Presidental Election 2020

Predicted as one possible outcome, a winner of the presidential election was not officially declared on Election Day as several key states continue to count ballots. As of Thursday morning, Joe Biden won 264 electoral votes compared to 214 for Trump. A candidate needs 270 to win the election, and both Biden and Trump have paths to reach that number. Additionally, as of Thursday morning afternoon, Joe Biden is ahead in the popular vote count by well over 3.3 million votes. In the 2016 election, President Trump won 306 electoral votes, compared to 232 for Hillary Clinton.

The states of Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania are still counting votes and could be for a few days. Crucial wins for Biden that have officially been called are Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and the second congressional district of Nebraska (Maine and Nebraska are the only two states that aren’t winner-take-all). Biden currently has a narrow lead in Nevada and would not need Pennsylvania to reach 270 should those leads hold. President Trump officially won the swing states of Florida and Ohio, crucial states for him to have any path to a second term. Trump needs to win all four of the remain states (Pennsylvania, Nevada, North Carolina, and Georgia) where votes are still being counted in order to win a second term.

Despite the unofficial results, Biden and his transition team undoubtedly already have a shortlist of dozens of lawmakers, former staff, donors, political operatives, activists, and others being considered for both prominent administration appointments and the more behind-the-scenes bureaucratic roles. With nearly 50 years of government service under his belt, Joe Biden has a multitude of close contacts and friends his potential administration may consider. The Biden team also promised to pick experienced appointees to make his Cabinet the most diverse ever. Additionally, to appease progressives, Biden may be steered away from corporate and moderate appointments by progressives. However, if the GOP holds the Senate, Biden may face challenges getting liberal nominees through the confirmation process, which could redirect thinking on his selection process.

Click HERE to see a list of potential Biden administration appointees with a focus on Biden’s economic and financial services team, health care team, and energy and environmental team. Please note that this is a speculative list compiled by TPS and none of these positions have been publicly announced or confirmed by the Biden campaign.

Results as of Nov 5 from 270toWin.com