The bitter and increasingly tight contest between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden turned on a handful of battlegrounds such as Pennsylvania and Michigan, dashing hopes for a decisive victory for either candidate.
Trump was projected to win the battleground states of Florida and Texas while the Democratic former vice president secured an early lead in Arizona. But many states remained up for grabs early Wednesday as ballots were being counted, and some state officials began to signal the tallying would continue well into the day.
Democrats' hope that Biden could bring the race to an early close by capturing Florida evaporated early Wednesday. Republicans breathed another sigh of relief when must-win Ohio was added to Trump's column. Biden made an unplanned visit to the Buckeye State on Monday, hoping the state might be within his reach on Election Day.
But while Trump racked up a number of early wins, the overall race remained too close to call, with officials in several key battlegrounds indicating that they had a large share of outstanding absentee ballots. Polling indicated those votes are more likely than not to tilt in Biden's favor, but whether those votes would be enough for the Democrat was unclear.
Biden thanked his supporters an early Wednesday rally, saying he was confident of victory against Trump based on support in Arizona and the so-called “blue wall” of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
“Keep the faith, guys,” Biden told a cheering crowd honking their car horns outside Chase Center on the Riverfront. “We’re going to win this.”
Biden told the crowd their patience was commendable. But he said it was well known before voting ended Tuesday that it would take a while to count record early voting by mail. “We’re going to have to be patient,” he said. “It ain’t over until every vote is counted, ballot is counted.”
Trump said he would also address supporters Wednesday.
Millions turned out for an election that will decide how the nationresponds to a pandemic that has killed a quarter of a million Americans, bolsters an economy that has taken a beating from the virus and heals deep divisions over racial injustice.
Get the Coronavirus Watch newsletter in your inbox.
Stay safe and informed with updates on the spread of the coronavirus
Delivery: Varies
Your Email
Trump and Biden each claimed early and predictable state calls, with Trump projected to win Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and North and South Dakota. Biden locked downa slew of blue states in the Northeast, including his home state of Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York.
As the night progressed, Biden kept Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, California and Washington state in Democrats' column. Trump retained Kansas, Idaho and Utah.
Biden was projected to win both Minnesota and New Hampshire, two of the few states Trump lost in 2016 that the campaign hoped to flip. Trump had campaigned in both states in the final weeks.
As Americans settled down to watch the earlier returns, campaign aides and political prognosticators began pouring over Election Day survey data to try to glean some clues about the electorate's mood. The pandemic was foremost on voters' minds, according to a survey of votersthe electorate, conducted by the Associated Press.
Forty-two percent said it's the most important issue facing the country, by far the highest response to the question. Twenty-seven percent picked the economy, which is related.
Nearly all – 95% – said the federal government's response to the pandemic was a factor in deciding how to vote. The same share said the economic downturn was also factor. That's a slightly higher share than said the same of protests over police violence (92%) or Supreme Court nominations (90%).
And more voters disapproved of Trump's handling of the pandemic than approved: 58% to 42%.
By the end of an emotionally draining and bitter contest, the two candidates had spent more money than any campaign in history and were expected to generate record turnout, with more than 100 million Americans casting ballots before any polling location opened on Election Day. Long lines formed at schools and government buildings, underscoring the significance of the choice for many voters.