The Big Swing in This Year’s Election

Swing states Control The Election

By Michael Tipton, News Writer

There were a select few states this year that decided who gets into office. These states that determine who ultimately wins the White house this year are called “swing” or “battleground” states. They are historically won by both major parties. Referencing the 2020 election, the New York Times said,

“The path to the presidency runs through about a dozen states that President Trump and Joseph R. Biden jr are seriously contesting--battlegrounds that will decide who wins the electoral college.”

While there are a handful of swing states in every election, there were only a couple this year that really wound up deciding the vote due to how late they were voting, as well as how much their popular vote swayed during the election.

“Pennsylvania has been called for Biden, who leads the count by 47,566 votes, but it’s become a major focus for the Trump campaign’s recount and legal efforts,” ABC news reported. “Pennsylvania carries 20 electoral college votes, and winning the state gives Biden more than the 270 votes needed to win the presidency. It also means even if Biden ended up losing in Georgia or Arizona, he would still win the presidency.” Pennsylvania isn’t the only swing state who holds large amounts of power in this year's election.

Arizona has played a big role this year, as their popular vote has swayed on multiple occasions and this is very surprising seeing as though they usually vote Republican.

“While Arizona hasn’t voted for a democratic presidential nominee since 1996, this year looks different,” CNN ‘s Dan Merica reported. “Right now Biden should be considered the favorite to become the only second Democrat since 1948 to carry the Grand Canyon State.”

Arizona’s swing to blue seems to be the case in many states throughout the nation this election, and has made drastic changes in comparison to previous years making it a very unique and interesting election.