Joe Biden Declared Winner of the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election

On November 7, 2020, Joseph R. Biden Jr. was declared the winner of the 2020 United States presidential election, defeating the incumbent President Donald J. Trump. This announcement came after a prolonged vote-counting process due to an unprecedented surge in mail-in voting, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Context and Lead-Up to the Election

The 2020 presidential election was held on November 3, 2020, amidst a backdrop of significant national challenges, including the global pandemic, economic uncertainty, and widespread social unrest. The election was characterized by:

• Record Voter Turnout: Approximately 159 million Americans voted, marking the highest voter turnout rate in over a century, with about 66.8% of eligible voters participating.
• Mail-In Voting: Due to health concerns related to COVID-19, there was a substantial increase in mail-in and early voting, which accounted for a significant portion of the ballots cast.
• Political Polarization: The election period was marked by intense political division, with stark contrasts between the Democratic and Republican platforms on issues such as healthcare, climate change, and racial justice.

Key Events on November 7, 2020

• Declaration of Victory: Major news networks, including the Associated Press, CNN, and NBC, projected Joe Biden as the winner after he secured Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral votes, surpassing the 270 electoral vote threshold needed to win the presidency.
• Electoral Vote Count: Joe Biden ultimately received 306 electoral votes to Donald Trump’s 232, reversing the outcome of the 2016 election where Trump had won by the same margin.
• Popular Vote: Biden also won the popular vote by a significant margin, receiving over 81 million votes (51.3%) compared to Trump’s 74 million (46.8%).

Aftermath and Significance

• Transition of Power: Despite initial resistance and claims of election fraud by President Trump and his allies, the transition process eventually proceeded, culminating in Biden’s inauguration on January 20, 2021.
• Historical Significance: Kamala Harris, Biden’s running mate, made history as the first female, first Black, and first South Asian Vice President of the United States.
• Impact on U.S. Politics: The election underscored deep political divides within the country but also demonstrated the resilience of democratic institutions amidst unprecedented challenges.

The 2020 election was a pivotal moment in American history, reflecting both the enduring strength of democratic processes and the ongoing challenges of political polarization.