Honestly, the numbers from the 2020 election are still kinda staggering when you sit down and look at them. We’re talking about a level of civic participation that we haven't seen in this country since your great-grandparents were kids. It wasn’t just a "high turnout" year; it was a complete shattering of the old ceiling.
Joe Biden didn't just win. He pulled in 81,283,501 votes. That's the most anyone has ever received in the history of the United States. Period. But here’s the kicker: Donald Trump also broke the previous record, raking in 74,223,975 votes.
Think about that. More people voted for the loser of the 2020 election than have ever voted for a winner in any previous cycle. It’s wild.
The Raw Data: Breaking Down the 158 Million
People tend to focus on the Electoral College because that's what actually puts someone in the White House. But the US election 2020 popular vote tells the real story of where the country's head was at.
Total turnout hit roughly 66.8% of eligible citizens. 158.4 million people.
If you want the specific spread, Biden took 51.3% of the national vote, while Trump landed at 46.8%. That’s a gap of about 7 million people, or roughly the entire population of Arizona, just to give you some scale.
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- Joe Biden: 81,283,501 (51.3%)
- Donald Trump: 74,223,975 (46.8%)
- Jo Jorgensen: 1,864,873 (1.2%)
- Howie Hawkins: 402,795 (0.3%)
The rest of the field was basically a rounding error, though Libertarian Jo Jorgensen managed to crack a million, which is always a tough hill for third-party candidates to climb.
Why the Popular Vote Margin Felt So Different
You’ve probably heard the term "Red Mirage" or "Blue Shift." These weren't just catchy TV phrases; they were a direct result of how we counted the popular vote in 2020.
Because of the pandemic, mail-in voting exploded. 43% of all voters sent their ballots through the mail. Another 26% voted early in person. That meant only about 30% of Americans actually showed up at a polling place on Tuesday, November 3rd.
This created a weird psychological effect. Republicans were more likely to vote in person on Election Day, while Democrats leaned heavily into mail-in ballots. So, on Tuesday night, it looked like Trump was leading in several key states. Then, as the mail-in popular vote was tallied over the next few days—shoutout to the election workers in Pennsylvania and Georgia who didn't sleep for a week—the numbers shifted.
It wasn't a "secret dump" of votes. It was literally just the order of the pile. In states like Pennsylvania, the legislature actually forbade counting mail ballots until Election Day, ensuring there would be a massive delay.
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The Turnout Surge Was Everywhere
It wasn't just the big cities. Small towns saw it too.
White non-college voters—a group that basically lives and breathes for Trump—showed up at a rate of 64%. That’s their highest turnout since the 90s.
Meanwhile, Biden made massive gains in the suburbs. He took 54% of suburban voters, a significant jump from Hillary Clinton's 45% in 2016.
Myths vs. Reality: Clearing the Air
There is a massive misconception that the popular vote doesn't matter since it doesn't "decide" the winner. While technically true under our current system, the popular vote acts as a massive mandate. It's the pulse of the nation.
Some people still claim there were "more votes than voters." That’s just not true. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the Census Bureau have been through these numbers with a fine-tooth comb. The 158.4 million votes cast align perfectly with the number of registered voters and the overall adult population.
Another big one: "The popular vote was only high because of fraud."
Actually, the high turnout was driven by the fact that it was remarkably easy to vote. Expanding mail-in access and early voting meant that people who usually can't get off work for three hours on a Tuesday finally had a chance to participate.
The Demographic Shift
The 2020 popular vote also showed a changing America.
Younger voters (18-29) favored Biden by a massive 24-point margin.
However, Trump actually improved his standing with Hispanic voters compared to 2016, taking about 32% of that demographic.
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It’s a nuanced picture. It’s not just "blue cities vs. red rural areas." It’s a messy, complicated map of suburban shifts, energized youth, and a polarized electorate that felt—for the first time in a long time—that their specific vote actually carried weight.
What to Do With This Information
If you're looking to understand where US politics is headed, don't just look at who won. Look at the raw numbers in your specific county. Most people are surprised to find that even the "reddest" states have huge pockets of blue, and the "bluest" states have millions of Republican voters.
Next Steps for You:
- Check the official FEC 2020 Presidential Election Results for a precinct-level breakdown of your own neighborhood.
- Look at the Census Bureau’s Voting and Registration report to see how your age group or education level compared to the national average.
- Compare these 2020 totals to the recently certified 2024 results to see which way the "popular momentum" is swinging in your state.
Understanding the US election 2020 popular vote isn't just about history—it's about the roadmap for every election that comes after it.