2020 United States presidential election in Wisconsin

Last updated

2020 United States presidential election in Wisconsin
Flag of Wisconsin.svg
  2016 November 3, 2020 2024  
Turnout72.3% Increase2.svg
  Joe Biden presidential portrait (cropped).jpg Donald Trump official portrait (cropped).jpg
Nominee Joe Biden Donald Trump
Party Democratic Republican
Home state Delaware Florida
Running mate Kamala Harris Mike Pence
Electoral vote100
Popular vote1,630,8661,610,184
Percentage49.45%48.82%

Wisconsin Presidential Election Results 2020.svg
WI-20-pres-districts.svg
2020 Presidential Election in Wisconsin by Precinct.svg

President before election

Donald Trump
Republican

Elected President

Joe Biden
Democratic

The 2020 United States presidential election in Wisconsin 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. [1] Wisconsin voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, incumbent 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. Wisconsin has 10 electoral votes in the Electoral College. [2]

Contents

The 2020 Democratic National Convention was scheduled to be held at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, but it was moved to the nearby Wisconsin Center due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [3] [4]

Polls of Wisconsin in the lead-up to election day showed a clear Biden lead, averaging in the high single digits. Prior to election day, most news organizations considered that the state was leaning towards Biden. Wisconsin was ultimately won by Biden by a narrow 0.63% margin over Trump, a far closer margin than expected. Trump had won the state in 2016 by 0.77% against Hillary Clinton; however, Biden carried the state with a slightly larger margin than Al Gore or John Kerry did in either 2000 or 2004, respectively. Once again, Trump massively outperformed his polling average, which had Biden up 8.4 points in the state, but not enough to win the state. Trump held his own in counties in northern Wisconsin and also in the WOW counties. [5]

Biden won the highest vote share for a Democrat in Waukesha County, at 38.8%, since Jimmy Carter in 1976. [6] Trump carried Brown County, which is Republican-leaning but competitive, though Biden won the city of Green Bay and improved on Clinton's margin in the county at large by about 3.7 points. [7] Biden won back Sauk County, a county in the driftless region of southwestern Wisconsin; Biden also flipped Door County, which has voted for the winning candidate in each election since 1980, save for 1992.

On November 18, Trump announced that he would request a recount in Milwaukee County and Dane County. [8] [9] On November 29, both counties re-affirmed Biden's victory, giving him a net gain of 87 votes over Trump. [10]

With Ohio, Florida, and Iowa backing the losing candidate for the first time since 1960, 1992, and 2000 respectively, this election established Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania 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 losing Democrat John Kerry.

Wisconsin voted 3.77% more Republican than the nation in general. This is the first time since 2004 that Wisconsin did not vote for the same candidate as neighboring Iowa.

Primary elections

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, several states had delayed their scheduled primaries and extended the vote-by-mail period. Concerns were raised by health officials, poll workers, and voters that in-person voting at the height of the pandemic would be unsafe for vulnerable individuals. [11] Democratic Governor Tony Evers initially signed an executive order for all-mail-in election, but the order was rejected by the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature. [12]

On April 2, although U.S. District Judge William M. Conley refused to postpone the election, he extended the deadline for absentee voting to April 13 (ordering clerks not to release any election data before that date). [13] [14] However, on April 6, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Conley's decision, meaning that all absentee ballots still had to be postmarked by "election day, Tuesday, April 7" even though it was still acceptable for the ballots to be received by the clerks as late as April 13. [15] [16] The Supreme Court of the United States "did not alter the provision in Conley's amended order which prohibits the reporting of results until April 13". [17]

Governor Evers then called a special session of the legislature to postpone in-person voting, but the session ended within minutes without action, forcing the primary to go on as planned. [18] Despite having previously expressed the view that he would violate the law by doing so, [19] on April 6, Evers issued an executive order which, if enforced, would have postponed the April 7 elections until the tentative date of June 9. [20] [21] Republican leaders immediately announced that they would challenge the order in the Wisconsin Supreme Court. [20] The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Evers did not have the authority to postpone the elections, thus meaning that Evers' executive order was nullified, and that the elections would be held as scheduled on April 7. [22] This was appealed to a federal court who sided with the governor, and that was appealed to the US Supreme Court, which on a 5–4 vote, upheld the state court's ruling. [23]

Voting was somewhat chaotic, with people waiting in the rain for hours in some cases in masks and social distancing. [24] However, by the time the election concluded, Milwaukee Election Commissioner Neil Albrecht stated that despite some of the problems, the in-person voting ran smoothly. [25]

Democratic primary

2020 Wisconsin Democratic presidential primary [26]
CandidateVotes [27]  %Delegates [28]
Joe Biden 581,46362.8656
Bernie Sanders 293,44131.7228
Elizabeth Warren (withdrawn)14,0601.52
Michael Bloomberg (withdrawn)8,8460.96
Amy Klobuchar (withdrawn)6,0790.66
Tulsi Gabbard (withdrawn)5,5650.60
Pete Buttigieg (withdrawn)4,9460.53
Andrew Yang (withdrawn)3,3490.36
Tom Steyer (withdrawn)8360.09
John Delaney (withdrawn)5290.06
Michael Bennet (withdrawn)4750.05
Deval Patrick (withdrawn)3110.03
Write-in votes1,5750.17
Uninstructed Delegate3,5900.39
Total925,065100%84

Republican primary

Incumbent President Donald Trump ran unopposed in the Republican primary, and thus received all of Wisconsin's 52 delegates to the 2020 Republican National Convention. [29]

2020 Wisconsin Republican primary
CandidateVotes%Delegates
Donald Trump 616,78097.87%52
Adam Nicholas Paul (write-in)2460.04%
Uninstructed11,2461.78%
Scattering1,9240.31%
Total630,196100%52

General election

Absentee ballot drop box in Madison, Wisconsin An absentee ballot dropbox (50997674929).jpg
Absentee ballot drop box in Madison, Wisconsin

Final predictions

SourceRanking
The Cook Political Report [30] Lean D (flip)
Inside Elections [31] Lean D (flip)
Sabato's Crystal Ball [32] Lean D (flip)
Politico [33] Lean D (flip)
RCP [34] Tossup
Niskanen [35] Likely D (flip)
CNN [36] Lean D (flip)
The Economist [37] Likely D (flip)
CBS News [38] Lean D (flip)
270towin [39] Lean D (flip)
ABC News [40] Lean D (flip)
NPR [41] Lean D (flip)
NBC News [42] Lean D (flip)
538 [43] Likely D (flip)

Polling

Graphical summary

Aggregate polls

Source of poll
aggregation
Dates
administered
Dates
updated
Donald
Trump

Republican
Joe
Biden

Democratic
Other/
Undecided
[lower-alpha 1]
Margin
270 to Win November 1–2 2020November 3, 202042.8%52.0%5.2%
Real Clear Politics October 21 – November 1, 2020November 3, 202044.3%51.0%4.7%
FiveThirtyEight until November 2, 2020November 3, 202043.7%52.1%4.2%
Average43.6%51.7%4.7%Biden +8.1

2020 polls

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [lower-alpha 2]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump

Republican
Joe
Biden

Democratic
Jo
Jorgensen

Libertarian
Howie
Hawkins

Green
Other Undecided
SurveyMonkey/Axios Oct 20 – Nov 22,814 (LV)± 2.5%44% [lower-alpha 3] 54%--
Research Co. Oct 31 – Nov 1450 (LV)± 4.6%45%54%--1% [lower-alpha 4] 7%
Change Research/CNBC Oct 29 – Nov 1553 (LV)± 4.17%45%53%2%-0%
Civiqs/Daily Kos Oct 29 – Nov 1789 (LV)± 3.6%47%51%--1% [lower-alpha 4] 0%
Swayable Archived November 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Oct 27 – Nov 1253 (LV)± 8.2%45%55%1%-
Ipsos/Reuters Oct 27 – Nov 1696 (LV)± 4.2%43% [lower-alpha 5] 53%2%0%2% [lower-alpha 6]
43% [lower-alpha 7] 53%--2% [lower-alpha 8] 2%
45% [lower-alpha 9] 53%--2% [lower-alpha 10]
AtlasIntel Oct 30–31781 (LV)± 3%49%51%--1%
Susquehanna Polling & Research Inc./Center for American Greatness Archived October 31, 2020, at the Wayback Machine [upper-alpha 1] Oct 29–31450 (LV)± 4.6%46%49%--2% [lower-alpha 11] 1%
Morning Consult Oct 22–311,002 (LV)± 3%41%54%--
Emerson College Oct 29–30751 (LV)± 3.1%45% [lower-alpha 12] 52%--2% [lower-alpha 13]
AtlasIntel Oct 29–30672 (LV)± 4%50%49%--2%
CNN/SSRS Archived October 31, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Oct 29–30873 (LV)± 3.9%44%52%3%-0% [lower-alpha 14] 2%
Siena College/NYT Upshot Oct 26–301,253 (LV)± 3.2%41%52%2%-1% [lower-alpha 15] 4% [lower-alpha 16]
Redfield & Wilton Strategies Oct 26–29800 (LV)41%53%2%-1%2%
SurveyMonkey/Axios Oct 1–284,569 (LV)± 2.0%43%55%--
Swayable Oct 23–26313 (LV)± 7.2%45%54%1%-
Ipsos/Reuters Oct 20–26664 (LV)± 4.3%44% [lower-alpha 5] 53%2%1%3% [lower-alpha 17]
44% [lower-alpha 7] 53%--2% [lower-alpha 8] 2%
Trafalgar Group Oct 24–251,082 (LV)± 2.89%47%47%3%-1% [lower-alpha 4] 1%
Marquette Law School Oct 21–25749 (LV)± 4.4%43%48%2%-7% [lower-alpha 18] 0%
ABC/Washington Post Oct 20–25809 (LV)± 4%40%57%2%-1% [lower-alpha 19] 1%
Gravis Marketing Oct 23677 (LV)± 3.8%43%54%--3%
YouGov/University of Wisconsin-Madison Oct 13–21647 (LV)± 4.07%44%53%--3% [lower-alpha 20]
Fox News Oct 17–201,037 (LV)± 3%44%49%2%-1% [lower-alpha 21] 4%
RMG Research/PoliticalIQ Archived October 23, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Oct 14–20800 (LV)± 3.5%44% [lower-alpha 5] 50%--3% [lower-alpha 22] 4%
42% [lower-alpha 23] 52%--3% [lower-alpha 22] 4%
45% [lower-alpha 24] 48%--3% [lower-alpha 22] 4%
Morning Consult Oct 11–201,038 (LV)± 3%42%54%--
Susquehanna Polling and Research Inc./Center for American Greatness Archived October 23, 2020, at the Wayback Machine [upper-alpha 1] Oct 16–19500 (LV)± 4.3%45%45%5%-3% [lower-alpha 25] 3%
Change Research/CNBC Oct 16–19447 (LV) [lower-alpha 26] 44%52%--
Latino Decisions/DFER [upper-alpha 2] Oct 14–19400 (LV)± 5%45%50%--4%
Ipsos/Reuters Oct 13–19663 (LV)± 4.3%45% [lower-alpha 5] 51%2%0%3% [lower-alpha 27]
43% [lower-alpha 7] 51%--3% [lower-alpha 28] 3%
Trafalgar Group Oct 14–161,051 (LV)± 2.94%46%48%2%-1%3%
YouGov/CBS Oct 13–161,112 (LV)± 3.5%45%50%--3% [lower-alpha 29] 2%
Trafalgar Group/Restoration PAC [upper-alpha 3] Oct 11–131,043 (LV)± 2.95%45%47%3%2% [lower-alpha 13] 3%
Redfield & Wilton Strategies Oct 10–13691 (LV)40% [lower-alpha 26] 53%2%0%
David Binder Research/Focus on Rural America Oct 10–13200 (LV)43%53%--
Civiqs/Rust Belt Rising [upper-alpha 4] Oct 8–11560 (LV)± 4.4%45%53%--2% [lower-alpha 13] 1%
Siena College/NYT Upshot Oct 8–11789 (LV)± 4%41%51%3%-0% [lower-alpha 30] 5% [lower-alpha 16]
Ipsos/Reuters Oct 6–11577 (LV)± 4.7%45% [lower-alpha 5] 51%2%0%1% [lower-alpha 17]
44% [lower-alpha 7] 51%--3% [lower-alpha 28] 2%
Morning Consult Oct 2–111,067 (LV)± 3%44%51%--
Redfield & Wilton Strategies Oct 9–10613 (LV)45% [lower-alpha 26] 49%2%-
Baldwin Wallace University Sep 30 – Oct 8883 (LV)± 3.4%43%49%2%0%1% [lower-alpha 31] 6%
Redfield & Wilton Strategies Oct 4–7688 (LV)± 3.74%41%51%1%-1% [lower-alpha 32] 6%
Ipsos/Reuters Sep 29 – Oct 5601 (LV)± 4.6%44%50%--2% [lower-alpha 8] 4%
Change Research/CNBC Oct 2–4442 (LV)44%51%--
Marquette Law School Sep 30 – Oct 4805 (RV)41%46%5%-7% [lower-alpha 33] 2%
700 (LV)42%47%4%-2% [lower-alpha 34] 1%
SurveyMonkey/Axios Sep 1–303,806 (LV)44%53%--2%
Trafalgar Group/Restoration PAC [upper-alpha 3] Sep 25–281,084 (LV)± 2.89%44%47%3%-2% [lower-alpha 35] 3%
Redfield & Wilton Strategies Sep 23–27663 (LV)± 3.81%43%48%2%-0% [lower-alpha 36] 7%
Susquehanna Polling & Research Inc./Center for American Greatness [upper-alpha 1] Sep 23–26500 (LV)± 4.3%46%48%--
Trafalgar Group (R) Sep 22–241,189 (LV)± 2.76%45%48%3%-2% [lower-alpha 35] 3%
Marist College/NBC Sep 20–24727 (LV)± 4.6%44%54%--1%1%
Baldwin Wallace University Sep 9–22863 (LV)± 3.7%41%50%2%0%1% [lower-alpha 31] 6%
YouGov/UW-Madison Elections Research
Center/Wisconsin State Journal
Sep 10–21664 (LV)46%50%--
Change Research/CNBC Sep 18–20571 (LV)42%51%--
Hart Research Associates/Human Rights Campaign [ permanent dead link ] [upper-alpha 5] Sep 17–19400 (LV)± 4.9%44%51%--
Redfield & Wilton Strategies Sep 12–16636 (LV)± 3.89%41%47%1%1%1% [lower-alpha 32] 10%
Ipsos/Reuters Sep 11–16609 (LV)43%48%--2% [lower-alpha 8] 6%
Morning Consult Sep 7–16800 (LV)± 3.5%42% [lower-alpha 37] 51%--
Civiqs/Rust Belt Rising [upper-alpha 4] Sep 11–15549 (RV)± 3.9%44% [lower-alpha 26] 51%--2% [lower-alpha 13] 2%
Morning Consult Sep 6–15800 (LV)± 3.5%42%51%--
CNN/SSRS Sep 9–13816 (LV)± 4.2%42%52%3%-1% [lower-alpha 38] 1%
ABC/Washington Post Sep 8–13605 (LV)± 4.5%46%52%--1% [lower-alpha 39] 1%
Siena College/NYT Upshot Sep 8–10760 (LV)± 4.7%43%48%2%0%2% [lower-alpha 40] 6% [lower-alpha 16]
Emerson College Sep 6–8823 (LV)± 3.4%45% [lower-alpha 12] 52%--4% [lower-alpha 41]
Benenson Strategy Group/GS Group/AARP Aug 28 – Sep 81,200 (LV)± 2.8%45%50%--1% [lower-alpha 42] 4%
Change Research/CNBC Sep 4–6501 (LV)44%50%--6% [lower-alpha 43]
Morning Consult Aug 27 – Sep 5763 (LV)± 3.5%44%50%--
YouGov/CBS Sep 2–4978 (LV)± 3.7%44%50%--2% [lower-alpha 44] 4%
Redfield & Wilton Strategies Aug 30 – Sep 4670 (LV)± 3.78%41%50%2%0%0% [lower-alpha 36] 6%
Marquette Law School Aug 30 – Sep 3688 (LV)44%48%4%-2% [lower-alpha 45] 2%
Pulse Opinion Research/Rasmussen Reports Sep 1–21,000 (LV)± 3%43%51%--3% [lower-alpha 46] 2%
Fox News Aug 29 – Sep 1801 (LV)± 3.5%42%50%2%1% [lower-alpha 47] 5%
853 (RV)± 3%41%49%2%2% [lower-alpha 48] 5%
SurveyMonkey/Axios Aug 1–311,913 (LV)49%48%--2%
Opinium/The Guardian Aug 21–28700 (LV)40%53%--1%5%
Morning Consult Aug 17–26797 (LV)± 3.5%42%52%--
Change Research/CNBC Aug 21–23925 (LV)44%49%--
Trafalgar Group Aug 14–231,011 (LV)± 2.99%46%45%4%-2% [lower-alpha 49] 3%
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC [upper-alpha 3] Aug 17–20600 (LV)44%52%--4%
Redfield and Wilton Strategies Aug 13–17672 (LV)± 3.9%40%49%1%1%2% [lower-alpha 50] 7%
Civiqs/Rust Belt Rising [upper-alpha 4] Aug 13–17753 (RV)45%51%--2% [lower-alpha 13] 2%
Morning Consult Aug 7–16788 (LV)± 3.5%43% [lower-alpha 51] 49%--2% [lower-alpha 13] 5%
Morning Consult Aug 4–13797 (LV)± 3.5%43%50%--
Change Research/CNBC Aug 6–9384 (LV)43%47%--
Marquette Law School Aug 4–9694 (LV)± 3.8%46%50%--3% [lower-alpha 52] 1%
YouGov/CBS Aug 4–7994 (LV)± 3.8%42%48%--3% [lower-alpha 29] 7%
Pulse Opinion Research/Rasmussen Reports/American Greatness PAC [ permanent dead link ] [upper-alpha 1] Aug 5–6750 (LV)43%55%--1%1%
YouGov/University of Wisconsin-Madison Jul 27 – Aug 6734 (RV)± 4.9%43%49%--4% [lower-alpha 53] 4%
OnMessage Inc./Heritage Action [upper-alpha 6] Aug 2–4400 (LV)± 4.7%47%47%--6%
Morning Consult Jul 25 – Aug 3797 (LV)± 3.5%41%51%--
David Binder Research Jul 30–31200 (LV)42%53%--
SurveyMonkey/Axios Jul 1–312,173 (LV)48%50%--2%
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC [upper-alpha 3] Jul 22–27600 (LV)38%52%--10%
Change Research/CNBC Jul 24–26392 (LV)43%48%--
Redfield & Wilton Strategies Jul 19–24742 (LV)35%45%2%0%3% [lower-alpha 54] 15%
Morning Consult Jul 15–24797 (LV)± 3.5%44%49%--
Gravis Marketing Jul 22796 (RV)± 3.5%42%50%--7%
Global Strategy Group (D) Archived August 7, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Jul 11–17600 (V)± 4.0%42%51%--2% [lower-alpha 55] 4% [lower-alpha 16]
Spry Strategies/American Principles Project [upper-alpha 7] Jul 11–16700 (LV)± 3.7%45%46%--8%
Morning Consult Jul 5–14797 (LV)± 3.5%41%50%--
Change Research/CNBC Jul 10–12601 (LV)42%48%--
Morning Consult Jun 25 – Jul 4797 (LV)± 3.5%44%50%--
SurveyMonkey/Axios Jun 8–30813 (LV)47%51%--2%
Change Research/CNBC Jun 26–28502 (LV) [lower-alpha 26] 43%51%--
Trafalgar Group Jun 25–261,021 (LV)± 3.0%46%45%--8% [lower-alpha 56] 2%
Ogden & Fry Jun 20–24825 (LV)± 3.48%44%45%--10%
Morning Consult Jun 15–24797 (LV)± 3.5%44%50%--
Redfield & Wilton Strategies Jun 14–19846 (LV)± 3.37%36%45%1%1%2% [lower-alpha 57] 15%
Marquette Law School Jun 14–18686 (LV)44%52%--3% [lower-alpha 52] 1%
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC (R) Jun 12–16600 (LV)± 4.0%39%55%--6%
NYT Upshot/Siena College Jun 8–15655 (RV)± 4.3%38%49%--5% [lower-alpha 58] 8%
Morning Consult Jun 5–14797 (LV)± 3.5%44%49%--
Change Research/CNBC Jun 12–14231 (LV) [lower-alpha 26] 44%48%--5% [lower-alpha 59]
Morning Consult May 26 – Jun 4797 (LV)± 3.5%44%48%--
Fox News May 30 – Jun 2801 (RV)± 3.5%40%49%--6% [lower-alpha 60] 5%
Change Research/CNBC May 29–31382 (LV) [lower-alpha 26] 45%45%--5%6%
Morning Consult May 16–25797 (LV)± 3.5%44%48%--
Morning Consult May 6–15797 (LV)± 3.5%42%49%--
Redfield & Wilton Strategies May 10–14875 (LV)± 3.3%38%48%--3% [lower-alpha 61] 10%
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC (R) May 6–8600 (LV)± 3%42%51%--8%
Marquette Law School May 3–7650 (LV)45%49%--4% [lower-alpha 62] 2%
Morning Consult Apr 26 – May 5797 (LV)± 3.5%43%49%--
Public Policy Polling [upper-alpha 8] Apr 20–211,415 (RV)45%50%--4%
Ipsos Apr 15–20645 (RV)± 5.0%40%43%--
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC (R) Apr 13–15600 (RV)± 3.0%45%50%--4%
Hart Research/CAP Action Archived April 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine [upper-alpha 9] Apr 6–8303 (RV)47%48%--2%3%
Marquette Law School Mar 24–29813 (RV)45%48%--4% [lower-alpha 62] 3%
Baldwin Wallace University Great Lakes Mar 17–25822 (RV)± 3.8%45%45%--10%
Change Research Mar 21–23510 (LV)49%45%-6%
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC (R) Mar 17–19600 (RV)49%45%--
Public Policy Polling Mar 10–111,727 (RV)45%48%--6%
YouGov/Yahoo News Mar 6–8459 (RV)42%44%--6% [lower-alpha 63] 7%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived March 20, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Mar 5–7502 (LV)± 4.7%45%43%--
Marquette Law School Feb 19–231,000 (RV)46%46%--5% [lower-alpha 64] 3%
YouGov Feb 11–20936 (RV)± 4.0%43%45%--
Quinnipiac University Archived May 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Feb 12–18823 (RV)± 3.4%49%42%--4% [lower-alpha 65] 4%
Expedition Strategies/Progressive Policies Institute Feb 6–18500 (RV)44%42%--13%
Tarrance Group/Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce Archived February 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Jan 14–16500 (LV)± 4.5%46%47%--6%
Marquette Law School Jan 8–12701 (LV)47%48%--4% [lower-alpha 62] 2%
Fox News Jan 5–81,504 (RV)± 2.5%41%46%--8% [lower-alpha 66] 4%

2019 polls

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [lower-alpha 2]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump

Republican
Joe
Biden

Democratic
Other Undecided
Marquette Law School Dec 3–8652 (LV)47%49%2% [lower-alpha 67] 1%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Dec 3–5610 (LV)± 4.1%48%39%8% [lower-alpha 68] 5% [lower-alpha 16]
Marquette Law School Nov 13–17685 (LV)48%45%5% [lower-alpha 69] 2%
NYT Upshot/Siena College Oct 13–26651 (LV)± 4.4%44%46%
Marquette Law School Oct 13–17657 (LV)44%51%3% [lower-alpha 70] 1%
Fox News Sep 29 – Oct 21,512 (RV)± 2.5%39%48%5%6%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived September 12, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Sep 7–9534 (LV)± 4.0%42%44%14%
Marquette Law School Aug 25–29672 (LV)44%51%3% [lower-alpha 52] 2%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Jun 11–13535 (LV)± 4.3%40%46%14%
WPA Intelligence Apr 27–30200 (LV)± 6.9%46%42%9%
Zogby Analytics Apr 15–18802 (LV)± 3.5%40%50%11%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived April 3, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 19–21616 (LV)± 4.1%40%53%5%
Emerson College Archived April 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 15–17775 (RV)± 3.5%46%54%

Former candidates and hypothetical polling

Former candidates

Donald Trump vs. Michael Bloomberg

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [lower-alpha 2]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Michael
Bloomberg (D)
OtherUndecided
Marquette Law School Feb 19–23, 20201,000 (RV)45%44%5% [lower-alpha 71] 5%
Quinnipiac University Archived May 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Feb 12–18, 2020823 (RV)± 3.4%49%41%5% [lower-alpha 72] 5%
Expedition Strategies/Progressive Policies Institute Feb 6–18, 2020500 (RV)44%43%12%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Dec 3–5, 2019610 (LV)± 4.1%49%37%10% [lower-alpha 73] 4% [lower-alpha 16]

Donald Trump vs. Cory Booker

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [lower-alpha 2]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Cory
Booker (D)
OtherUndecided
Marquette Law School Dec 3–8, 2019652 (LV)47%45%4% [lower-alpha 62] 4%
Marquette Law School Nov 13–17, 2019685 (LV)45%45%5% [lower-alpha 74] 4%

Donald Trump vs. Pete Buttigieg

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [lower-alpha 2]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Pete
Buttigieg (D)
OtherUndecided
Marquette Law School Feb 19–23, 20201,000 (RV)45%45%5% [lower-alpha 71] 5%
YouGov Feb 11–20, 2020936 (RV)± 4.0%43%45%
Quinnipiac University Archived May 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Feb 12–18, 2020823 (RV)± 3.4%49%41%5% [lower-alpha 75] 5%
Expedition Strategies/Progressive Policies Institute Feb 6–18, 2020500 (RV)43%44%13%
Marquette Law School Jan 8–12, 2020701 (LV)47%45%5% [lower-alpha 69] 4%
Fox News Jan 5–8, 20201,504 (RV)± 2.5%41%42%10 [lower-alpha 76] 7%
Marquette Law School Dec 3–8, 2019652 (LV)47%44%4% [lower-alpha 77] 4%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Dec 3–5, 2019610 (LV)± 4.1%49%38%8% [lower-alpha 68] 5% [lower-alpha 16]
Marquette Law School Nov 13–17, 2019685 (LV)48%40%7% [lower-alpha 78] 6%
Marquette Law School Oct 13–17, 2019657 (LV)44%46%5% [lower-alpha 79] 4%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Jun 11–13, 2019535 (LV)± 4.3%41%39%20%
Zogby Analytics Apr 15–18, 2019802 (LV)± 3.5%41%44%16%

Donald Trump vs. Kamala Harris

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [lower-alpha 2]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Kamala
Harris (D)
OtherUndecided
Marquette Law School Aug 25–29, 2019672 (LV)46%46%5% [lower-alpha 69] 4%
Zogby Analytics Apr 15–18, 2019802 (LV)± 3.5%42%43%14%
Emerson College Archived April 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 15–17, 2019775 (RV)± 3.5%50%50%

Donald Trump vs. Amy Klobuchar

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [lower-alpha 2]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Amy
Klobuchar (D)
OtherUndecided
Marquette Law School Feb 19–23, 20201,000 (RV)46%46%4% [lower-alpha 64] 4%
YouGov Feb 11–20, 2020936 (RV)± 4.0%43%44%
Quinnipiac University Archived May 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Feb 12–18, 2020823 (RV)± 3.4%50%39%5% [lower-alpha 75] 6%
Marquette Law School Nov 13–17, 2019685 (LV)53%36%6% [lower-alpha 71] 4%
Emerson College Archived April 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 15–17, 2019775 (RV)± 3.5%50%50%

Donald Trump vs. Beto O'Rourke

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [lower-alpha 2]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Beto
O'Rourke (D)
OtherUndecided
Zogby Analytics Apr 15–18, 2019802 (LV)± 3.5%41%44%15%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived April 3, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 19–21, 2019616 (LV)± 4.1%42%45%9%
Emerson College Archived April 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 15–17, 2019775 (RV)± 3.5%49%51%

Donald Trump vs. Bernie Sanders

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [lower-alpha 2]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Bernie
Sanders (D)
OtherUndecided
Marquette Law School Mar 24–29, 2020813 (RV)47%45%6% [lower-alpha 71] 2%
Baldwin Wallace University Great Lakes Mar 17–25, 2020822 (RV)± 3.8%46%42%12%
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC (R) Mar 17–19, 2020600 (RV)50%43%
Public Policy Polling Mar 10–11, 20201,727 (V)46%48%7%
YouGov/Yahoo News Mar 6–8, 2020459 (RV)40%46%9% [lower-alpha 80] 5%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived March 20, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Mar 5–7, 2020502 (LV)± 4.7%48%42%
Marquette Law School Feb 19–23, 20201,000 (RV)46%48%3% [lower-alpha 62] 3%
YouGov Feb 11–20, 2020936 (RV)± 4.0%44%46%
Quinnipiac University Archived May 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Feb 12–18, 2020823 (RV)± 3.4%50%43%4% [lower-alpha 65] 4%
Expedition Strategies/Progressive Policies Institute Feb 6–18, 2020500 (RV)46%45%9%
Tarrance Group/Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce Archived February 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Jan 14–16, 2020500 (LV)± 4.5%47%47%7%
Marquette Law School Jan 8–12, 2020701 (LV)47%47%3% [lower-alpha 70] 1%
Fox News Jan 5–8, 20201,504 (RV)± 2.5%42%46%8% [lower-alpha 66] 4%
Marquette Law School Dec 3–8, 2019652 (LV)48%46%4% [lower-alpha 62] 1%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Dec 3–5, 2019610 (LV)± 4.1%51%38%7% [lower-alpha 68] 4% [lower-alpha 16]
Marquette Law School Nov 13–17, 2019685 (LV)49%45%5% [lower-alpha 69] 1%
NYT Upshot/Siena College Oct 13–26, 2019651 (LV)± 4.4%46%47%
Marquette Law School Oct 13–17, 2019657 (LV)45%48%4% [lower-alpha 64] 2%
Fox News Sep 29 – Oct 2, 20191,512 (RV)± 2.5%40%45%5%6%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived September 12, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Sep 7–9, 2019534 (LV)± 4.0%43%49%8%
Marquette Law School Aug 25–29, 2019672 (LV)46%48%4% [lower-alpha 62] 1%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Jun 11–13, 2019535 (LV)± 4.3%40%47%13%
Zogby Analytics Apr 15–18, 2019802 (LV)± 3.5%42%49%9%
Tulchin Research (D) [upper-alpha 10] Apr 14–18, 2019400 (LV)± 4.9%42%52%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived April 3, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 19–21, 2019616 (LV)± 4.1%41%48%7%
Emerson College Archived April 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 15–17, 2019775 (RV)± 3.5%48%52%

Donald Trump vs. Elizabeth Warren

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [lower-alpha 2]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Elizabeth
Warren (D)
OtherUndecided
Marquette Law School Feb 19–23, 20201,000 (RV)47%44%4% [lower-alpha 69] 4%
YouGov Feb 11–20, 2020936 (RV)± 4.0%44%46%
Quinnipiac University Archived May 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Feb 12–18, 2020823 (RV)± 3.4%51%41%4% [lower-alpha 65] 4%
Marquette Law School Jan 8–12, 2020701 (LV)49%45%5% [lower-alpha 69] 2%
Fox News Jan 5–8, 20201,504 (RV)± 2.5%41%44%9% [lower-alpha 81] 5%
Marquette Law School Dec 3–8, 2019652 (LV)48%46%5% [lower-alpha 74] 2%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Dec 3–5, 2019610 (LV)± 4.1%50%37%8% [lower-alpha 68] 5% [lower-alpha 16]
Marquette Law School Nov 13–17, 2019685 (LV)50%43%4% [lower-alpha 62] 2%
NYT Upshot/Siena College Oct 13–26, 2019651 (LV)± 4.4%47%45%
Marquette Law School Oct 13–17, 2019657 (LV)45%50%3% [lower-alpha 70] 1%
Fox News Sep 29 – Oct 2, 20191,512 (RV)± 2.5%41%45%5%7%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Archived September 12, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Sep 7–9, 2019534 (LV)± 4.0%42%43%15%
Marquette Law School Aug 25–29, 2019672 (LV)46%48%4% [lower-alpha 62] 3%
Firehouse Strategies/Øptimus Jun 11–13, 2019535 (LV)± 4.3%41%41%18%
Zogby Analytics Apr 15–18, 2019802 (LV)± 3.5%41%47%12%
Emerson College Archived April 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 15–17, 2019775 (RV)± 3.5%48%52%
Zogby Analytics Aug 17–23, 2017603 (LV)± 4.0%37%48%15%
Hypothetical polling

with Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Howard Schultz

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [lower-alpha 2]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Joe
Biden (D)
Howard
Schultz (I)
Undecided
Emerson College Archived April 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 15–17, 2019775 (RV)± 3.5%44%51%4%

with Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, and Howard Schultz

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [lower-alpha 2]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Bernie
Sanders (D)
Howard
Schultz (I)
Undecided
Emerson College Archived April 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Mar 15–17, 2019775 (RV)± 3.5%46%48%5%

with Donald Trump and generic Democrat

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [lower-alpha 2]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Generic
Democrat
OtherUndecided
Baldwin Wallace University/Oakland University/Ohio Northern University Mar 17–25, 2020997 (RV)± 3.7%46.8% [lower-alpha 82] 50.4%2.8% [lower-alpha 83]
Expedition Strategies/Progressive Policies Institute Feb 6–18, 2020500 (RV)41%49%11%
Baldwin Wallace University/Oakland University/Ohio Northern University Jan 8–20, 20201,038 (RV)± 3.3%36.7% [lower-alpha 82] 51.2%12%
KFF/Cook Political Report Sep 23 – Oct 15, 2019745 (RV)± 4%28%41%21%
Change Research/Crooked Media Aug 9–11, 20191,966 (V)± 2.2%45%46%3% [lower-alpha 84] 6%
Public Policy Polling (D) [upper-alpha 11] Apr 23–24, 2019762 (V)± 3.6%44%53%4%

with Donald Trump and generic Opponent

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [lower-alpha 2]
Margin
of error
Donald
Trump (R)
Generic
Opponent
OtherUndecided
Marquette University Released Apr 7, 2019800 (RV)42%57% [lower-alpha 85] 0% [lower-alpha 86] 4%
Emerson College Mar 15–17, 2019775 (RV)± 3.5%45%55% [lower-alpha 87]
Marquette University Jan 16–20, 2019800 (RV)39%57% [lower-alpha 85] 0% [lower-alpha 86] 4%

Green Party and Kanye West ballot access lawsuits

In August 2020, the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission voted to keep rapper Kanye West, an independent presidential candidate, off of the 2020 general election ballot in a 5–1 decision on the basis that West's application arrived too late—arriving in person seconds after the deadline. [44]

The Commission was split along party lines in a 3–3 decision to keep Howie Hawkins, the Green Party presidential candidate off of the 2020 general election ballot. [45] Hawkins gathered 3,623 valid signatures; however, forms with 1,834 signatures had a different address for Hawkins' running mate Angela Walker. The partisan board voted only to certify the 1,789, placing Hawkins/Walker below the 2,000 signatures required to be on the ballot. [46]

Walker subsequently filed a legal petition to be included on the ballot. On September 10, 2020, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that the election officials had to wait to mail absentee ballots until the court decided whether or not to include the Green Party on the ballot. Some municipal election commissions had already mailed out absentee ballots while others were concerned that they would miss the September 17 deadline by which Wisconsin state law required absentee ballots to mailed out to those who requested them. [47] On September 14, 2020, the court ruled that the ballots would remain as-is without Hawkins or West on the ballot stating, "given their delay in asserting their rights, we would be unable to provide meaningful relief without completely upsetting the election." [48]

Electoral slates

These slates of electors were nominated by each party in order to vote in the Electoral College if their candidates win the state: [49]

Donald Trump and Mike Pence
Republican Party
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris
Democratic Party
Jo Jorgensen and Spike Cohen
Libertarian Party
Don Blankenship and William Mohr
Constitution Party
Brian T. Carroll and Amar Patel
American Solidarity Party
  • Carol Brunner
  • Edward Grabins
  • Bill Feehan
  • Robert Spindell
  • Tom Schriebel
  • Darryl Carlson
  • Pam Travis
  • Kelly Ruh
  • Andrew Hitt
  • Mary Buestrin
  • Darek Raese
  • Patrick Baird
  • Stephen Ecker
  • Kristin Walker
  • Jeff Jortsch
  • Brian Defferding
  • Nathan Gall
  • Mike Hammond
  • Kevin Litten
  • David Grover
  • Nigel Brown
  • Dan Herro
  • Matthew Kloskowski
  • Colin Hudson
  • Thomas Harland
  • Andrew Zuelke
  • Elizabeth Lindee
  • Josh Young
  • Glenn Petroski
  • Lorraine Decker
  • Christopher Hansen
  • Thuy Quyen Tran
  • Steven Carlson
  • Stephen Beall
  • Patrick Malone
  • Charles Adams
  • Fergus McKiernan
  • Riley Drew
  • David Bovee
  • Marianne Bovee

Results

Municipal Results
Map legend
Biden--40-50%
Biden--50-60%
Biden--60-70%
Biden--70-80%
Biden--80-90%
Biden--90-100%
Trump-40-50%
Trump-50-60%
Trump-60-70%
Trump-70-80%
Trump-80-90%
Trump-90-100%
Tie
No Vote Wisconsin Presidential Results 2020 by Municipality.svg
Municipal Results
Map legend
  •   Biden—40–50%
  •   Biden—50–60%
  •   Biden—60–70%
  •   Biden—70–80%
  •   Biden—80–90%
  •   Biden—90–100%
  •   Trump–40–50%
  •   Trump–50–60%
  •   Trump–60–70%
  •   Trump–70–80%
  •   Trump–80–90%
  •   Trump–90–100%
  •   Tie
  •   No Vote
2020 United States presidential election in Wisconsin [50]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic 1,630,866 49.45 +3.00
Republican
1,610,18448.83+1.60
Independent [lower-alpha 88] 38,4911.17−2.41
Independent [lower-alpha 89]
5,2590.16N/A
Constitution 5,1460.16−0.25
Independent [lower-alpha 90] 1,0890.03−1.01
Independent
4110.01N/A
Independent [lower-alpha 91]
1100.00N/A
Independent
520.00N/A
Independent
360.00N/A
Independent Kasey Wells (write-in)250.00N/A
Independent President R19 Boddie (write-in)50.00N/A
Write-in 6,3670.19−0.57
Total votes3,298,041 100%
Democratic win

Between 2016 and 2020, the number of voters in Milwaukee suburban counties voting for the Democratic presidential candidate increased. [51]

By county

CountyJoe Biden
Democratic
Donald Trump
Republican
Various candidates
Other parties
MarginTotal votes cast
# %# %# %# %
Adams 4,32936.63%7,36262.29%1271.08%-3,033-25.66%11,818
Ashland 4,80154.82%3,84143.86%1151.32%96010.96%8,757
Barron 9,19436.27%15,80362.35%3491.38%-6,609-26.08%25,346
Bayfield 6,14756.50%4,61742.44%1161.06%1,53014.06%10,880
Brown 65,51145.49%75,87152.68%2,6351.83%-10,360-7.19%144,017
Buffalo 2,86036.59%4,83461.85%1221.56%-1,974-25.26%7,816
Burnett 3,56935.19%6,46263.72%1101.09%-2,893-28.53%10,141
Calumet 12,11639.37%18,15659.00%5021.63%-6,040-19.63%30,774
Chippewa 13,98338.91%21,31759.32%6381.77%-7,334-20.41%35,938
Clark 4,52430.37%10,00267.14%3722.49%-5,478-36.77%14,898
Columbia 16,41048.45%16,92749.98%5321.57%-517-1.53%33,869
Crawford 3,95345.46%4,62053.13%1221.41%-667-7.67%8,695
Dane 260,12175.46%78,79422.86%5,8131.68%181,32752.60%344,728
Dodge 16,35633.77%31,35564.73%7251.50%-14,999-30.96%48,436
Door 10,04449.93%9,75248.48%3211.59%2921.45%20,117
Douglas 13,21853.56%10,92344.26%5362.18%2,2959.30%24,677
Dunn 9,89742.07%13,17356.00%4541.93%-3,276-13.93%23,524
Eau Claire 31,62054.26%25,34143.49%1,3142.25%6,27910.77%58,275
Florence 78126.56%2,13372.55%260.89%-1,352-45.99%2,940
Fond du Lac 20,58835.96%35,75462.45%9091.59%-15,166-26.49%57,251
Forest 1,72134.06%3,28565.01%470.93%-1,564-30.95%5,053
Grant 10,99842.95%14,14255.22%4681.83%-3,144-12.27%25,608
Green 10,85150.69%10,16947.51%3861.80%6823.18%21,406
Green Lake 3,34431.34%7,16867.17%1591.49%-3,824-35.83%10,671
Iowa 7,82855.95%5,90942.23%2551.82%1,91913.72%13,992
Iron 1,53338.23%2,43860.80%390.97%-905-22.57%4,010
Jackson 4,25641.79%5,79156.86%1371.35%-1,535-15.07%10,184
Jefferson 19,90441.48%27,20856.71%8671.81%-7,304-15.23%47,979
Juneau 4,74634.62%8,74963.82%2141.56%-4,003-29.20%13,709
Kenosha 42,19347.55%44,97250.68%1,5731.77%-2,779-3.13%88,738
Kewaunee 3,97632.87%7,92765.54%1921.59%-3,951-32.67%12,095
La Crosse 37,84655.75%28,68442.25%1,3542.00%9,16213.50%67,884
Lafayette 3,64742.63%4,82156.35%871.02%-1,174-13.72%8,555
Langlade 3,70433.18%7,33065.65%1311.17%-3,626-32.47%11,165
Lincoln 6,26137.95%10,01760.72%2191.33%-3,756-22.77%16,497
Manitowoc 16,81837.52%27,21860.72%7931.76%-10,400-23.20%44,829
Marathon 30,80840.14%44,62458.14%1,3191.72%-13,816-18.00%76,751
Marinette 7,36632.06%15,30466.60%3091.34%-7,938-34.54%22,979
Marquette 3,23935.73%5,71963.09%1071.18%-2,480-27.36%9,065
Menominee 1,30381.95%27817.48%90.57%1,02564.47%1,590
Milwaukee 317,52769.07%134,48229.25%7,7141.68%183,04539.82%459,723
Monroe 8,43337.30%13,77560.92%4031.78%-5,342-23.62%22,611
Oconto 6,71528.93%16,22669.89%2741.18%-9,511-40.96%23,215
Oneida 10,10541.83%13,67156.59%3831.58%-3,566-14.76%24,159
Outagamie 47,66744.13%58,38554.05%1,9701.82%-10,718-9.92%108,022
Ozaukee 26,51743.13%33,91255.15%1,0571.72%-7,395-12.02%61,486
Pepin 1,48935.93%2,58462.36%711.71%-1,095-26.43%4,144
Pierce 9,79642.01%12,81554.96%7063.03%-3,019-12.95%23,317
Polk 9,37035.53%16,61162.99%3901.48%-7,241-27.46%26,371
Portage 20,42850.31%19,29947.53%8762.16%1,1292.78%40,603
Price 3,03235.48%5,39463.12%1201.40%-2,362-27.64%8,546
Racine 50,15947.12%54,47951.18%1,8131.70%-4,320-4.06%106,451
Richland 3,99544.32%4,87154.04%1481.64%-876-9.72%9,014
Rock 46,65854.66%37,13843.51%1,5641.83%9,52011.15%85,360
Rusk 2,51731.92%5,25766.66%1121.42%-2,740-34.74%7,886
Sauk 18,10850.02%17,49348.32%6021.66%6151.70%36,203
Sawyer 4,49842.80%5,90956.22%1030.98%-1,411-13.42%10,510
Shawano 7,13131.53%15,17367.09%3111.38%-8,042-35.56%22,615
Sheboygan 27,10141.06%37,60956.97%1,3011.97%-10,508-15.91%66,011
St. Croix 23,19040.89%32,19956.78%1,3182.33%-9,009-15.89%56,707
Taylor 2,69325.20%7,65771.65%3363.15%-4,964-46.45%10,686
Trempealeau 6,28540.86%8,83357.43%2621.71%-2,548-16.57%15,380
Vernon 7,45746.83%8,21851.61%2481.56%-761-4.78%15,923
Vilas 5,90338.41%9,26160.26%2051.33%-3,358-21.85%15,369
Walworth 22,78939.56%33,85158.77%9601.67%-11,062-19.21%57,600
Washburn 3,86737.26%6,33461.03%1771.71%-2,467-23.77%10,378
Washington 26,65030.26%60,23768.40%1,1831.34%-33,587-38.14%88,070
Waukesha 103,90638.77%159,64959.57%4,4411.66%-55,743-20.80%267,996
Waupaca 9,70333.31%18,95265.06%4751.63%-9,249-31.75%29,310
Waushara 4,38832.34%9,01666.45%1641.21%-4,628-34.11%13,568
Winnebago 44,06046.86%47,79650.83%2,1762.31%-3,736-3.97%94,032
Wood 16,36539.63%24,30858.86%6251.51%-7,943-19.23%41,298
Totals1,630,86649.45%1,610,18448.82%56,9911.73%20,6820.63%3,298,041
Wisconsin County Swing 2020.svg
Wisconsin County Trend 2020.svg
Wisconsin County Flips 2020.svg

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

By congressional district

Despite narrowly losing, Trump won 6 out of 8 congressional districts in Wisconsin, including one held by a Democrat.

DistrictTrumpBidenRepresentative
1st 53.9%44.7% Bryan Steil
2nd 29.2%69.4% Mark Pocan
3rd 51.5%46.8% Ron Kind
4th 22.6%76.2% Gwen Moore
5th 56.8%41.7% Jim Sensenbrenner
Scott Fitzgerald
6th 56.8%41.6% Glenn Grothman
7th 59.2%39.3% Tom Tiffany
8th 57.2%41.3% Mike Gallagher

Analysis

Wisconsin has voted Republican in gubernatorial and senatorial elections a few times prior to 2016, but Wisconsin was still seen as a lean-Democratic state, as it had a blue streak going back to 1988 and had only gone Republican four times since 1964. As such, it made up part of the blue wall. Trump pulled off a surprise win in the state in 2016, in large part due to a collapse in support for Hillary Clinton in the state. [52] [53]

Both the Democratic and Republican candidates improved on their performances in the state in 2020, with Trump achieving a record total number of votes for a Republican candidate in the state of Wisconsin, nearly matching George W. Bush's 2004 performance in percentage. Conversely, Biden had the second most votes ever for a Democrat in Wisconsin, behind Obama's performance in 2008. While Biden's margin of victory was narrow (0.6%), and well behind Barack Obama's performances, it was nonetheless wider than Al Gore's 0.2% in 2000 and John Kerry's 0.4% in 2004.

Joe Biden received strong support in the city of Milwaukee, improving on Clinton's 2016 performance by 3.6 points in its county; Biden received 92% and 60% of the black and Latino vote respectively, with most of that electorate living in Milwaukee County. Both candidates performed well in the state with whites, with Trump carrying whites overall by 6 points, though Biden performed better with college-educated whites. Cementing Biden's victory was his strong performance in Dane County, which he carried by nearly 53 points. Biden would also carry La Crosse County by 13 points, Eau Claire County by 10 points, and flipped Sauk County and the bellwether Door County, while only losing Brown County by seven points, winning the county seat Green Bay. Biden even made in-roads in Waukesha and Washington counties, nearly breaking 40% in the former and breaking 30% in the latter, though Trump still held these counties with large margins. [54]

On the other hand, Trump was able to hold much of the Driftless region in southwestern Wisconsin; many of these counties, such as Vernon, Crawford, and Grant were reliably Democratic during the latter half of the 20th century, but Trump maintained his results from 2016, solidifying a Republican shift in this part of the state. Additionally, Trump performed strongly in the more traditionally conservative northern counties of Wisconsin. Finally, Trump kept Kenosha County in his column, with both candidates improving there; Kenosha County is significant, as it was the site of the Jacob Blake shooting, which triggered nationwide protests. [55]

Biden became the first Democrat to win the White House without the once-strongly Democratic counties of Kenosha and Forest since Woodrow Wilson in 1916 as well as the first to win without Pepin County since 1944. He was the first Democrat since 1960 to win without Adams, Buffalo, Crawford, Dunn, Jackson, Juneau, Lincoln, Price, Sawyer, and Trempealeau counties; and the first since 1976 to win without Columbia, Grant, Lafayette, Marquette, Racine, Richland, and Vernon counties. In terms of partisan lean, Biden was able to win 7% of Republicans in the state, which is significant, as they voted in this cycle by about 5 points more than Democrats. More importantly, Biden won independent voters by 12 points; Hillary Clinton lost this bloc to Trump by 10 points in 2016.

Pivot counties

Wisconsin is a state with a notable number of pivot counties, meaning counties carried by Obama in the 2008 and 2012 U.S. presidential elections that then flipped for the Republican candidate, Trump, in 2016. [56] Of Wisconsin's 72 counties, about one-third (N=23, 32%) are considered to be pivot counties, and pivot counties include 17.35 percent of the state population. [57] Lists of Wisconsin pivot counties a) retained by the Republican presidential candidate in 2020 (Trump) and b) boomerang counties "returning" to the Democratic presidential candidate in 2020 (Biden) are below. [58]

Retained pivot counties (remained Republican in 2020)

Boomerang pivot counties (returned to Democrat in 2020)

Edison exit polls

2020 presidential election in Wisconsin by demographic subgroup (Edison exit polling) [59]
Demographic subgroupBidenTrump% of

total vote

Total vote49.448.899
Ideology
Liberals 91825
Moderates 603838
Conservatives 118836
Party
Democrats 96432
Republicans 79337
Independents 544231
Gender
Men445450
Women564350
Race/ethnicity
White 465286
Black 9286
Latino 60374
Age
18–24 years old61338
25–29 years old56405
30–39 years old524614
40–49 years old534614
50–64 years old465332
65 and older475326
Sexual orientation
LGBT 80165
Heterosexual 485195
Education
High school or less445422
Some college education494927
Associate's degree 435616
Bachelor's degree 524623
Postgraduate degree683111
Income
Under $30,000653115
$30,000–49,999554420
$50,000–99,999475238
$100,000–199,999435621
Over $200,00045555
Union households
Yes594014
No485186
Issue regarded as most important
Racial inequality 91613
Coronavirus 881119
Economy 138535
Crime and safety178213
Health care 81198
Region
Milwaukee County 692914
Milwaukee Suburbs415822
Dane County 762310
Fox River Valley/N. Lakeshore 435517
Southwest475219
North395917
Area type
Urban693030
Suburban435549
Rural386022
Family's financial situation today
Better than four years ago168339
Worse than four years ago871221
About the same633540

Aftermath

Dane County recount being conducted at Monona Terrace in Madison, Wisconsin 2020 recount (51013411315).jpg
Dane County recount being conducted at Monona Terrace in Madison, Wisconsin

On November 6, Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien said: "There have been reports of irregularities in several Wisconsin counties which raise serious doubts about the validity of the results." No evidence of such "irregularities" has been provided by the Trump campaign. [60] [61]

On November 18, the Trump campaign wired nearly $3 million to the Wisconsin Election Commission in a petition for a partial recount of the 2020 presidential election results. The recount would take place in Milwaukee and Dane counties. "These two counties were selected because they are the locations of the worst irregularities," the campaign claimed in a release. [62]

Milwaukee certified its recount results on November 27, 2020, and led to Joe Biden gaining a net 132 votes. Dane certified its recount results on November 29, 2020, and led to Donald Trump gaining a net 45 votes. In total, the recount across the two counties led to Joe Biden increasing his lead by an additional 87 votes. [63]

In July 2022 the Wisconsin Supreme Court stated that despite their widespread use in the 2020 presidential election "ballot drop boxes are illegal under Wisconsin statutes". [64]

Electors

On November 30, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers certified Wisconsin's electors for Biden. [65] The following electors all cast their vote for Biden:

See also

Notes

Voter samples and additional candidates
  1. Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  3. Overlapping sample with the previous SurveyMonkey/Axios poll, but more information available regarding sample size
  4. 1 2 3 "Someone else" with 1%
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Standard VI response
  6. "Some other candidate" with 2%; West (B) and would not vote with 0%
  7. 1 2 3 4 If only Biden, Trump and "some other candidate" were available
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Some other candidate" with 2%; would not vote with 0%
  9. Results considering those who lean towards a given candidate among those initially predisposed towards abstention, indecision or a candidate besides Biden or Trump in the response section immediately above
  10. "Some other candidate" with 2%
  11. "Other" and "Refused/would not vote" with 1%
  12. 1 2 With voters who lean towards a given candidate
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Someone else" with 2%
  14. "None of these" and "Other" with 0%
  15. "Someone else" with 1%; would not vote with 0%
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Includes "Refused"
  17. 1 2 "Some other candidate" with 1%; West (B) and would not vote with 0%
  18. "Refused" with 6%; "None/other" with 1%; Did not vote with 0%
  19. "None of these" with 1%; "Other" with 0%; would not vote with no voters
  20. Includes Undecided
  21. "Other" with 1%; would not vote with no voters
  22. 1 2 3 "Some other candidate" with 3%
  23. Results generated with high Democratic turnout model
  24. Results generated with high Republican turnout model
  25. "Refused" with 2%; "Other" with 1%
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Additional data sourced from FiveThirtyEight
  27. "Some other candidate" with 2%; West (B) with 1%; would not vote with 0%
  28. 1 2 "Some other candidate" with 3%; would not vote with 0%
  29. 1 2 "Someone else/third party" with 3%
  30. "Someone else" and would not vote with 0%
  31. 1 2 "Another candidate" with 1%
  32. 1 2 "Another Third Party/Write-in" with 1%
  33. "None/other" with 2%; "refused" with 5%
  34. "None/other" and "refused" with 1%
  35. 1 2 "Another Party Candidate" with 2%
  36. 1 2 "Another Third Party/Write-in" with 0%
  37. Overlapping sample with the previous Morning Consult poll, but more information available regarding sampling period
  38. "None of these" with 1%; "Other" with 0%
  39. "Neither" with 1%; "Other" and would not vote with 0%
  40. "Someone else" and would not vote with 1%
  41. "Someone else" with 4%
  42. Would not vote with 1%
  43. "Other/not sure" with 6%
  44. "Someone else/third party" with 2%
  45. "Refused" with 2%; "None/other" with 0%
  46. "Someone else" with 3%
  47. "Other" with 1%
  48. "Other" and would not vote with 1%
  49. "Another Party Candidate"
  50. "Another Third Party/Write-in" and West (B) with 1%
  51. Overlapping sample with the previous Morning Consult poll, but more information available regarding third party and undecided voters
  52. 1 2 3 "Neither" with 2%; "refused" with 1%
  53. "Other" with 3%; would not vote with 1%
  54. West (B) with 2%; "Another Third Party/Write-In" 1%
  55. "Other candidate" with 2%
  56. "Other party candidate" with 8%
  57. "Other" with 2%
  58. "Another candidate" with 3%; would not vote with 2%
  59. "Libertarian Party candidate/Green Party candidate" with 5%
  60. "Other" with 4%; would not vote with 2%
  61. "Third party/write-in" with 3%
  62. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Neither" with 3%; "Refused" with 1%
  63. "Other" with 5%; would not vote with 1%
  64. 1 2 3 "Neither" with 4%; "Refused" with 0%
  65. 1 2 3 "Someone else" with 1%; would not vote with 3%
  66. 1 2 "Other" with 6%; would not vote with 2%
  67. "Neither" with 1%; "refused" with 1%
  68. 1 2 3 4 A third party candidate with 6%; would not vote with 2%
  69. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Neither" with 4%; "refused" with 1%
  70. 1 2 3 "Neither" with 3%; "refused" with 0%
  71. 1 2 3 4 "Neither" with 5%; "refused" with 1%
  72. "Someone else" with 2%; would not vote with 3%
  73. A third party candidate with 8%; would not vote with 2%
  74. 1 2 "Neither" with 3%; "refused" with 2%
  75. 1 2 "Someone else" with 1%; would not vote with 4%
  76. "Other" with 7%; would not vote with 3%
  77. "Neither" with 2%; "refused" with 2%
  78. "Neither" with 5%; "refused" with 2%
  79. "Neither" with 5%; "refused" with 0%
  80. "Other" with 7%; would not vote with 2%
  81. "Other" with 6%; would not vote with 3%
  82. 1 2 Figures for each candidate in this poll include undecided voters who were reported to lean towards that candidate at the time of polling.
  83. "It depends on who the Democrats nominate" with 1.9%; "unsure" with 0.9%
  84. "Third-party candidate" with 3%
  85. 1 2 "Would probably or definitely vote for someone other than Trump" with 57%
  86. 1 2 "Refused" with 0%
  87. Listed as "unlikely to vote for Trump" as opposed to "likely to vote for Trump"
  88. Jorgensen and Cohen were nominated by the Libertarian Party of Wisconsin but placed on the ballot as independents because the party did not have ballot access.
  89. Carroll and Cohen patel were nominated by the American Solidarity Party but placed on the ballot as independents because the party did not have ballot access.
  90. Hawkins and Walker were nominated by the Wisconsin Green Party but registered as independent write-in candidates because the party was not recognized by the Wisconsin Secretary of State.
  91. La Riva and Freeman were nominated by the Party for Socialism and Liberation but registered as independent write-in candidates because the party was not recognized by the Wisconsin Secretary of State.
Partisan clients
  1. 1 2 3 4 The Center for American Greatness is a pro-Trump organization
  2. This poll’s sponsor, DFER, primarily supports Democratic candidates
  3. 1 2 3 4 The Restoration PAC is a 501 non-profit which supports Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign
  4. 1 2 3 Rust Belt Rising is affiliated with the Democratic Party
  5. The Human Rights Campaign endorsed Biden prior to this poll's sampling period
  6. Heritage Action is the sister organisation of the Heritage Foundation, which exclusively endorses Republican candidates
  7. This poll's sponsor is the American Principles Project, a 501(c)(4) organization that supports the Republican Party.
  8. Poll sponsored by Protect Our Care, a pro-Affordable Care Act organisation
  9. CAP Action is a political advocacy group that exclusively supports Democratic candidates
  10. Poll sponsored by the Sanders campaign
  11. Poll sponsored by Protect Our Care

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election</span> 59th quadrennial U.S. presidential election

The 2020 United States presidential election was the 59th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. The Democratic ticket of former vice president Joe Biden and the junior U.S. senator from California Kamala Harris defeated the incumbent Republican president, Donald Trump, and vice president, Mike Pence. The election took place against the backdrop of the global COVID-19 pandemic and related recession. The election saw the highest voter turnout by percentage since 1900, with each of the two main tickets receiving more than 74 million votes, surpassing Barack Obama's record of 69.5 million votes from 2008. Biden received more than 81 million votes, the most votes ever cast for a candidate in a U.S. presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election in Alabama</span> Election in Alabama

The 2020 United States presidential election in Alabama took place on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, as part of the 2020 United States presidential election in which all 50 states and the District of Columbia participated. Alabama voters chose nine electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Republican President Donald Trump and his running mate, incumbent Vice President Mike Pence, against Democratic challenger and former Vice President Joe Biden and his running mate, United States Senator Kamala Harris of California. Also on the ballot was the Libertarian nominee, psychology lecturer Jo Jorgensen and her running mate, entrepreneur and podcaster Spike Cohen. Write-in candidates were permitted without registration, and their results were not individually counted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election in Arizona</span> Election in Arizona

The 2020 United States presidential election in Arizona was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, as part of the 2020 United States presidential election, in which all 50 states and the District of Columbia participated. Arizona voters chose 11 electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Republican President Donald Trump of Florida and his running mate, incumbent Vice President Mike Pence of Indiana, against Democratic challenger and former Vice President Joe Biden of Delaware and his running mate, United States Senator Kamala Harris of California. The Libertarian nominees were also on the ballot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election in California</span> Election in California

The 2020 United States presidential election in California 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. California voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, incumbent President Donald Trump, and running mate Vice President Mike Pence against Democratic Party nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, and his running mate Kamala Harris, the junior senator from California. California had, in the 2020 election 55 electoral votes in the Electoral College, the most of any state. California was one of six states where Trump received more percentage of the two-party vote than he did in 2016. This election also marked the first time since 2004 that the Republican candidate won more than one million votes in Los Angeles County, due to increased turnout statewide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election in Colorado</span> Election in Colorado

The 2020 United States presidential election in Colorado 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. Colorado voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, incumbent President Donald Trump from Florida, and his running mate Vice President Mike Pence from Indiana, against Democratic Party nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden from Delaware, and his running mate, Senator Kamala Harris from California. Colorado had nine electoral votes in the Electoral College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election in Florida</span> Election in Florida

The 2020 United States presidential election in Florida was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, as part of the 2020 United States presidential election, in which all 50 states and the District of Columbia participated. Florida voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, incumbent president Donald Trump, and his running mate, Vice President Mike Pence, against Democratic Party nominee, former vice president Joe Biden, and his running mate, United States senator Kamala Harris, of California. Florida had 29 electoral votes in the Electoral College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election in Georgia</span> Election in Georgia

The 2020 United States presidential election in Georgia 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. Georgia voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, incumbent President Donald Trump of Florida, and running mate Vice President Mike Pence of Indiana against Democratic Party nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden of Delaware, and his running mate Senator Kamala Harris of California. Georgia has 16 electoral votes in the Electoral College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election in Kansas</span> Election in Kansas

The 2020 United States presidential election in Kansas 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. Kansas voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, incumbent President Donald Trump of Florida, and running mate Vice President Mike Pence of Indiana against Democratic Party nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden of Delaware, and his running mate Senator Kamala Harris of California. Kansas has six electoral votes in the Electoral College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania</span> Election in Pennsylvania

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election in Texas</span>

The 2020 United States presidential election in Texas 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. Texan voters chose 38 electors to represent them in the Electoral College. In a popular vote the Republican Party's nominee, incumbent President Donald Trump, and running mate Vice President Mike Pence won all the electors against the Democratic Party's nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, and his running mate California Senator Kamala Harris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election in Washington (state)</span> Election in Washington

The 2020 United States presidential election in Washington was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, as part of the 2020 United States presidential election in which all 50 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia participated. Washington voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, incumbent 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. Washington has 12 electoral votes in the Electoral College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election in Maine</span> Election in Maine

The 2020 United States presidential election in Maine 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. Maine voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, incumbent 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. Maine has four electoral votes in the Electoral College. Unlike all other states except Nebraska, Maine awards two electoral votes based on the statewide vote, and one vote for each congressional district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election in Tennessee</span> Election in Tennessee

The 2020 United States presidential election in Tennessee 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. Tennessee voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, incumbent 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. Tennessee has 11 electoral votes in the Electoral College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election in Oklahoma</span> Election in Oklahoma

The 2020 United States presidential election in Oklahoma 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. Oklahoma voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, incumbent 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. Oklahoma has seven electoral votes in the Electoral College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election in Nevada</span> Election in Nevada

The 2020 United States presidential election in Nevada 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. Nevada voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, incumbent 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. Nevada has six votes in the Electoral College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election in Michigan</span> Election in Michigan

The 2020 United States presidential election in Michigan 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. Michigan voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, incumbent President Donald Trump of Florida, and his running mate, Vice President Mike Pence of Indiana against the Democratic Party nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden of Delaware, and his running mate, Senator Kamala Harris of California. Michigan had 16 electoral votes in the Electoral College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election in New Hampshire</span> Election in New Hampshire

The 2020 United States presidential election in New Hampshire was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, as part of the 2020 United States presidential election in which all 50 states and the District of Columbia participated. New Hampshire voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominees, incumbent President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, against the Democratic Party's nominees, former Vice President Joe Biden and his running mate, Senator Kamala Harris. New Hampshire has four electoral votes in the Electoral College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election in North Carolina</span> Election in North Carolina

The 2020 United States presidential election in North Carolina 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. North Carolina voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote. The state was narrowly won by the Republican Party's nominee, incumbent President Donald Trump of Florida, and running mate Vice President Mike Pence of Indiana against Democratic Party nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden of Delaware, and his running mate California Senator Kamala Harris. North Carolina had 15 electoral votes in the Electoral College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Wisconsin elections</span> U.S. State, Federal, Judicial and local elections

The 2020 Wisconsin Fall General Election was held in the U.S. state of Wisconsin on November 3, 2020. All of Wisconsin's eight seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election, as well as sixteen seats in the Wisconsin State Senate and all 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Voters also chose ten electors to represent them in the Electoral College, which then participated in selecting the president of the United States. The 2020 Fall Partisan Primary was held on August 11, 2020.

The following is a timeline of major events before, during, and after the 2020 United States presidential election, the 59th quadrennial United States presidential election, from November 2020 to January 2021. For prior events, see Timeline of the 2020 United States presidential election (2017–2019) and Timeline of the 2020 United States presidential election.

References

  1. Kelly, Ben (August 13, 2018). "US elections key dates: When are the 2018 midterms and the 2020 presidential campaign?". The Independent . Archived from the original on January 3, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  2. "Distribution of Electoral Votes". National Archives and Records Administration . Archived from the original on January 9, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  3. "City of Milwaukee 1 of 3 finalists to host 2020 Democratic National Convention". FOX6Now.com. June 20, 2018. Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  4. Glauber, Bill (August 22, 2018). "Selection committee for 2020 Democratic Convention will visit Milwaukee next week". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Archived from the original on August 23, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  5. "Let's Take a Deep Dive Into How the WOW Counties Voted". Milwaukee Magazine. November 6, 2020. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  6. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  7. BeMiller, Haley; Bollier, Jeff (November 4, 2020). "Green Bay pads Biden's lead in Wisconsin as Brown County overall goes for Trump". Green Bay Press Gazette. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  8. "Trump Wisconsin recount can't start until counties canvass". AP NEWS. November 9, 2020. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  9. Jeff Zeleny and Casey Tolan (November 18, 2020). "Trump campaign to seek partial recount in Wisconsin". CNN. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  10. Helderman, Rosalind (November 29, 2020). "Wisconsin recount confirms Biden's win over Trump, cementing the president's failure to change the election results". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  11. "Wisconsin set to hold in-person voting in presidential primary". Reuters. April 4, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  12. Dzhanova, Yelena (March 24, 2020). "Coronavirus is disrupting the 2020 election. Here are the states that have adjusted their primaries". CNBC. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  13. Richmond, Todd (April 3, 2020). "Wisconsin barrels ahead with election despite virus fears". AP.
  14. Johnson, Martin (April 4, 2020). "Wisconsin Republicans say they will ask Supreme Court to block extended absentee voting". TheHill. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  15. "Supreme Court blocks extended absentee voting in Wisconsin primary". Channel3000.com. April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  16. Supreme Court of the United States (April 6, 2020). "REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE, ET AL. v. DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, ET AL. No. 19A1016" (PDF). electionlawblog.org. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  17. "URGENT – Wisconsin Supreme Court Orders Election Day to Continue and U.S. Supreme Court Alters Ballot Receipt Deadline; Tallying and Reporting Results Still Prohibited Until April 13 – COVID-19". Wisconsin Elections Commission. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  18. Glauber, Bill; Marley, Patrick. "In matter of seconds, Republicans stall Gov. Tony Evers' move to postpone Tuesday election". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  19. Governor Evers Tweet April 1 2020
  20. 1 2 Bradner, Eric; Sullivan, Kate (April 6, 2020). "Wisconsin governor orders delay of primary election until June". CNN. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  21. Ruthhart, Bill (April 7, 2020). "Wisconsin governor issues executive order to delay Tuesday's election until June". chicagotribune.com.
  22. "Wisconsin Supreme Court rules Evers cannot postpone election". WISN. Associated Press. April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  23. Mystal, Elie (April 7, 2020). "SCOTUS Just Set the Stage for Republicans to Steal the Election". ISSN   0027-8378 . Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  24. Perano, Ursula. "Wisconsin won't be declaring a winner tonight". Axios. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  25. Mikkelson, Marti (April 8, 2020). "Milwaukee Election Chief: Despite Some Issues, In-Person Voting Went Smoothly". www.wuwm.com. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  26. "April 2020 Spring Election and Presidential Preference Primary Results". Wisconsin Elections Commission. Wisconsin Secretary of State. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  27. Canvass Results for 2020 Spring Election and Presidential Preference Vote - 4/7/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. May 4, 2020. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 11, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  28. "Delegate Tracker". interactives.ap.org. Associated Press. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  29. "Wisconsin Republican Delegation 2020". The Green Papers. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  30. "2020 POTUS Race ratings" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  31. "POTUS Ratings | Inside Elections". insideelections.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  32. "Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball » 2020 President". crystalball.centerforpolitics.org. Archived from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  33. "2020 Election Forecast". Politico. November 19, 2019. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  34. "Battle for White House". RCP. April 19, 2019. Archived from the original on May 3, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  35. 2020 Bitecofer Model Electoral College Predictions Archived April 23, 2020, at the Wayback Machine , Niskanen Center, March 24, 2020, retrieved: April 19, 2020.
  36. David Chalian; Terence Burlij (June 11, 2020). "Road to 270: CNN's debut Electoral College map for 2020". CNN. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  37. "Forecasting the US elections". The Economist. Archived from the original on July 5, 2020. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  38. "2020 Election Battleground Tracker". CBS News. July 12, 2020. Archived from the original on July 12, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  39. "2020 Presidential Election Interactive Map". 270 to Win. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  40. "ABC News Race Ratings". CBS News. July 24, 2020. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  41. "2020 Electoral Map Ratings: Trump Slides, Biden Advantage Expands Over 270 Votes". NPR.org. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  42. "Biden dominates the electoral map, but here's how the race could tighten". NBC News. August 6, 2020. Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  43. "2020 Election Forecast". FiveThirtyEight. August 12, 2020. Archived from the original on September 11, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  44. Dennis, LaToya (August 21, 2020). "Wisconsin Elections Commission Votes Against Allowing Kanye West, Green Party Candidates On Ballot". www.wuwm.com. WUMW. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  45. "Green Party candidates sue to get on Wisconsin's ballot this fall". www.channel3000.com. CBS Madison. August 4, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  46. Bice, Daniel (August 20, 2020). "Members of the state Elections Commission deadlock on whether to let Green Party on presidential ballot". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  47. Kenny, Caroline (September 11, 2020). "Wisconsin Supreme Court temporarily blocks absentee ballots from being mailed a week before deadline". CNN. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  48. Saul, Stephanie; Corasaniti, Nick (September 14, 2020). "Wisconsin's Top Court Rules Against Reprinting of Ballots, Avoiding Election Chaos". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  49. State of Wisconsin (November 30, 2020). "Wisconsin Certificate of Ascertainment 2020" (PDF). National Archives and Records Administration . Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  50. Statement of Canvass for President, Vice President and Presidential Electors - General Election, November 3, 2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 30, 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 11, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  51. Gilbert, Craig (November 6, 2020). "Where Joe Biden won Wisconsin: Dane County and the Milwaukee County suburbs". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  52. Goldmacher, Shane; Karni, Annie (June 19, 2016). "Hillary Clinton's path to victory". Politico. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  53. Seitz-Wald, Alex (May 6, 2016). "Analysis: 'Blue Wall' Gives Trump Little Room for Error". NBC News. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  54. Frey, William H. (November 13, 2020). "Biden's victory came from the suburbs". Brookings. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  55. Igielnik, Ruth; Keeter, Scott; Hartig, Hannah (June 30, 2021). "Behind Biden's 2020 Victory". Pew Research Center. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  56. "Election results, 2020: Pivot Counties' margins of victory analysis". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  57. "Pivot Counties by state". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  58. "Pivot Counties in Wisconsin". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  59. "Wisconsin 2020 President exit polls". www.cnn.com. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  60. Breuninger, Kevin; Mangan, Dan (November 18, 2020). "Trump campaign requests partial Wisconsin recount, deposits $3 million to challenge Biden victory". CNBC . Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  61. Beck, Molly; Marley, Patrick; Spicuzza, Mary (November 5, 2020). "Trump campaign hasn't provided evidence to back up claim of Wisconsin election 'irregularities'". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  62. Gregorian, Dareh; Jackson, Hallie; Brewster, Shaquille; Alba, Monica (November 18, 2020). "Trump campaign requests costly partial recount in Wisconsin". NBC News. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  63. Marley, Patrick (November 29, 2020). "Biden gains 87 votes in Trump's $3 million Wisconsin recount as Dane County wraps up review. President plans lawsuit". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  64. "Teigen v. Wisconsin Elections Commission" (PDF). July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022. ballot drop boxes are illegal under Wisconsin statutes
  65. "Wisconsin Certificate of Ascertainment 2020" (PDF). US National Archives. November 30, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2020.

Further reading