# Canonical recap data for 2020 United States Presidential Election (2020)
# Source: https://recap.at/2020/us-presidential-election-2020
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: us-presidential-election-2020
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/2020/us-presidential-election-2020"
title: 2020 United States Presidential Election
aliases:
- 2020 U.S. presidential election
- Biden-Trump election
- November 3, 2020 election
subtitle: ""
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 2020-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 2020
decade: 2020
country:
name: United States
slug: united-states
summaryShort: Joe Biden defeated incumbent Donald Trump in the November 3, 2020 presidential election, winning 306 electoral votes to Trump's 232 and securing the popular vote by over 7 million votes.
summaryLong: |-
  The 2020 United States presidential election took place on November 3, pitting Democratic challenger Joe Biden against Republican incumbent Donald Trump. Biden, the 77-year-old former Vice President under Barack Obama, ran on a platform centered on COVID-19 pandemic response, economic recovery, and restoring institutional norms. Trump sought a second term after four years marked by trade wars, tax cuts, and two impeachment proceedings. The election became the most expensive in U.S. history, with spending exceeding $14 billion.

  The pandemic reshaped how Americans voted. Mail-in voting surged to unprecedented levels, with over 101 million early votes cast before Election Day-nearly 73% of total turnout. This shift became a flashpoint for controversy, as Trump repeatedly disputed the security of mail ballots without evidence, while election officials from both parties affirmed the integrity of the process. Turnout reached 66.1% of eligible voters, the highest since 1900.

  Biden won 306 electoral votes to Trump's 232, flipping Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin-states Trump had carried in 2016. In the popular vote, Biden received 81.3 million votes (51.3%) compared to Trump's 74.2 million (46.9%), a margin of approximately 7.1 million votes. Georgia's recount in November and December confirmed Biden's narrow 11,779-vote victory there, marking the state's first Democratic presidential win since 1992.

  Trump contested the results, claiming without credible evidence that the election was stolen through widespread fraud. His legal challenges failed in over 60 court cases, including before judges he appointed. On January 6, 2021, Trump held a rally in Washington that preceded a riot at the Capitol as Congress met to certify electoral votes. Biden was inaugurated on January 20, 2021.

  The election revealed deep polarization: exit polls showed 94% of Republicans voted for Trump, while 92% of Democrats voted for Biden. It also demonstrated the persistence of the Electoral College system despite Biden's commanding popular-vote margin, a dynamic that shaped how both campaigns invested their resources across battleground states.
lede: On November 3, 2020, Americans elected Democrat Joe Biden as president, defeating Republican Donald Trump's bid for reelection. Biden won 306 electoral votes and over 81 million popular votes-the most ever cast for a candidate-while Trump disputed the results for months afterward. The election reshaped voting practices through mass mail-in balloting during the COVID-19 pandemic and exposed severe fissures in how Americans viewed the integrity of their elections.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/ElectoralCollege2020.svg/1280px-ElectoralCollege2020.svg.png"
heroImageCredit: Wikipedia · "2020 United States presidential election"
importance: 50
sourceConfidence: 50
keyFacts:
- label: Election date
  value: November 3, 2020
- label: Biden electoral votes
  value: "306"
- label: Trump electoral votes
  value: "232"
- label: Biden popular votes
  value: 81.3 million (51.3%)
- label: Trump popular votes
  value: 74.2 million (46.9%)
- label: Voter turnout
  value: 66.1% of eligible voters (159.7 million votes)
- label: Early and mail votes cast
  value: 101.1 million (73% of total turnout)
- label: States flipped from 2016
  value: 5 (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin)
- label: Total campaign spending
  value: Over $14 billion
- label: Biden inauguration date
  value: January 20, 2021
timeline:
- date: 2020-03-10
  title: Democratic primary effectively decided
  description: After Super Tuesday results and Joe Biden's South Carolina victory on February 29, Bernie Sanders's remaining challengers withdrew, leaving Biden as the presumptive Democratic nominee.
- date: 2020-08-20
  title: Democratic National Convention
  description: The convention was held mostly virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Joe Biden formally accepted the Democratic presidential nomination and Kamala Harris was nominated for Vice President.
- date: 2020-09-29
  title: First presidential debate
  description: Trump and Biden held their first debate in Cleveland, Ohio, moderated by Fox News's Chris Wallace. The debate was marked by frequent interruptions and clashes over pandemic response and mail-in voting.
- date: 2020-10-02
  title: Trump COVID-19 diagnosis
  description: President Trump announced he tested positive for COVID-19, requiring hospitalization at Walter Reed Medical Center for three days. He returned to public events within days.
- date: 2020-11-03
  title: Election Day
  description: Americans voted in the 2020 presidential election. Voting continued into the evening, with results in several swing states remaining unclear overnight.
- date: 2020-11-07
  title: Major networks call election for Biden
  description: Four days after Election Day, major media outlets called the race for Joe Biden after Pennsylvania results made his path to 270 electoral votes insurmountable. Biden had secured 306 electoral votes.
- date: 2020-12-14
  title: Electoral College votes
  description: The Electoral College met in all 50 states and D.C., formally casting votes. Biden received 306 electoral votes and Trump 232, confirming the election results.
- date: 2021-01-06
  title: Capitol riot
  description: During a rally Trump held in Washington, supporters breached the U.S. Capitol as Congress met to certify the electoral votes. The riot resulted in five deaths and led to Trump's second impeachment.
- date: 2021-01-20
  title: Biden inauguration
  description: Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States, with Kamala Harris sworn in as Vice President.
sources: []
related: []
relationships:
- targetSlug: covid-19-pandemic-declaration-2020
  type: happened_during
  confidence: 95
  evidence: The COVID-19 pandemic declaration in March 2020 forced unprecedented expansion of mail-in voting and dominated campaign messaging, directly shaping Biden's election strategy and voter turnout patterns across all 50 states.
  source: ai
- targetSlug: assassination-martin-luther-king-jr
  type: echoed
  confidence: 62
  evidence: George Floyd's death on May 25, 2020 triggered nationwide racial justice protests that became central to the 2020 election narrative, echoing MLK's era by forcing candidates to explicitly address systemic racism and policing reform.
  source: ai
- targetSlug: watergate-nixon-resignation-1974
  type: echoed
  confidence: 58
  evidence: Trump's post-election legal challenges and January 6, 2021 Capitol riot echoed Watergate-era constitutional crisis dynamics, with both events triggering impeachment proceedings and fundamental questions about presidential accountability and peaceful transfer of power.
  source: ai
gallery:
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/2020_United_States_presidential_election_in_Chester_County%2C_Pennsylvania.svg/1280px-2020_United_States_presidential_election_in_Chester_County%2C_Pennsylvania.svg.png"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/2020_United_States_presidential_election_in_Chester_County%2C_Pennsylvania.svg/800px-2020_United_States_presidential_election_in_Chester_County%2C_Pennsylvania.svg.png"
  caption: 2020 United States presidential election in Chester County, Pennsylvania
  credit: Physeters
  width: 698
  height: 616
  alt: A choropleth map of Chester County, Pennsylvania displays the results of the 2020 United States presidential election, with individual districts colored in shades of red and blue to indicate Republican and Democratic voting patterns respectively. The western portion of the county shows predominantly red districts, while the eastern and central areas display varying intensities of blue, reflecting the geographic distribution of voter preference across the county's municipalities and precincts.
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/The_2020_United_States_Presidential_Election_in_Pittsburgh.svg/1280px-The_2020_United_States_Presidential_Election_in_Pittsburgh.svg.png"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/The_2020_United_States_Presidential_Election_in_Pittsburgh.svg/800px-The_2020_United_States_Presidential_Election_in_Pittsburgh.svg.png"
  caption: The 2020 United States Presidential Election in Pittsburgh
  credit: Kerry2004
  width: 1804
  height: 1381
  alt: A choropleth map of Pittsburgh showing the results of the 2020 United States Presidential Election by precinct, with blue areas representing Democratic votes and red areas representing Republican votes, demonstrating the overall Democratic dominance across the city with pockets of Republican support in southern neighborhoods.
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/2020_United_States_Presidential_Election_in_Duluth%2C_MN.svg/1280px-2020_United_States_Presidential_Election_in_Duluth%2C_MN.svg.png"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/2020_United_States_Presidential_Election_in_Duluth%2C_MN.svg/800px-2020_United_States_Presidential_Election_in_Duluth%2C_MN.svg.png"
  caption: 2020 United States Presidential Election in Duluth, MN
  credit: Kerry2004
  width: 562
  height: 500
  alt: A choropleth map of the United States showing county-level results from the 2020 presidential election, with darker blue shades indicating stronger Democratic performance and lighter shades showing areas with more competitive or Republican-leaning results. The map displays granular voting data across the continental United States with county boundaries outlined in white.
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/The_2020_United_States_Presidential_Election_in_Pennsylvania_by_Metropolitan_Area.svg/1280px-The_2020_United_States_Presidential_Election_in_Pennsylvania_by_Metropolitan_Area.svg.png"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/The_2020_United_States_Presidential_Election_in_Pennsylvania_by_Metropolitan_Area.svg/800px-The_2020_United_States_Presidential_Election_in_Pennsylvania_by_Metropolitan_Area.svg.png"
  caption: The 2020 United States Presidential Election in Pennsylvania by Metropolitan Area
  credit: Kerry2004
  width: 5429
  height: 3350
  alt: A choropleth map of Pennsylvania showing the results of the 2020 United States Presidential Election by metropolitan area, with regions colored in blue for Democratic wins, red for Republican wins, and pink for mixed or intermediate results. The map displays voting patterns across the state's various urban and rural metropolitan regions during the 2020 presidential election.
culturalContext:
topMusic:
- title: Blinding Lights
  artist: The Weeknd
  year: 2019
  note: Dominated streaming charts throughout 2020, became highest-charting song on Billboard Hot 100
  youtubeVideoId: 4NRXx6U8ABQ
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-23T07:43:25.317Z"
- title: WAP
  artist: Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion
  year: 2020
  note: August 2020 release became cultural lightning rod and streaming phenomenon during election season
  referenceCard:
  status: not_found
  checkedAt: "2026-06-05T07:51:26.372Z"
- title: Rain On Me
  artist: Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande
  year: 2020
  note: Released May 2020, represented pandemic-era pop escapism
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-23T07:43:25.317Z"
topFilms:
- title: Soul
  year: 2020
  note: Pixar's release in November 2020 reflected pandemic-era contemplation of life's purpose
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-23T07:43:25.317Z"
- title: Tenet
  year: 2020
  note: Christopher Nolan's July 2020 release attempted theatrical comeback during pandemic uncertainty
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-23T07:43:25.317Z"
- title: Minari
  year: 2020
  note: Korean-American family drama gained prominence in awards circuit as representation conversation intensified
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-23T07:43:25.317Z"
topTVShows:
- title: The Last of Us
  note: HBO's January 2023 adaptation of pandemic-adjacent video game arrived as cultural artifact of pandemic reckoning
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-23T07:43:25.317Z"
- title: The Queen's Gambit
  note: Netflix released October 2020 chess drama that became global phenomenon during lockdown period
  referenceCard:
  status: not_found
  checkedAt: "2026-06-05T07:51:26.372Z"
- title: Succession
  note: HBO's media dynasty drama reached peak cultural relevance during Season 3 (2021), reflecting anxieties about institutional power
  referenceCard:
  status: not_found
  checkedAt: "2026-06-05T07:51:26.372Z"
zeitgeistNote: 2020 was defined by pandemic isolation, mail-in voting in unprecedented numbers, TikTok's explosion among younger voters, and stark racial justice protests following George Floyd's May 25 death in Minneapolis. The election itself occurred amid economic uncertainty, joblessness, and mask debates that would define American politics through 2024.
comparisonThenNow:
- metric: U.S. Unemployment Rate
  thenValue: 6.7%
  thenYear: 2020
  nowValue: 3.7%
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Measured in October of each year; pandemic recovery drove substantial job creation
- metric: S&P 500 Index
  thenValue: 3,509
  thenYear: 2020
  nowValue: 5,890
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Year-end closing values; AI sector rallies contributed to recent gains
- metric: U.S. Federal Debt
  thenValue: $27.7 trillion
  thenYear: 2020
  nowValue: $36.2 trillion
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Fiscal stimulus and increased spending drove 31% increase in total debt
- metric: Carbon Dioxide in Atmosphere
  thenValue: 414 ppm
  thenYear: 2020
  nowValue: 424 ppm
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Biden's Inflation Reduction Act attempted to reverse trend through clean energy investment
impactStatement: Joe Biden defeated incumbent Donald Trump on November 3, 2020, in a contest shaped by a global pandemic, racial justice upheaval, and unprecedented mail-in voting. The election saw the highest U.S. voter turnout in 120 years, with 66.7% of eligible voters casting ballots. Biden's victory carried immediate consequences for American foreign policy, pandemic response, and judicial appointments.
consequences:
- title: Biden Inauguration and Cabinet Formation
  year: 2021
  description: Joe Biden took office on January 20, 2021, appointing a cabinet that included Antony Blinken as Secretary of State and Janet Yellen as Treasury Secretary, marking significant shifts in economic and foreign policy direction.
- title: Withdrawal from Afghanistan
  year: 2021
  description: Biden ordered the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan by September 2021, ending America's longest war but resulting in chaotic evacuation scenes and Taliban's swift return to power.
- title: American Rescue Plan and Economic Stimulus
  year: 2021
  description: Congress passed Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package in March 2021, delivering direct payments to Americans and expanded unemployment benefits, significantly impacting inflation trajectory through 2022.
- title: Supreme Court Vacancy Filled
  year: 2022
  description: Biden appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court in June 2022 after Stephen Breyer's retirement, fundamentally altering the court's ideological composition for a generation.
- title: Inflation Crisis and Federal Reserve Response
  year: 2022
  description: Pandemic-era stimulus and supply chain disruptions under Biden's watch contributed to inflation reaching 9.1% by June 2022, prompting aggressive interest rate hikes by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
- title: Ukraine Military Aid and NATO Expansion
  year: 2022
  description: Following Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Biden authorized over $50 billion in military aid and presided over NATO's expansion with Finnish membership, reshaping Cold War-era security architecture.
archiveSnapshots: []
categories:
- election
metaDescription: Biden defeats Trump in contentious election. Democrats gain Senate control. Capitol riot follows disputed results. Voting record turnout reshapes American politics.
originSignals:
- "wikipedia:us-presidential-election-2020"
geo:
lat: 39.7837304
lng: -100.445882
place: United States
note: Location inferred from recap.country via OSM Nominatim.
significance: 25
heroImageAlt: A map of the United States showing the results of the 2020 presidential election, with blue states representing Biden's victories and red states representing Trump's victories, each labeled with their respective electoral votes.
translations:
es:
lede: El 3 de noviembre de 2020, los estadounidenses eligieron al demócrata Joe Biden como presidente, derrotando el intento de reelección del republicano Donald Trump. Biden ganó 306 votos electorales y más de 81 millones de votos populares, los más jamás emitidos para un candidato, mientras que Trump disputó los resultados durante meses después. La elección reformó las prácticas de votación a través de la votación por correo masivo durante la pandemia de COVID-19 y expuso grietas severas en cómo los estadounidenses veían la integridad de sus elecciones.
summaryShort: Joe Biden derrotó al presidente en funciones Donald Trump en las elecciones presidenciales del 3 de noviembre de 2020, ganando 306 votos electorales contra 232 de Trump y asegurando el voto popular por más de 7 millones de votos.
summaryLong: |-
  Las elecciones presidenciales estadounidenses de 2020 tuvieron lugar el 3 de noviembre, enfrentando al candidato demócrata Joe Biden contra el presidente republicano en funciones Donald Trump. Biden, el exvicepresidente de 77 años bajo Barack Obama, se presentó con una plataforma centrada en la respuesta a la pandemia de COVID-19, recuperación económica y restauración de normas institucionales. Trump buscaba un segundo mandato después de cuatro años marcados por guerras comerciales, recortes fiscales y dos procedimientos de destitución. La elección se convirtió en la más cara de la historia estadounidense, con gastos superiores a $14 mil millones.

  La pandemia reformó cómo votaban los estadounidenses. La votación por correo se disparó a niveles sin precedentes, con más de 101 millones de votos tempranos emitidos antes del Día de Elecciones, casi el 73% de la participación total. Este cambio se convirtió en un punto de conflicto, ya que Trump disputó repetidamente la seguridad de los votos por correo sin evidencia, mientras que funcionarios electorales de ambos partidos afirmaron la integridad del proceso. La participación alcanzó el 66,1% de los votantes elegibles, la más alta desde 1900.

  Biden ganó 306 votos electorales contra 232 de Trump, cambiando Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania y Wisconsin, estados que Trump había ganado en 2016. En el voto popular, Biden recibió 81,3 millones de votos (51,3%) en comparación con los 74,2 millones de Trump (46,9%), un margen de aproximadamente 7,1 millones de votos. El recuento de Georgia en noviembre y diciembre confirmó la estrecha victoria de Biden de 11.779 votos allí, marcando la primera victoria presidencial demócrata del estado desde 1992.

  Trump cuestionó los resultados, afirmando sin evidencia creíble que la elección fue robada por fraude generalizado. Sus desafíos legales fallaron en más de 60 casos judiciales, incluyendo ante jueces que él había designado. El 6 de enero de 2021, Trump realizó un mitin en Washington que precedió a un motín en el Capitolio mientras el Congreso se reunía para certificar los votos electorales. Biden fue investido el 20 de enero de 2021.

  La elección reveló polarización profunda: las encuestas de salida mostraron que el 94% de los republicanos votó por Trump, mientras que el 92% de los demócratas votó por Biden. También demostró la persistencia del sistema del Colegio Electoral a pesar del margen de voto popular dominante de Biden, una dinámica que moldeó cómo ambas campañas invirtieron sus recursos en los estados en disputa.
generatedAt: "2026-06-03T11:01:56.628Z"
fr:
lede: Le 3 novembre 2020, les Américains ont élu le démocrate Joe Biden à la présidence, mettant fin aux tentatives de réélection du républicain Donald Trump. Biden a remporté 306 voix électorales et plus de 81 millions de votes populaires – le plus jamais obtenu par un candidat – tandis que Trump a contesté les résultats pendant plusieurs mois. L'élection a redéfini les pratiques de vote par le biais du scrutin par correspondance massif pendant la pandémie de COVID-19 et a exposé de profondes divisions sur la manière dont les Américains percevaient l'intégrité de leurs élections.
summaryShort: Joe Biden a battu le sortant Donald Trump à l'élection présidentielle du 3 novembre 2020, remportant 306 voix électorales contre 232 pour Trump et s'assurant le vote populaire avec une majorité de plus de 7 millions de voix.
summaryLong: |-
  L'élection présidentielle américaine de 2020 s'est déroulée le 3 novembre, opposant le candidat démocrate Joe Biden au président républicain sortant Donald Trump. Biden, ancien vice-président âgé de 77 ans sous Barack Obama, a mené campagne sur une plateforme centrée sur la réponse à la pandémie de COVID-19, la reprise économique et la restauration des normes institutionnelles. Trump cherchait un deuxième mandat après quatre ans marqués par les guerres commerciales, les réductions d'impôts et deux procédures de destitution. L'élection est devenue la plus coûteuse de l'histoire américaine, avec des dépenses dépassant 14 milliards de dollars.

  La pandémie a transformé le vote des Américains. Le vote par correspondance a connu une augmentation sans précédent, avec plus de 101 millions de votes anticipés avant le jour du scrutin – près de 73 % du taux de participation total. Ce changement est devenu un point de friction, Trump contestant à plusieurs reprises la sécurité des bulletins de vote par correspondance sans preuve, tandis que les responsables électoraux des deux partis affirmaient l'intégrité du processus. La participation a atteint 66,1 % des électeurs admissibles, la plus élevée depuis 1900.

  Biden a remporté 306 voix électorales contre 232 pour Trump, basculant l'Arizona, la Géorgie, le Michigan, la Pennsylvanie et le Wisconsin – des États que Trump avait remportés en 2016. Au vote populaire, Biden a reçu 81,3 millions de votes (51,3 %) contre 74,2 millions (46,9 %) pour Trump, une marge d'environ 7,1 millions de votes. Le recomptage en Géorgie en novembre et décembre a confirmé la victoire étroite de Biden avec 11 779 votes de marge, marquant la première victoire électorale démocrate de cet État depuis 1992.

  Trump a contesté les résultats, affirmant sans preuve crédible que l'élection avait été volée par la fraude électorale généralisée. Ses contestations judiciaires ont échoué dans plus de 60 procès, y compris devant des juges qu'il avait nommés. Le 6 janvier 2021, Trump a tenu un rassemblement à Washington qui a précédé une émeute au Capitole alors que le Congrès se réunissait pour certifier les voix électorales. Biden a été investi le 20 janvier 2021.

  L'élection a révélé une polarisation profonde : les sondages à la sortie des urnes montraient que 94 % des Républicains ont voté pour Trump, tandis que 92 % des Démocrates ont voté pour Biden. Elle a également démontré la persistance du système du Collège électoral malgré la majorité électorale écrasante de Biden, une dynamique qui a façonné la façon dont les deux campagnes ont investi leurs ressources dans les États décisifs.
generatedAt: "2026-06-03T11:02:04.051Z"
de:
lede: Am 3. November 2020 wählten Amerikaner den Demokraten Joe Biden zum Präsidenten und stoppten damit die Wiederwahl des Republikaners Donald Trump. Biden gewann 306 Wahlmännerstimmen und über 81 Millionen Volksstimmen – die meisten, die je für einen Kandidaten abgegeben wurden – während Trump die Ergebnisse monatelang danach anfechtete. Die Wahl veränderte Wahlpraktiken durch Massenpostwahl während der COVID-19-Pandemie und offenbarte tiefe Risse darüber, wie Amerikaner die Integrität ihrer Wahlen bewerteten.
summaryShort: Joe Biden besiegte den amtierenden Donald Trump in der Präsidentschaftswahl vom 3. November 2020 und gewann 306 Wahlmännerstimmen gegenüber Trumps 232 sowie die Volksstimme mit über 7 Millionen Stimmen Vorsprung.
summaryLong: |-
  Die Präsidentschaftswahl in den Vereinigten Staaten fand am 3. November statt und setzte den demokratischen Herausforderer Joe Biden gegen den republikanischen Amtsinhaber Donald Trump an. Biden, der 77-jährige ehemalige Vizepräsident unter Barack Obama, trat mit einem Programm an, das auf Reaktion auf die COVID-19-Pandemie, wirtschaftliche Erholung und Wiederherstellung institutioneller Normen ausgerichtet war. Trump strebte eine zweite Amtszeit nach vier Jahren an, die von Handelskriegen, Steuersenkungen und zwei Amtsenthebungsverfahren geprägt waren. Die Wahl wurde zur teuersten in der U.S.-Geschichte, mit Ausgaben von über 14 Milliarden Dollar.

  Die Pandemie veränderte, wie Amerikaner wählten. Die Postwahl stieg auf beispiellose Niveaus an, mit über 101 Millionen frühen Stimmen vor dem Wahltag – fast 73% der Gesamtwahlbeteiligung. Dieser Wechsel wurde zum Streitpunkt, da Trump wiederholt ohne Belege die Sicherheit von Postwahl-Stimmzetteln anzweifelte, während Wahlbeamte beider Parteien die Integrität des Prozesses bestätigten. Die Wahlbeteiligung erreichte 66,1% der wahlberechtigten Wähler, die höchste seit 1900.

  Biden gewann 306 Wahlmännerstimmen gegenüber Trumps 232 und drehte Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania und Wisconsin um – Staaten, die Trump 2016 gewonnen hatte. Bei der Volksstimme erhielt Biden 81,3 Millionen Stimmen (51,3%) gegenüber Trumps 74,2 Millionen (46,9%), ein Vorsprung von ungefähr 7,1 Millionen Stimmen. Georgias Neuauszählung im November und Dezember bestätigte Bidens knappen Sieg mit 11.779 Stimmen dort, markierend Georgias ersten demokratischen Präsidentschaftssieg seit 1992.

  Trump bestritt die Ergebnisse und behauptete ohne glaubwürdige Belege, dass die Wahl durch weit verbreiteten Wahlbetrug gestohlen worden war. Seine rechtlichen Anfechtungen scheiterten in über 60 Gerichtsverfahren, einschließlich vor Richtern, die er ernannt hatte. Am 6. Januar 2021 hielt Trump eine Kundgebung in Washington ab, die einem Aufruhr am Capitol vorausging, als der Kongress zusammenkam, um Wahlmännerstimmen zu bestätigen. Biden wurde am 20. Januar 2021 vereidigt.

  Die Wahl offenbarte tiefe Polarisierung: Ausgangsumfragen zeigten, dass 94% der Republikaner für Trump und 92% der Demokraten für Biden stimmten. Sie demonstrierte auch die Beständigkeit des Electoral-College-Systems trotz Bidens überwältigender Volksstimmen-Mehrheit, eine Dynamik, die prägte, wie beide Kampagnen ihre Ressourcen über Swing States verteilten.
generatedAt: "2026-06-03T11:02:14.820Z"
