Election 2020: Presidential and Senate Races

Graphic by Maggie Prosser.

Editor's Note: This article will be updated as results come in throughout the week.

As of 5:40 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9, The New York Times projects 279 electoral votes for President-Elect Joe Biden and 214 electoral votes for President Donald Trump. Trump won Ohio by an estimated 8.1% of votes, and Athens County voted for Biden. Biden successfully flipped the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, winning him the presidency. Biden leads by slim margins in Arizona and Georgia. Georgia has announced that it will recount votes cast in the presidential election, though a recount is unlikely to change current results. Members of the Electoral College will cast their votes for president and vice president on Dec. 14.

U.S. House of Representatives Update

As of 5:40 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9, Democrats are projected to retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Twenty-three U.S. House elections have yet to be called. With 216 seats, Democrats have flipped 3 seats so far. Republicans currently have 196 seats, and have flipped 8 seats, for a net gain of 5 seats, gaining increased traction in the House.

U.S. Senate Results

Democratic Sen. Gary Peters was re-elected to the U.S. Senate in Michigan, defeating Republican John James in a close race for the seat. 

The Senate race in North Carolina has yet to be called as ballots continue to be counted. The race between incumbent Republican Senator Thom Tillis and Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham remains close, with a margin of less than 2% of votes separating both candidates. 

Former Colorado governor, John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, was elected to the U.S. Senate in Colorado. Hickenlooper defeated incumbent Republican Sen. Cory Gardner, flipping Colorado’s Senate seat.

Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham was re-elected to the U.S. Senate in South Carolina. Early results indicate that Graham defeated his Democratic challenger, Jaime Harrsion, with a wide margin, winning close to an additional 14% of the vote.

Republican Senator John Cornyn has been re-elected to the Senate in Texas, defeating Democratic challenger M.J. Hegar. Cornyn, the incumbent candidate, was favored to win according to polls.

Republican Tommy Tuberville was elected to the U.S. Senate in Alabama. In a blow to Democrats, Tuberville flipped the state, defeating incumbent Sen. Doug Jones. Polls had indicated Tuberville would win, as Jones ran against weak Republican candidate, Roy Moore, in 2017.

Republican Roger Marshall was elected to the U.S. Senate in Kansas, defeating Democrat Barbara Boiler.

Republican Doug Collins conceded in the Georgia special election for one of the state’s two U.S. Senate seats, both of which are up for election. Collins has offered support to fellow Republican, incumbent Sen. Kelly Loeffler. Loeffler will run against Democrat Raphael Warnock in a runoff election in January.

Republican incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith has been re-elected to the U.S. Senate in Mississippi. Hyde-Smith, who was favored to win in polls, defeated Democrat Mike Espy. In his concession, Espy urged his supporters to continue working toward, “a new Mississippi, a united Mississippi.”

Democrat Ben Ray Luján was elected to the U.S. Senate in New Mexico, defeating Republican Mark Ronchetti.

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst was re-elected to the U.S. Senate in Iowa. Ernst defeated Democratic challenger Theresa Greenfield.

Democratic Sen. Tina Smith has been re-elected to the U.S. Senate in Minnesota, defeating Republican challenger Jason Lewis.

Former astronaut Mark Kelly, a Democrat, has been elected to the U.S. Senate in Arizona. Kelly’s defeat of incumbent Republican Sen. Martha McSally has flipped the Senate seat.