Joe Biden becomes first Democrat to win Georgia in 28 years
With Biden winning Georgia and Donald Trump winning North Carolina, their final tally comes to 306-232.
Although Joe Biden has been named the projected winner of the 2020 presidential election, states such as Georgia and North Carolina have just finished counting their ballots. The president-elect has been named the winner of Georgia, while Donald Trump earned a win in North Carolina.
According to CNN, Biden’s victory adds 16 electoral votes to his total, bringing him to 306, which is the same number Trump had in his 2016 victory against Hillary Clinton. With the president winning North Carolina, their final totals are now 306 to 232. Biden is the first Democratic nominee to flip Georgia since Bill Clinton did it back in 1992.
Trump had an early lead in Georgia, but it quickly decreased once mail-in ballots and votes from Atlanta and the suburbs were added in. The Peach State is now recounting the votes by hand since the margin was so close.
“With the margin being so close, it will require a full, by-hand recount in each county,” Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said on Wednesday (Nov. 11), adding that the recount will “build confidence.”
The recount has to start by Friday (Nov. 13) and be completed by next Wednesday (Nov. 18), which is two days before the state has to get their election results certified.
Although Biden was name the projected winner of the election, Trump is refusing to concede. On Tuesday (Nov. 10), the president-elect said Trump’s refusal to concede was shameful.
“Well, I just think it’s an embarrassment, quite frankly,” Biden said. “How can I say this tactfully? I think it will not help the president’s legacy. I know from my discussions with foreign leaders thus far that they are hopeful that the United States democratic institutions are viewed once again as being strong…but I think at the end of the day, it’s all going to come to fruition on January 20.”