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Election 2020 updates: Biden warns of 'dark winter,' pushes masks in pandemic plan

The president-elect emphasized how he would handle the pandemic response.

ByCatherine Thorbecke, Morgan Winsor, Libby Cathey, Adia Robinson, Lauren King, Emily Shapiro, Ivan Pereira, and Marc Nathanson
Last Updated: November 10, 2020, 10:14 AM EST

Joe Biden is set to become the 46th president of the United States, capping a tumultuous and tension-filled campaign during a historic pandemic against President Donald Trump. ABC News characterized Joe Biden as the apparent winner of his home state of Pennsylvania, putting him over the 270 vote threshold needed to capture the presidency.

The hard-fought battle against the president was set against the backdrop of racial unrest and the coronavirus pandemic and bitter divisions among the electorate.

Trump had falsely declared on election night, when he held a lead in several key states, that he won the contest and alleged without evidence, after the count started to swing the other way, that the election was being stolen from him and that fraud had been committed.

Painting the election as a "battle for the soul of the nation," Biden won on a message of unity over division, compassion over anger, and reality over what he called Trump's "wishful thinking" as the coronavirus pandemic cast a heavy shadow over the campaign.

The 2020 election has shattered voting records with votes totaling 147 million and counting, surpassing the 138 million who voted in 2016.

Top headlines:

Here's how election week unfolded. All times Eastern.
Nov 03, 2020, 8:24 PM EST

McConnell projected to win reelection to Senate

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is projected to win in Kentucky and keep his Senate seat, following a high-profile race with Democratic challenger Amy McGrath.

McConnell was the favorite heading into Election Day, but the race with McGrath diverted key resources across the Senate map to Kentucky.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, accompanied by his wife, Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, holds a post election news conference as he declares victory, in Louisville, Ky., Nov. 3, 2020.
Bryan Woolston/Reuters

McGrath raised an astonishing $88 million in the race and spent $73 million in her unsuccessful effort to oust McConnell.

-ABC News' Kendall Karson and Soorin Kim

Nov 03, 2020, 8:18 PM EST

Kellyanne Conway says Trump expected to address nation

Former Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway said the Trump campaign is "not in a rush," when it comes to results in this uncertain election.

Conway also said the president is "expected to address the nation later from the East Room of the White House."

Nov 03, 2020, 8:16 PM EST

Biden projected to take 4 states and D.C., Trump takes Oklahoma 

Biden is projected to win Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and the District of Columbia, and Trump is projected Oklahoma. 

With 12% of the nationwide vote in, Biden currently has 44 Electoral College votes to Trump's 35.

In Senate races, Democrats are projected to keep seats serving Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New Jersey with wins projected for incumbent Sens. Chris Coons, Ed Markey, Jeanne Shaheen and Cory Booker. 

Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe is projected to keep his seat representing Oklahoma.

Democrats currently hold 39 Senate seats and Republicans hold 31. Fifty-one seats are needed to control the chamber.

Nov 03, 2020, 8:06 PM EST

Election results may not come Tuesday night

ABC News' Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos reminded voters that the results of the elections may not be final Tuesday night.

"Counting could take some time this year -- and that is okay," Stephanopoulos said. "Not knowing the outcome tonight does not mean the process is broken. It does not mean the election is unfair."

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