Trump performed well in included Berks and Cambria, both of which voted for Obama in 2008. Trump further ran up the score in other conservative exurban[48] counties, most notably in Lancaster and Lebanon counties, though his margin shrank somewhat in both.

Trump won whites in the state by 15 points, although like in the rest of the country, there was a clear disparity between college-educated and non-college-educated whites. Biden won whites with a college degree by 9 points, while Trump excelled with whites without a college degree, winning this group by 32 points. Additionally, there was a gender disparity with the white vote; Trump won white men by 15 points, but only carried white women by 3 points. Finally, there was an age gap; Biden won young voters by double-digit margins, whereas Trump performed strongly with middle-aged voters; senior citizens were more even, breaking slightly for Trump.[49] Within minority blocs, Biden fared well, as he won black voters by 87 points, and won Latinos by 42 points. Three other critical voting blocs broke for Biden this cycle; he won independent voters by 8 points, moderates by 17 points, and first-time voters by 23 points.[49]

Voter demographics

edit
Edison Research exit poll
Demographic subgroupBidenTrumpNo
Answer
% of
Voters
Party
Democrat927N/A40
Republican891N/A41
Independent5244N/A19
Gender
Men4455147
Women5544153
Race
White4257181
Black927111
Latino692745
AsianN/AN/AN/A1
OtherN/AN/AN/A1
Gender by race/ethnicity
White men3762138
White women4752143
Black men891015
Black women94426
Latino men (of any race)N/AN/A13
Latino women (of any race)831523
All other races623352
Age
18–24 years old5937313
25–29 years old673126
30–39 years old6137216
40–49 years old5246213
50–64 years old4159N/A31
65 and older4653128
Sexual orientation
LGBT643427
Heterosexual4752193
First time voter
First time voter5245313
Everyone else4852N/A87
Education
High school or less3564116
Some college education4949226
Associate degree4653117
Bachelor's degree5445126
Advanced degree6336114
Education by race/ethnicity
White college graduates5445126
White no college degree2079135
Non-white college graduates8316114
Non-white no college degree8019125
Income
Under $30,0006037315
$30,000–49,9995345319
$50,000–99,9995346123
$100,000–199,9995148123
Over $200,000N/AN/AN/A7
Abortion should be
Legal in all cases8415125
Legal in most cases6732130
Illegal in most cases1783127
Illegal in all cases1285313
Region
Northeast4653117
Philly Suburbs8118111
Central3861122
West4356128
Source: CNN[50]

Aftermath

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On November 24, 2020, the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Kathy Boockvar, certified the results, and Governor Tom Wolf, in accordance with the law, signed the certificate of ascertainment for the Biden/Harris slate of electors for Biden and Harris and sent it to the Archivist of the United States.[51][52]

On November 25, 2020, the Pennsylvania Senate Majority (Republican) Policy committee held a public hearing regarding the counting of ballots in this election.[53] Trump planned to attend the meeting but he canceled the trip.[54]Also, on November 25th, after a group of Republican congressmen had filed a lawsuit to stop certification on Sunday November 22, Judge Patricia McCullough (R) ruled to halt further state certifications pending a hearing. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court then ruled Saturday night on November 28 to unanimously overturn Judge Patricia McCullough's ruling to halt certification because no fraud was alleged and both parties could have objected throughout the year, but did not.[55] Moreover, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court also dismissed with prejudice the requests of Representative Mike Kelly and other Republicans to either invalidate all 2.5 million mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania, or to invalidate all 6.9 million ballots in the state and have the state's Republican-controlled Legislature choose the presidential electors for the state.[56][57] The rationale for the decision, again, was that the Republicans were challenging the law too late; they had been able to challenge the law since it became live in October 2019, but they only filed the lawsuit when the results of the November 2020 election were "becoming seemingly apparent". Hence, the Republicans had failed to act with "due diligence" in their handling of the case.[57][58] By the time of the court's decision, the Pennsylvania election results had certified Biden's win.[59] The congressmen appealed to the US Supreme Court, but on December 8, 2020, the Supreme Court unanimously rejected the request in one sentence.[60][61]

On December 31, 2020, Pennsylvania Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-9), Congressman Glenn ‘GT' Thompson (PA-15), Congressman Mike Kelly (PA-16), Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10), Congressman Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14), Congressman John Joyce (PA-13), and Congressman Fred Keller (PA-12) released a statement that summarized their belief that the Pennsylvania state legislature had taken unlawful actions regarding the 2020 election process which, in their opinion, resulted in a "highly questionable and inaccurate vote total".[62]

Official audits and recounts

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As required by state law, all counties completed a post-election sample audit.[63] With the exception of three counties, Pennsylvania's counties also participated in a voluntary risk-limiting audit pilot.[64] Both types of audits confirmed the certified results.

Lycoming County completed a hand recount and did not find any major discrepancy.[65]Butler County also completed a hand recount in two precincts and found no inaccuracies.[66]

Objection

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On January 6, 2021, as Congress certified the Electoral College results confirming President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as the winners, there was an objection to Pennsylvania's 20 electoral votes, brought forward by U.S. Representative Scott Perry of Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district and officially signed onto by U.S. Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri.[67] The objection failed 7–92 in the Senate, and 138–282 in the House.[68]

See also

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Notes

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Partisan clients
  1. ^ Compete Everywhere primarily supports Democratic candidates
  2. ^ a b c d The Center for American Greatness is a pro-Trump organization
  3. ^ Climate Power 2020 was created by the League of Conservation Voters, which endorsed Biden prior to the sampling period
  4. ^ The American Bridge PAC exclusively supports Democratic candidates
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i The Restoration PAC is a 501 non-profit which supports Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign
  6. ^ a b c Rust Belt Rising is affiliated with the Democratic Party
  7. ^ The Human Rights Campaign endorsed Biden prior to this poll's sampling period
  8. ^ CPEC campaigns exclusively for Democratic candidates
  9. ^ The Progressive Policy Institute endorsed Biden prior to this poll's sampling period
  10. ^ Unite the Country PAC endorsed Biden prior to this poll's sampling period
  11. ^ The League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club endorsed Biden prior to this poll's sampling period
  12. ^ Heritage Action is the sister organisation of the Heritage Foundation, which exclusively endorses Republican candidates
  13. ^ This poll's sponsor is the American Principles Project, a 501(c)(4) organization that supports the Republican Party.
  14. ^ Poll sponsored by Protect Our Care, a pro-Affordable Care Act organisation
  15. ^ Poll sponsored by the Sanders campaign
Additional candidates
  1. ^ Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  3. ^ a b c d e With voters who lean towards a given candidate
  4. ^ Would not vote with 0%
  5. ^ Overlapping sample with the previous SurveyMonkey/Axios poll, but more information available regarding sample size
  6. ^ "Some other candidate" with 1%
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "Someone else" with 2%
  8. ^ a b "Other candidate" and "No one" with 0%
  9. ^ a b With a likely voter turnout model featuring high turnout
  10. ^ a b With a likely voter turnout model featuring low turnout
  11. ^ "Other candidate or write-in" with 0%
  12. ^ a b c d e f g Standard VI response
  13. ^ West (B) with 2%; "Some other candidate" and would not vote with 0%
  14. ^ a b c d If only Biden, Trump and "some other candidate" were available
  15. ^ a b c "Some other candidate" with 3%; would not vote with 0%
  16. ^ Results considering those who lean towards a given candidate among those initially predisposed towards abstention, indecision or a candidate besides Biden or Trump in the response section immediately above
  17. ^ a b c d "Some other candidate" with 2%
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h "Someone else" with 1%
  19. ^ a b c "Someone else" and would not vote with 0%
  20. ^ a b c d e f g Includes "Refused"
  21. ^ "Not sure/Someone else/Undecided" with 2%
  22. ^ "None of these" and "Other" with 0%; would not vote with no voters
  23. ^ "Neither/other" with 4%
  24. ^ a b Results generated with high Democratic turnout model
  25. ^ a b Results generated with high Republican turnout model
  26. ^ "Some other candidate" with 1%; West (B) and would not vote with 0%
  27. ^ "Refused" with 1%; "Some other candidate" with 0%
  28. ^ a b c "Someone else" with 3%
  29. ^ Includes Undecided
  30. ^ "Other" with 1%; "None of these" with 0%
  31. ^ "Neither/other" with 2%
  32. ^ a b "Other" with 1%; would not vote with no voters
  33. ^ a b c d e f g Additional data sourced from FiveThirtyEight
  34. ^ "Refused" with 3%; "Others" with 1%
  35. ^ "Some other candidate" with 2%; West (B) with 1%; would not vote with 0%
  36. ^ "Some other candidate" and would not vote with 1%; West (B) with 0%
  37. ^ "Some other candidate" with 1%; would not vote with 0%
  38. ^ "Another candidate" with 0%
  39. ^ a b c d "Another Third Party/Write-in" with 1%
  40. ^ a b "Some other candidate" with 2%; would not vote with 0%
  41. ^ "Someone else/third party" with 2%
  42. ^ "Neither" and "Other" with 0%; would not vote with no voters
  43. ^ "Other" with 1%; "Prefer not to answer" with 0%
  44. ^ "Other" and would not vote with 1%
  45. ^ "Another candidate" with 1%
  46. ^ "Third party candidate" with 1%
  47. ^ "Another Third Party/Write-in" with 0%
  48. ^ "Neither candidate or other candidate" with 3%
  49. ^ Would not vote with 1%
  50. ^ Overlapping sample with the previous Morning Consult poll, but more information available regarding sample size
  51. ^ "Other/not sure" with 4%
  52. ^ "Other" and "Refused" with 3%
  53. ^ "No one" with 1%; "Other candidate" with no voters
  54. ^ a b With a likely voter turnout model featuring higher turnout than in the 2016 presidential election
  55. ^ a b With a likely voter turnout model featuring lower turnout than in the 2016 presidential election
  56. ^ Additional data sourced from FiveThirtyEight; with voters who lean towards a given candidate
  57. ^ "Some other candidate" with 4%
  58. ^ "Some other candidate" with 3%
  59. ^ If only Biden and Trump were candidates
  60. ^ "Neither/other" with 3%
  61. ^ Including voters who lean towards a given candidate
  62. ^ "Someone else/third party" with 3%
  63. ^ "Other" with 2%; would not vote with 0%
  64. ^ West (B) and "Another Third Party/Write-In" with 1%
  65. ^ "Other" with 4%; would not vote with 1%
  66. ^ "Another candidate" with 3%; "No one" with 0%
  67. ^ "Other party candidate" with 6%
  68. ^ "other" with 1%
  69. ^ "Another candidate" with 2%; would not vote with 1%
  70. ^ "Libertarian Party candidate/Green Party candidate" with 3%
  71. ^ "Third party/write-in" with 2%
  72. ^ "Other" with 2%; would not vote with 3%
  73. ^ a b "Someone else" with 1%; would not vote with 5%
  74. ^ A third party candidate with 6%; will not vote with 2%
  75. ^ "Someone else" with 2%; would not vote with 4%
  76. ^ A third party candidate with 6%; will not vote with 3%
  77. ^ a b "Someone else" with 2%; would not vote with 6%
  78. ^ A third party candidate with 4%; will not vote with 3%
  79. ^ "Other" with 4%; would not vote with 2%
  80. ^ "Someone else" with 1%; would not vote with 4%
  81. ^ a b A third party candidate with 5%; will not vote with 3%
  82. ^ a b Figures for each candidate in this poll include undecided voters who were reported to lean towards that candidate at the time of polling.
  83. ^ "It depends on who the Democrats nominate" with 1.4%; "unsure" with 0.7%
  84. ^ 61% "time for a change" as opposed to "Trump has done a good enough job to deserve re-election"

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Further reading

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