2020 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania

2020 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania

← 2016 November 3, 2020 2024 →
Turnout76.5%
 
Nominee Joe Biden Donald Trump
Party Democratic Republican
Home state Delaware Florida
Running mate Kamala Harris Mike Pence
Electoral vote 20 0
Popular vote 3,458,229 3,377,674
Percentage 50.01% 48.84%


President before election

Donald Trump
Republican

Elected President

Joe Biden
Democratic

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. 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.

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. The following morning, November 7, at the same time that the Trump campaign was holding a press conference outside of a Philadelphia landscaping business, nearly all major news organizations followed suit and called Pennsylvania for Biden, proclaiming him President-elect.

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. 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. 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.

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

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. On March 26, Pennsylvania joined several other states in moving its primary to June 2 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Republican primary

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.

2020 Pennsylvania Republican presidential primary
Candidate Votes % Delegates
Donald Trump 1,053,616 92.1% 34
Bill Weld 69,427 6.1% 0
Rocky De La Fuente 20,456 1.8% 0
Total 1,143,499 100% 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).

Democratic primary

2020 Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary
Candidate Votes % Delegates
Joe Biden 1,264,624 79.26 151
Bernie Sanders (withdrawn) 287,834 18.04 35
Tulsi Gabbard (withdrawn) 43,050 2.70
Total 1,595,508 100% 186

Green Caucus

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

General election

Final predictions

Source Ranking
The Cook Political Report Lean D (flip)
Inside Elections Lean D (flip)
Sabato's Crystal Ball Lean D (flip)
Politico Lean D (flip)
RCP Tossup
Niskanen Likely D (flip)
CNN Lean D (flip)
The Economist Likely D (flip)
CBS News Lean D (flip)
270towin Lean D (flip)
ABC News Lean D (flip)
NPR Lean D (flip)
NBC News Lean D (flip)
538 Likely D (flip)

Polling

Graphical summary

Aggregate polls

Source of poll
aggregation
Dates
administered
Dates
updated
Joe
Biden

Democratic
Donald
Trump

Republican
Other/
Undecided
Margin
270 to Win October 22 – November 2, 2020 November 3, 2020 49.4% 45.7% 4.9% Biden +3.7
Real Clear Politics October 29 – November 2, 2020 November 3, 2020 48.7% 47.5% 3.8% Biden +1.2
FiveThirtyEight until November 2, 2020 November 3, 2020 50.2% 45.6% 4.2% Biden +4.6
Average 49.4% 46.3% 4.3% Biden +3.1

2020 polls

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump

Republican
Joe
Biden

Democratic
Jo
Jorgensen

Libertarian
Howie
Hawkins

Green
Other Undecided
Susquehanna Polling & Research Inc. Nov 1–2 499 (LV) ± 4.3% 49% 48% 1% - 0% 0%
SurveyMonkey/Axios Oct 20 – Nov 2 6,045 (LV) ± 2% 47% 52% - -
Pulse Opinion Research/Rasmussen Reports Oct 31 – Nov 1 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 47% 50% - - 1%
Research Co. Oct 31 – Nov 1 450 (LV) ± 4.6% 46% 52% - - 2% 4%
AYTM/Aspiration Oct 30 – Nov 1 340 (LV) 49% 51% - -
Change Research/CNBC Oct 29 – Nov 1 699 (LV) ± 3.71% 46% 50% 2% - 2%
Marist College/NBC Oct 29 – Nov 1 772 (LV) ± 4.4% 46% 51% - - 1% 2%
Monmouth University Oct 28 – Nov 1 502(RV) ± 4.4% 45% 50% 1% - 0% 4%
502 (LV) 44% 51% - -
45% 50% - -
Swayable Archived November 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Oct 27 – Nov 1 1,107 (LV) ± 3.9% 48% 50% 2% -
Data for Progress Oct 27 – Nov 1 1,417 (LV) ± 2.6% 45% 52% 2% 0% 0%
Ipsos/Reuters Oct 27 – Nov 1 673 (LV) ± 4.3% 45% 51% 1% 1% 2%
44% 51% - - 3% 2%
46% 52% - - 2%
Trafalgar Oct 30–31 1,062 (LV) ± 2.93% 48% 46% 2% - 1% 4%
Frederick Polls/Compete Everywhere Oct 30–31 879 (LV) ± 3% 48% 52% - -
Insider Advantage/Center for American Greatness[permanent dead link] Oct 30–31 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 48.7% 47.4% 1.3% - 2.6%
Siena College/NYT Upshot Oct 26–31 1,862 (LV) ± 2.4% 43% 49% 2% - 0% 5%
Morning Consult Oct 22–31 2,686 (LV) ± 2% 43% 52% - -
Emerson College Oct 29–30 823 (LV) ± 3.3% 47% 52% - - 2%
AtlasIntel Oct 29–30 672 (LV) ± 4% 50% 49% - - 2%
Targoz Market Research/PollSmart Oct 25–30 998 (LV) 42% 56% - - 2%
Public Policy Polling/American Bridge PAC Oct 28–29 1,012 (V) 45% 52% - - 3%
Redfield & Wilton Strategies Oct 26–29 2,125 (LV) 45% 50% 1% - 1% 3%
Harvard-Harris/The Hill Oct 26–29 901 (LV) 46% 51% - - 3%
ABC/Washington Post Oct 24–29 824 (LV) ± 4% 44% 51% 3% - 0% 1%
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Oct 23–28 419 (LV) ± 5.5% 44% 49% - - 4% 2%
SurveyMonkey/Axios Oct 1–28 10,599 (LV) ± 1.5% 46% 52% - - -
RMG Research/PoliticalIQ Archived October 29, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Oct 25–27 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 45% 51% - - 2% 2%
44% 52% - - 2% 2%
47% 49% - - 2% 2%
Quinnipiac University Oct 23–27 1,324 (LV) ± 2.7% 44% 51% - - 1% 4%
Swayable Oct 23–26 491 (LV) ± 6% 46% 52% 2% -
Civiqs/Daily Kos Oct 23–26 1,145 (LV) ± 3% 45% 52% - - 2% 1%
Ipsos/Reuters Oct 20–26 655 (LV) ± 4.4% 44% 51% 3% 0% 1%
45% 50% - - 3% 2%
Insider Advantage/Center for American Greatness Oct 25 400 (LV) ± 4.9% 48.5% 45.5% 3.3% - 2.8%
Trafalgar Group Oct 24–25 1,076 (LV) ± 2.91% 48% 48% 2% - 1% 1%
Wick Surveys Oct 24–25 1,000 (LV) ± 3.1% 49% 47% - -
Franklin & Marshall College Oct 19–25 558 (LV) ± 5% 44% 50% 2% - 1% 3%
Univision/University of Houston/Latino
Decisions/North Star Opinion Research
Oct 17–25 723 (RV) ± 3.64% 45% 50% - - 3% 2%
Gravis Marketing Oct 23 602 (LV) ± 4% 44% 51% - - 5%
Public Policy Polling/American Bridge PAC Oct 21–22 980 (V) 46% 51% - - 4%
Civiqs/Dan Hopkins Oct 17–21 1,577 (A) 3% 46% 52% - - 2%
YouGov/University of Wisconsin-Madison Oct 13–21 669 (LV) ± 4.45% 44% 52% - - 3%
Citizen Data Oct 17–20 1,000 (LV) ± 3.1% 39% 44% 9% 0% 1% 7%
CNN/SSRS[permanent dead link] Oct 15–20 843 (LV) ± 4% 43% 53% 2% - 1% 1%
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Archived November 3, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Oct 13–20 416 (LV) ± 5.5% 44% 51% - - 2% 4%
Morning Consult Oct 11–20 2,563 (LV) ± 1.9% 43% 52% - -
Fox News Oct 18–19 1,045 (LV) ± 3% 45% 50% 1% - 1% 2%
Pulse Opinion Research/Rasmussen Reports Oct 18–19 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 47% 50% - - 2% 3%
Quinnipiac University Oct 16–19 1,241 (LV) ± 2.8% 43% 51% - - 1% 5%
Change Research/CNBC Oct 16–19 574 (LV) 47% 49% - -
Suffolk University/USA Today[1] Oct 15–19 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 42% 49% 1% - 4% 4%
Ipsos/Reuters Oct 13–19 653 (LV) ± 4.4% 45% 49% 2% 0% 3%
45% 49% - - 3% 4%
Trafalgar Group/Restoration PAC Oct 13–15 1,041 (LV) ± 2.96% 46% 48% 3% - 2% 2%
HarrisX/The Hill Oct 12–15 1,289 (LV) 46% 51% - -
Insider Advantage/Center for American Greatness Archived October 17, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Oct 12–13 400 (LV) ± 4.9% 43% 46% 2% - 9%
Redfield & Wilton Strategies Oct 10–13 1,289 (LV) 43% 51% 1% 0%
Trafalgar Group Oct 10–12 1,034 (LV) ± 2.97% 45% 47% 3% - 3% 2%
RMG Research/PoliticalIQ Archived October 14, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Oct 7–12 800 (LV) 43% 49% 1% 1% 6%
42% 50% 1% 1% 6%
45% 47% 1% 1% 6%
Civiqs/Rust Belt Rising Oct 8–11 600 (LV) ± 4.2% 45% 52% - - 2% 1%
Ipsos/Reuters Oct 6–11 622 (LV) ± 4.5% 45% 51% 1% 0% 2%
44% 51% - - 1% 4%
Morning Consult Oct 2–11 2,610 (LV) ± 1.9% 44% 52% - -
Redfield & Wilton Strategies Oct 9–10 1,145 (LV) 44% 49% 1% -
Whitman Insight Strategies Oct 5–9 517 (LV) ± 4.3% 46% 51% - - 1% 3%
Baldwin Wallace University Sep 30 – Oct 8 1,140 (LV) ± 3.1% 45% 50% 1% 0% 0% 4%
YouGov/CCES Archived November 1, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Sep 29 – Oct 7 2,703 (LV) 44% 52% - -
Redfield & Wilton Strategies Oct 4–6 927 (LV) ± 3.22% 42% 49% 1% - 1% 7%
Emerson College Oct 4–5 688 (LV) ± 3.7% 47% 51% - - 2%
Quinnipiac University Oct 1–5 1,211 (LV) ± 2.8% 41% 54% - - 1% 3%
Ipsos/Reuters Sep 29 – Oct 5 605 (LV) ± 4.5% 45% 50% - - 2% 3%
Change Research/CNBC Oct 2–4 468 (LV) 46% 50% - -
Monmouth University Sep 30 – Oct 4 500 (RV) ± 4.4% 42% 54% 1% - 0% 2%
500 (LV) 43% 54% - -
45% 53% - -
YouGov/CBS Sep 30 – Oct 2 1,287 (LV) ± 3.2% 44% 51% - - 2% 5%
Siena College/NYT Upshot Sep 30 – Oct 2 706 (LV) ± 4.1% 42% 49% 3% - 0% 5%
SurveyMonkey/Axios Sep 1–30 4,613 (LV) 46% 52% - - 2%
ABC News/Washington Post Sep 21–26 567 (LV) ± 5.0% 45% 54% - - 0% 1%
Siena College/NYT Upshot Sep 25–27 711 (LV) ± 4.3% 40% 49% 2% - 0% 8%
TIPP/The Federalist Sep 24–26 774 (LV) ± 3.6% 45% 50% - - 1% 4%
Redfield & Wilton Strategies Sep 23–25 1,015 (LV) ± 3.08% 44% 50% 0% 1% 5%
Fox News Sep 20–23 856 (LV) ± 3% 44% 51% 2% 1% 2%
910 (RV) ± 3% 43% 51% 2% 2% 3%
Baldwin Wallace University Sep 9–22 1,012 (LV) ± 3.6% 45% 47% 2% 0% 1% 5%
Trafalgar Group/Restoration PAC Sep 18–21 1,006 (LV) ± 2.99% 46% 48% 1% 1% 2% 2%
YouGov/UW-Madison Elections Research
Center/Wisconsin State Journal
Sep 10–21 642 (LV) 45% 49% - -
Change Research/CNBC Sep 18–20 579 (LV) 45% 49% - -
Franklin & Marshall College Sep 14–20 480 (LV) ± 7.8% 42% 48% - -
Hart Research Associates/Human Rights Campaign[permanent dead link] Sep 17–19 400 (LV) ± 4.9% 42% 53% - -
CPEC Sep 15–17 830 (LV) ± 2.3% 45% 50% - - 1% 4%
Trafalgar Group (R) Sep 15–17 1,006 (LV) ± 2.99% 45% 47% 2% 1% 2% 2%
Ipsos/Reuters Sep 11–16 611 (LV) ± 4.5% 46% 49% - - 2% 4%
Civiqs/Rust Belt Rising Sep 11–15 704 (RV) ± 4.4% 45% 52% - - 1% 2%
Redfield & Wilton Strategies Sep 12–14 1,036 (LV) ± 3.04% 44% 49% 1% 1% 0% 5%
Climate Nexus Sep 8–11 659 (RV) ± 4% 43% 48% - - 3% 6%
Benenson Strategy Group/GS Strategy Group/AARP Aug 28 – Sep 8 1,600 (LV) ± 2.5% 46% 49% - - 1% 4%
Marist College/NBC News Aug 31 – Sep 7 771 (LV) ± 4.4% 44% 53% - - 1% 2%
Morning Consult Aug 29 – Sep 7 2,227 (LV) ± (2%–4%) 45% 50% - -
Change Research/CNBC Sep 4–6 829 (LV) 46% 50% - - 4%
TargetSmart Archived October 4, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Sep 3–6 835 (LV) ± 3.4% 44% 51% - - 3% 3%
Susquehanna Polling & Research Inc. Aug 26 – Sep 4 498 (LV) ± 4.3% 42% 44% - - 6% 7%
Redfield & Wilton Strategies Aug 30 – Sep 3 1,053 (LV) ± 3.02% 43% 48% 1% 1% 1% 7%
Quinnipiac Archived September 3, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Aug 28 – Sep 1 1,235 (LV) ± 3% 44% 52% - - 1% 3%
ALG Research/Progressive Policy Institute Aug 26 – Sep 1 500 (LV) 44% 50% - -
Monmouth University Aug 28–31 400 (RV) ± 4.9% 45% 49% 2% 0% 1% 4%
400 (LV) 46% 49% - - 2% 3%
47% 48% - - 2% 3%
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC Aug 26–31 600 (LV) 45% 51% - - 4%
SurveyMonkey/Axios Aug 1–31 3,531 (LV) 45% 53% - - 2%
Morning Consult Aug 21–30 2,158 (LV) ± (2%–4%) 45% 49% - -
Pulse Opinion Research/Rasmussen Reports Aug 25–27 1,000 (LV) ± 3% 48% 48% - - 4%
GQR Research/Unite the Country PAC Aug 20–24 971 (LV) ± 4.4% 43% 52% - - 5%
Franklin & Marshall College Aug 17–24 681 (RV) ± 5.2% 42% 50% - - 3% 7%
Change Research/CNBC Aug 21–23 984 (LV) 46% 49% - -
Global Strategy Group/Climate Power 2020
/League of Conservation Voters/Sierra Club
Aug 13–19 801 (RV) ± 3.5% 42% 50% 2% 1% 5%
43% 53% - - 4%
Redfield and Wilton Strategies Aug 16–17 1,006 (LV) ± 3.1% 41% 48% 1% 1% 1% 8%
Civiqs/Rust Belt Rising Aug 13–17 617 (RV) 44% 51% - - 3% 1%
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Aug 11–17 416 (LV) ± 5.5% 45% 49% - - 3% 3%
Morning Consult Aug 7–16 1,777 (LV) ± (2%–4%) 44% 50% - -
Emerson College Aug 8–10 843 (LV) ± 3.8% 47% 53% - -
Change Research/CNBC Aug 7–9 456 (RV) 44% 48% - -
YouGov/CBS Aug 4–7 1,211 (LV) ± 3.7% 43% 49% - - 3% 5%
OnMessage Inc./Heritage Action Aug 2–4 400 (LV) ± 4.7% 46% 50% - - 4%
YouGov/University of Wisconsin-Madison Jul 27 – Aug 6 742 (RV) ± 4.9% 41% 50% - - 2% 5%
SurveyMonkey/Axios Jul 1–31 4,208 (LV) 48% 50% - - 2%
Change Research/CNBC[2] Jul 24–26 382 (LV) 46% 48% - -
Franklin & Marshall College Jul 20–26 667 (RV) ± 5.5% 41% 50% - - 2% 6%
Morning Consult Jul 17–26 2,092 (LV) ± 2.1% 42% 50% - -
Gravis Marketing[3] Jul 22–24 1,006 (RV) ± 3.1% 45% 48% - - 8%
Zogby Analytics Jul 21–23 809 (RV) ± 3.4% 43% 44% 4% 2% - 8%
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC Jul 17–22 600 (LV) 45% 51% - - 5%
Redfield & Wilton Strategies Jul 19–21 1,016 (LV) 41% 48% 1% 0% 2% 8%
Fox News Jul 18–20 793 (RV) ± 3.5% 39% 50% - - 5% 6%
Pulse Opinion Research/Rasmussen Reports/American Greatness PAC Archived July 31, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Jul 15–16 750 (LV) ± 4% 46% 51% - - 2% 1%
Spry Strategies/American Principles Project Jul 11–16 700 (LV) ± 3.7% 48% 47% - - 5%
Monmouth University Jul 9–13 401 (RV) ± 4.9% 40% 53% - - 3% 4%
401 (LV) 42% 52% - - 3% 3%
44% 51% - - 2% 3%
Change Research/CNBC Jul 10–12 743 (LV) 42% 50% - -
Trafalgar Group Jun 29 – Jul 2 1,062 (LV) ± 2.92% 43% 48% - - 6% 3%
SurveyMonkey/Axios Jun 8–30 2,184 (LV) 48% 50% - - 2%
Change Research/CNBC Jun 26–28 760 (LV) 44% 50% - -
Susquehanna Polling/Fox 43 Jun 15–23 715 (LV) 41% 46% - - 5% 8%
Redfield & Wilton Strategies Jun 14–16 1,125 (LV) ± 2.92% 39% 49% 1% 1% 1% 9%
Siena College/NYT Upshot Jun 8–16 651 (RV) ± 4.2% 40% 50% - - 3% 6%
Change Research/CNBC Jun 12–14 491 (LV) 46% 49% - - 3%
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC Jun 8–11 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 42% 54% - - 4%
Civiqs/Dan Hopkins Jun 6–11 1,221 (A) 3.6% 46% 49% - - 5%
Civiqs/Dan Hopkins May 30 – Jun 2 2,045 (A) 2.4% 46% 49% - - 5%
Change Research/CNBC May 29–31 579 (LV) 50% 46% - - 2% 2%
Morning Consult May 17–26 2,120 (LV) 44% 48% - -
Redfield & Wilton Strategies May 10–14 963 (LV) ± 3.2% 39% 48% - - 2% 11%
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC May 9–13 600 (LV) ± 3.0% 51% 46% - - 4%
Harper Polling (R) Archived May 1, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Apr 21–26 644 (LV) ± 3.9% 43% 49% - - 8%
Public Policy Polling Apr 20–21 1,251 (RV) 44% 51% - - 5%
Fox News Apr 18–21 803 (RV) ± 3.5% 42% 50% - -
Ipsos Apr 15–20 578 (RV) ± 5.0% 40% 46% - -
Susquehanna Research/Fox 43 Apr 14–20 693 (LV) 42% 48% - -
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC Apr 16–18 600 (RV) ± 3.0% 47% 47% - - 6%
Civiqs/Dan Hopkins Apr 4–8 1,912 (A) 2.5% 47% 47% - - 6%
Baldwin Wallace University Great Lakes Mar 17–25 973 (RV) ± 3.9% 47% 45% - - 9%
Change Research Mar 21–23 510 (LV) 50% 47% - - 4%
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC Mar 19–21 600 (RV) 47% 45% - -
Civiqs/Dan Hopkins Mar 14–18 1,589 (A) 2.7% 48% 46% - - 6%
YouGov/Yahoo News Mar 6–8 725 (RV) 40% 46% - - 5% 8%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived December 9, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 5–7 533 (RV) ± 5.3% 45% 44% - -
Civiqs/Dan Hopkins Feb 27 – Mar 3 2,462 (A) 2.2% 48% 46% - - 7%
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Feb 12–20 424 (RV) ± 5.5% 47% 47% - - 2% 4%
YouGov Feb 11–20 1,171 (RV) ± 4.0% 45% 46% - -
Quinnipiac University Archived May 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Feb 12–18 849 (RV) ± 3.4% 42% 50% - - 6% 3%
Expedition Strategies/Progressive Policies Institute Feb 6–18 500 (RV) 42% 47% - - 11%

2017–2019 polls

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump

Republican
Joe
Biden

Democratic
Other Undecided
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived December 9, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Dec 3–5, 2019 598 (LV) ± 4.3% 45% 41% 8% 6%
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Archived November 14, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Nov 4–9, 2019 410 (RV) ± 6.0% 43% 52% 4% 2%
Siena College/NYT Upshot Oct 13–25, 2019 661 (LV) ± 4.4% 45% 46%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived September 12, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Sep 7–9, 2019 527 (LV) ± 4.2% 41% 45% 14%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Jun 11–13, 2019 565 (LV) ± 4.2% 42% 43% 15%
Quinnipiac University May 9–14, 2019 978 (RV) ± 4.2% 42% 53% 1% 3%
WPA Intelligence Apr 27–30, 2019 200 (LV) ± 6.9% 45% 46% 8%
Emerson College Archived April 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 26–28, 2019 808 (RV) ± 3.4% 45% 55%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived April 3, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 19–21, 2019 632 (LV) ± 4.0% 43% 50% 4%


Former candidates and hypothetical polling

Former candidates

Donald Trump vs. Michael Bloomberg

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Michael
Bloomberg (D)
Other Undecided
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Feb 12–20, 2020 424 (RV) ± 5.5 % 48% 45% 2% 5%
Quinnipiac University Archived May 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Feb 12–18, 2020 849 (RV) ±3.4% 42% 48% 6% 3%
Expedition Strategies/Progressive Policies Institute Feb 6–18, 2020 500 (RV) 39% 48% 13%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived December 9, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Dec 3–5, 2019 598 (LV) ± 4.3% 45% 41% 9% 5%

Donald Trump vs. Pete Buttigieg

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Pete
Buttigieg (D)
Other Undecided
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Feb 12–20, 2020 424 (RV) ± 5.5 % 46% 45% 3% 5%
Expedition Strategies/Progressive Policies Institute Feb 6–18, 2020 500 (RV) 40% 46% 14%
YouGov Feb 11–20, 2020 1,171 (RV) ±4.0% 44% 44%
Quinnipiac University Archived May 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Feb 12–18, 2020 849 (RV) ±3.4% 43% 47% 8% 2%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived December 9, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Dec 3–5, 2019 598 (LV) ± 4.3% 46% 40% 7% 7%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Jun 11–13, 2019 565 (LV) ± 4.2% 45% 32% 23%
Quinnipiac University May 9–14, 2019 978 (RV) ± 4.2% 44% 45% 4% 6%

Donald Trump vs. Kamala Harris

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Kamala
Harris (D)
Other Undecided
Quinnipiac University May 9–14, 2019 978 (RV) ± 4.2% 45% 45% 3% 5%
Emerson College Archived April 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 26–28, 2019 808 (RV) ± 3.4% 49% 51%

Donald Trump vs. Amy Klobuchar

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Amy
Klobuchar (D)
Other Undecided
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Feb 12–20, 2020 424 (RV) ± 5.5 % 45% 44% 3% 8%
YouGov Feb 11–20, 2020 1,171 (RV) ±4.0% 43% 43%
Quinnipiac University Archived May 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Feb 12–18, 2020 849 (RV) ±3.4% 42% 49% 6% 4%

Donald Trump vs. Beto O'Rourke

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Beto
O'Rourke (D)
Other Undecided
Quinnipiac University May 9–14, 2019 978 (RV) ± 4.2% 46% 44% 4% 5%
Emerson College Archived April 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 26–28, 2019 808 (RV) ± 3.4% 49% 51%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived April 3, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 19–21, 2019 632 (LV) ± 4.0% 47% 40% 8%

Donald Trump vs. Bernie Sanders

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Bernie
Sanders (D)
Other Undecided
Baldwin Wallace University Great Lakes Mar 17–25, 2020 973 (RV) ± 3.9% 48% 42% 10%
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC Mar 19–21, 2020 600 (RV) 49% 43%
YouGov/Yahoo News Mar 6–8, 2020 725 (RV) 41% 43% 6% 10%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived December 9, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 5–7, 2020 533 (RV) ± 5.3 % 46% 42%
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Feb 12–20, 2020 424 (RV) ± 5.5 % 46% 49% 3% 3%
YouGov Feb 11–20, 2020 1,171 (RV) ±4.0% 45% 47%
Quinnipiac University Archived May 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Feb 12–18, 2020 849 (RV) ±3.4% 44% 48% 5% 1%
Expedition Strategies/Progressive Policies Institute Feb 6–18, 2020 500 (RV) 43% 45% 12%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived December 9, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Dec 3–5, 2019 598 (LV) ± 4.3% 48% 37% 8% 6%
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Archived November 14, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Nov 4–9, 2019 410 (RV) ± 6.0% 45% 50% 4% 1%
NYT Upshot/Siena College Oct 13–25, 2019 661 (LV) ± 4.4% 45% 44%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived September 12, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Sep 7–9, 2019 527 (LV) ± 4.2% 42% 44% 14%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Jun 11–13, 2019 565 (LV) ± 4.2% 44% 41% 15%
Quinnipiac University May 9–14, 2019 978 (RV) ± 4.2% 43% 50% 2% 3%
Tulchin Research (D) Apr 14–18, 2019 400 (LV) ± 4.9% 43% 51%
Emerson College Archived April 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 26–28, 2019 808 (RV) ± 3.4% 45% 55%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived April 3, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 19–21, 2019 632 (LV) ± 4.0% 44% 44% 8%

Donald Trump vs. Elizabeth Warren

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Elizabeth
Warren (D)
Other Undecided
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Feb 12–20, 2020 424 (RV) ± 5.5 % 47% 47% 4% 3%
YouGov Feb 11–20, 2020 1,171 (RV) ±4.0% 45% 45%
Quinnipiac University Archived May 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Feb 12–18, 2020 849 (RV) ±3.4% 44% 47% 8% 2%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived December 9, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Dec 3–5, 2019 598 (LV) ± 4.3% 47% 40% 8% 5%
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Archived November 14, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Nov 4–9, 2019 410 (RV) ± 6.0% 45% 50% 4% 1%
NYT Upshot/Siena College Oct 13–25, 2019 661 (LV) ± 4.4% 46% 44%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived September 12, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Sep 7–9, 2019 527 (LV) ± 4.2% 41% 43% 16%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Jun 11–13, 2019 565 (LV) ± 4.2% 45% 34% 21%
Quinnipiac University May 9–14, 2019 978 (RV) ± 4.2% 44% 47% 3% 4%
Emerson College Archived April 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 26–28, 2019 808 (RV) ± 3.4% 48% 52%
Zogby Analytics Aug 17–23, 2017 813 (LV) ± 3.4% 38% 46% 16%
Hypothetical polling

Donald Trump vs. Generic Democrat

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Generic
Democrat (D)
Undecided
Baldwin Wallace University/Oakland University/Ohio Northern University Mar 17–25, 2020 997 (RV) ± 3.7% 48.6% 49.2% 2.1%
Expedition Strategies/Progressive Policies Institute Feb 6–18, 2020 500 (RV) 38% 51% 11%
Baldwin Wallace University/Oakland University/Ohio Northern University Jan 8–20, 2020 1,037 (RV) ± 3.2% 39.7% 49.5% 10.7%
KFF/Cook Political Report Sep 23 – Oct 15, 2019 752 (RV) ± 4% 29% 40% 22%

Donald Trump vs. Generic Opponent

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Generic
Opponent
Undecided
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Oct 23–28, 2020 419 (LV) ± 5.5% 42% 54% 4%
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Archived November 3, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Oct 13–20, 2020 416 (LV) ± 5.5% 44% 51% 5%
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Aug 11–17, 2020 416 (LV) ± 5.5% 44% 53% 3%
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Feb 12–20, 2020 424 (RV) ± 5.5% 42% 54% 4%
Muhlenberg College/Morning Call Archived November 14, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Nov 4–9, 2019 410 (RV) ± 6.0% 42% 57% 2%
F&M/PoliticsPA Mar 18–24, 2019 540 (RV) ± 5.5% 36% 61% 4%

Electoral slates

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

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

Results by metropolitan area

9,098,998 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
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic 3,458,229 50.01 +2.55
Republican 3,377,674 48.84 +0.66
Libertarian 79,380 1.15 −1.23
Total votes 6,915,283 100% +12.16
Democratic win

Results by county

County Joe Biden

Democratic

Donald Trump

Republican

Jo Jorgensen

Libertarian

Margin Total votes
# % # % # % # %
Adams 18,207 32.20% 37,523 66.37% 810 1.43% −19,316 −34.16% 56,540
Allegheny 429,065 59.61% 282,324 39.23% 8,344 1.16% 147,846 20.48% 719,733
Armstrong 8,457 23.25% 27,489 75.58% 424 1.17% −19,032 −52.33% 36,370
Beaver 38,122 40.50% 54,759 58.18% 1,241 1.32% −16,637 −17.68% 94,122
Bedford 4,367 15.84% 23,025 83.50% 182 0.66% −18,658 −67.67% 27,574
Berks 92,895 45.20% 109,736 53.39% 2,909 1.42% −16,841 −8.19% 205,540
Blair 17,636 27.73% 45,306 71.24% 653 1.03% −27,670 −43.51% 63,595
Bradford 8,046 26.68% 21,600 71.62% 513 1.70% −13,554 −44.94% 30,159
Bucks 204,712 51.66% 187,367 47.29% 4,155 1.05% 17,345 4.38% 396,234
Butler 37,508 33.10% 74,359 65.63% 1,438 1.27% −36,851 −32.52% 113,305
Cambria 21,730 30.79% 48,085 68.13% 759 1.08% −26,355 −37.34% 70,574
Cameron 634 26.05% 1,771 72.76% 29 1.19% −1,137 −46.71% 2,434
Carbon 11,212 33.34% 21,984 65.37% 433 1.29% −10,772 −32.03% 33,629
Centre 40,055 51.69% 36,372 46.94% 1,066 1.38% 3,683 4.75% 77,493
Chester 182,372 57.99% 128,565 40.88% 3,565 1.13% 53,807 17.11% 314,502
Clarion 4,678 24.00% 14,578 74.79% 237 1.22% −9,900 −50.79% 19,493
Clearfield 9,673 24.54% 29,203 74.08% 546 1.39% −19,530 −49.54% 39,422
Clinton 5,502 31.22% 11,902 67.53% 221 1.25% −6,400 −36.31% 17,625
Columbia 10,532 33.79% 20,098 64.48% 541 1.74% −9,566 −30.69% 31,171
Crawford 12,924 30.77% 28,559 67.99% 521 1.24% −15,635 −37.22% 42,004
Cumberland 62,245 43.96% 77,212 54.53% 2,138 1.51% −14,967 −10.57% 141,595
Dauphin 78,983 53.60% 66,408 45.06% 1,977 1.34% 12,575 8.53% 147,368
Delaware 206,423 62.95% 118,532 36.15% 2,976 0.91% 87,891 26.80% 327,931
Elk 4,522 26.75% 12,140 71.81% 244 1.44% −7,618 −45.06% 16,906
Erie 68,286 49.81% 66,869 48.78% 1,928 1.41% 1,417 1.03% 137,083
Fayette 20,444 32.90% 41,227 66.35% 468 0.75% −20,783 −33.45% 62,139
Forest 728 27.51% 1,882 71.13% 36 1.36% −1,154 −43.61% 2,646
Franklin 22,422 27.76% 57,245 70.86% 1,116 1.38% −34,823 −43.11% 80,783
Fulton 1,085 13.60% 6,824 85.55% 68 0.85% −5,739 −71.94% 7,977
Greene 4,911 27.79% 12,579 71.19% 179 1.01% −7,668 −43.40% 17,669
Huntingdon 5,445 23.89% 17,061 74.86% 286 1.25% −11,616 −50.97% 22,792
Indiana 12,634 30.67% 28,089 68.18% 475 1.15% −15,455 −37.51% 41,198
Jefferson 4,527 19.83% 17,960 78.69% 337 1.48% −13,433 −58.85% 22,824
Juniata 2,253 18.71% 9,649 80.12% 141 1.17% −7,396 −61.41% 12,043
Lackawanna 61,991 53.71% 52,334 45.35% 1,085 0.94% 9,657 8.37% 115,410
Lancaster 115,847 41.34% 160,209 57.17% 4,183 1.49% −44,362 −15.83% 280,239
Lawrence 15,978 34.68% 29,597 64.24% 501 1.09% −13,619 −29.56% 46,076
Lebanon 23,932 33.40% 46,731 65.22% 989 1.38% −22,799 −31.82% 71,652
Lehigh 98,288 53.21% 84,259 45.62% 2,166 1.17% 14,029 7.60% 184,713
Luzerne 64,873 42.31% 86,929 56.70% 1,519 0.99% −22,056 −14.39% 153,321
Lycoming 16,971 28.64% 41,462 69.97% 821 1.39% −24,491 −41.33% 59,254
McKean 5,098 26.19% 14,083 72.35% 285 1.46% −8,985 −46.16% 19,466
Mercer 21,067 36.35% 36,143 62.36% 744 1.28% −15,076 −26.01% 57,954
Mifflin 4,603 21.41% 16,670 77.53% 229 1.07% −12,067 −56.12% 21,502
Monroe 44,060 52.56% 38,726 46.20% 1,043 1.24% 5,334 6.36% 83,829
Montgomery 319,511 62.63% 185,460 36.35% 5,186 1.02% 134,051 26.28% 510,157
Montour 3,771 38.59% 5,844 59.81% 156 1.60% −2,073 −21.22% 9,771
Northampton 85,087 49.78% 83,854 49.05% 2,001 1.17% 1,233 0.72% 170,942
Northumberland 12,677 29.98% 28,952 68.47% 654 1.55% −16,275 −38.49% 42,283
Perry 5,950 24.14% 18,293 74.20% 409 1.66% −12,343 −50.07% 24,652
Philadelphia 603,790 81.44% 132,740 17.90% 4,847 0.65% 471,050 63.54% 741,377
Pike 13,019 39.99% 19,213 59.02% 322 0.99% −6,194 −19.03% 32,554
Potter 1,726 19.04% 7,239 79.87% 99 1.09% −5,513 −60.82% 9,064
Schuylkill 20,727 29.36% 48,871 69.22% 1,005 1.42% −28,144 −39.86% 70,603
Snyder 4,910 25.65% 13,983 73.06% 247 1.29% −9,073 −47.40% 19,140
Somerset 8,654 21.35% 31,466 77.61% 423 1.04% −22,812 −56.27% 40,543
Sullivan 921 25.62% 2,619 72.85% 55 1.53% −1,698 −47.23% 3,595
Susquehanna 6,236 28.67% 15,207 69.91% 309 1.42% −8,971 −41.24% 21,752
Tioga 4,955 23.51% 15,742 74.70% 378 1.79% −10,787 −51.18% 21,075
Union 7,475 37.16% 12,356 61.43% 284 1.41% −4,881 −24.27% 20,115
Venango 7,585 28.59% 18,569 70.00% 374 1.41% −10,984 −41.41% 26,528
Warren 6,066 29.38% 14,237 68.94% 347 1.68% −8,171 −39.57% 20,650
Washington 45,088 38.06% 72,080 60.84% 1,310 1.11% −26,992 −22.78% 118,478
Wayne 9,191 32.72% 18,637 66.35% 261 0.93% −9,446 −33.63% 28,089
Westmoreland 72,129 35.24% 130,218 63.62% 2,350 1.15% −58,089 −28.38% 204,697
Wyoming 4,704 31.66% 9,936 66.87% 218 1.47% −5,232 −35.21% 14,858
York 88,114 36.95% 146,733 61.53% 3,624 1.52% −58,619 −24.58% 238,471
Totals 3,458,229 50.01% 3,377,674 48.84% 79,380 1.15% 81,660 1.17% 6,915,283

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

By congressional district

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

District Trump Biden Representative
1st 46.6% 52.4% Brian Fitzpatrick
2nd 29.1% 70.1% Brendan Boyle
3rd 8.1% 91.3% Dwight Evans
4th 37.4% 61.5% Madeleine Dean
5th 34% 65.1% Mary Gay Scanlon
6th 41.9% 56.9% Chrissy Houlahan
7th 47% 51.8% Susan Wild
8th 51.7% 47.3% Matt Cartwright
9th 64.5% 34.1% Dan Meuser
10th 50.7% 47.8% Scott Perry
11th 60.2% 38.3% Lloyd Smucker
12th 67.3% 31.2% Fred Keller
13th 71.6% 27.2% John Joyce
14th 63.2% 35.7% Guy Reschenthaler
15th 71.2% 27.5% Glenn Thompson
16th 58.7% 40% Mike Kelly
17th 48% 50.7% Conor Lamb
18th 34.4% 64.5% Mike Doyle

Analysis

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.

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. 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.

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. Donald Trump improved his vote share in Philadelphia by 2.5%, 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.

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. 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%. 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, declined. 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 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. 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.

Voter demographics

Edison Research exit poll
Demographic subgroup Biden Trump No
Answer
% of
Voters
Party
Democrat 92 7 N/A 40
Republican 8 91 N/A 41
Independent 52 44 N/A 19
Gender
Men 44 55 1 47
Women 55 44 1 53
Race
White 42 57 1 81
Black 92 7 1 11
Latino 69 27 4 5
Asian N/A N/A N/A 1
Other N/A N/A N/A 1
Gender by race/ethnicity
White men 37 62 1 38
White women 47 52 1 43
Black men 89 10 1 5
Black women 94 4 2 6
Latino men (of any race) N/A N/A 1 3
Latino women (of any race) 83 15 2 3
All other races 62 33 5 2
Age
18–24 years old 59 37 3 13
25–29 years old 67 31 2 6
30–39 years old 61 37 2 16
40–49 years old 52 46 2 13
50–64 years old 41 59 N/A 31
65 and older 46 53 1 28
Sexual orientation
LGBT 64 34 2 7
Heterosexual 47 52 1 93
First time voter
First time voter 52 45 3 13
Everyone else 48 52 N/A 87
Education
High school or less 35 64 1 16
Some college education 49 49 2 26
Associate degree 46 53 1 17
Bachelor's degree 54 45 1 26
Advanced degree 63 36 1 14
Education by race/ethnicity
White college graduates 54 45 1 26
White no college degree 20 79 1 35
Non-white college graduates 83 16 1 14
Non-white no college degree 80 19 1 25
Income
Under $30,000 60 37 3 15
$30,000–49,999 53 45 3 19
$50,000–99,999 53 46 1 23
$100,000–199,999 51 48 1 23
Over $200,000 N/A N/A N/A 7
Abortion should be
Legal in all cases 84 15 1 25
Legal in most cases 67 32 1 30
Illegal in most cases 17 83 1 27
Illegal in all cases 12 85 3 13
Region
Northeast 46 53 1 17
Philly Suburbs 81 18 1 11
Central 38 61 1 22
West 43 56 1 28
Source: CNN

Aftermath

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.

On November 25, 2020, the Pennsylvania Senate Majority (Republican) Policy committee held a public hearing regarding the counting of ballots in this election. Trump planned to attend the meeting but he canceled the trip.

After a group of Republican congressmen filed a lawsuit to stop certification on November 22, Judge Patricia McCullough ruled to halt further state certifications pending a hearing. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled on November 28 to unanimously overturn Judge Patricia McCullough's ruling to halt certification. 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. The rationale for the decision 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. By the time of the court's decision, the Pennsylvania election results had been certified in Biden's favor. The congressmen appealed to the US Supreme Court, but on December 8, 2020, the Supreme Court unanimously rejected the request in one sentence.

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".

Official audits

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

Objection

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. The objection failed 7–92 in the Senate, and 138–282 in the House.

See also


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