Election 2020: State of play and implications

As many predicted, the 2020 election results were not finalized on Election Day. Voter turnout surged across the country, with record participation numbers that shattered levels from previous years. More than 100 million people voted early nationwide, and the country is on track for the highest turnout in more than a century. 

Donald Trump and Joe Biden remained neck and neck in a handful of battleground states, but Joe Biden ultimately prevailed and crossed the 270 electoral vote threshold to win the White House despite false accusations of voting fraud and threats of legal action. Some House races across the country remain undecided, and control of the Senate hangs in the balance.  

On November 10, Governance Studies at Brookings hosted a webinar examining the results of the 2020 election and what a Biden-Harris administration means for the future of the country. Panelists analyzed state-by-state outcomes, voter turnout trends, election administration, and the implications for the 117th Congress and future public policy implementation.

Viewers submitted questions for speakers by emailing [email protected] or by tweeting at @BrookingsGov. Join the conversation on Twitter using #Election2020.