2020 United States presidential election in California

The 2020 United States presidential election in California was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, as part of the 2020 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. California voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, incumbent President Donald Trump, and running mate Vice President Mike Pence against Democratic Party nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, and his running mate Kamala Harris, the junior senator from California. In the 2020 election, California had 55 electoral votes in the Electoral College, the most of any state. Biden won by a wide margin, as was expected; however, California was one of seven states and DC where Trump received a larger percentage of the two-party vote than he did in 2016. This election also marked the first time since 2004 that the Republican candidate won more than one million votes in Los Angeles County due to increased turnout.

California is considered a safe blue state in presidential elections due to large concentrations of Democratic voters in urban regions such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego. As predicted, Biden easily carried California on election day, earning 63.5% of the vote and a margin of 29.2% over Trump. Biden earned the highest percentage of the vote in the state for any candidate since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, although Biden's margin of victory was slightly smaller than Hillary Clinton's 30.1% in 2016, making it one of six states in which Trump improved on his 2016 margin. In California with his record 11.1 million votes received, Biden became the first, and as of 2024 the only, candidate in any race in U.S. history to win more than 10 million votes in a single state, while Trump received the most votes a Republican had ever received in a state to that point, narrowly besting his vote total in Texas, a state that he won; four years later his Texas vote total would set a new Republican record. Biden's vote margin was the largest vote margin for a presidential candidate in a singular state. California was also one of five states in the nation in which Biden's victory margin was larger than 1 million raw votes, the others being New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Illinois.

Per exit polls by Edison Research, Biden dominated such key constituencies in the state as Latinos (75%), African Americans (82%), Asian Americans (76%), and union households (63%). Post-election analysis by Cook Political Report showed Trump made inroads with some Asian American constituencies, particularly Vietnamese American and Filipino American voters. Biden flipped Butte and Inyo Counties into the Democratic column; they had not voted Democratic since 2008 and 1964, respectively. Biden's victory in Orange County was only the second time a Democrat carried the county since 1936, as well as only the fourth time in the county's history. In contrast, while he improved his total vote share by nearly three percentage points, Trump did not flip any counties and his main regions of strength came from Republican strongholds in Gold Country, Shasta Cascade, and parts of the Central Valley. California Secretary of State Alex Padilla certified the results on December 4, and took Harris's seat in the Senate upon her resignation to become Vice President, having been appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Primary elections In a departure from previous election cycles, California held its primaries on Super Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Early voting began several weeks earlier. Donald Trump secured the Republican nomination on March 17, 2020, defeating several longshot candidates, most notably former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld. Kamala Harris, the state's junior U.S. senator, was among the Democratic candidates declared until she dropped out on December 3, 2019. Representative Eric Swalwell from the 15th district was also a Democratic candidate but dropped out of the race on July 8, 2019. Other prominent state figures, including former Governor Jerry Brown, current Governor Gavin Newsom, and Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti declined to run.

Republican primary

The Republican Party's primary campaign was dominated by a lawsuit over the President's taxes. The suit alleges that the new requirement for several years of a candidate's taxes was unconstitutional and onerous. The law was blocked in September 2019 while State Supreme court heard testimony and made a ruling.

As a contingency, the Republican state committee changed its delegate selection process, turning the primary into a mere "beauty contest" and setting up an emergency state convention to Trump's delegate choices. If Trump were allowed on the ballot, the convention would be canceled and the so-called "winner-take-most" rules, which require a challenger to get 20% of the vote, would apply.

Incumbent Trump was allowed on the ballot, and the contingency convention was canceled.

Democratic primary

Candidates began filing their paperwork on November 4, 2019, and the final list was announced on December 9.

Leading California Democrats complained that Joe Biden and Senator Elizabeth Warren were snubbing the state by refusing to attend a forum at the State's "endorsement convention". Early voting began on February 11 and ended the day before primary day.

Libertarian primary

The Libertarian Party of California permitted non-affiliated voters to vote in their presidential primary.

2020 California Libertarian presidential primary Candidate Votes % 5,530 19.4 3,534 12.4 3,469 12.2 3,011 10.6 2,330 8.2 2,161 7.6 1,722 6.0 1,695 5.9 1,605 5.6 999 3.5 982 3.4 748 2.6 720 2.5 27 0.1 2 0.0 Total 28,535 100.0

Green primary

2020 California Green primary Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates 4,202 36.2% 16 2,558 22.0% 9 2,071 17.8% 8 1,999 17.2% 7 774 6.7% 3 Total9,656100.00%43

American Independent primary The American Independent Party permitted non-affiliated voters to vote in their presidential primary.

Peace and Freedom primary

General election

Final predictions SourceRankingThe Cook Political ReportInside ElectionsSabato's Crystal BallPoliticoRCPNiskanen2020 Bitecofer Model Electoral College Predictions , Niskanen Center, March 24, 2020, retrieved: April 19, 2020.CNNThe EconomistCBS News270towinABC NewsNPRNBC News538

Polling

Aggregate polls +Source of pollaggregationDates administeredDates updatedJoeBiden DonaldTrumpOther/UndecidedMargin270 to WinOctober 17–27, 2020November 3, 202061.7%32.3%6.0%Biden +29.4Real Clear PoliticsSeptember 26 – October 21, 2020October 27, 202060.7%31.0%8.3%Biden +29.7FiveThirtyEightuntil November 2, 2020November 3, 202061.6%32.4%6.0%Biden +29.2Average61.3%31.9%6.8%Biden +29.4

Polls Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize MarginDonaldTrumpJoeBidenJoJorgensenHowieHawkinsOtherUndecidedSurveyMonkey/AxiosOct 20 – Nov 2, 202012,370 (LV)± 1.5%36%62% – – – –David Binder ResearchOct 28 – Nov 1, 2020800 (LV) –31%62% – –3%4%USC Schwarzenegger InstituteOct 27–31, 20201,155 (RV)± 3%28%65% – –4%2%SurveyMonkey/TableauSep 30 – Oct 28, 202022,450 (LV) –37%61% – – – –SwayableOct 23–26, 2020635 (LV)± 5.2%35%62%2%1% – –UC Berkeley/LA Times Oct 16–21, 20205,352 (LV)± 2%29%65%1%0%0%3%Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaOct 9–18, 20201,185 (LV)± 4.3%32%58%3%2%1%4%SurveyMonkey/TableauSep 1–30, 202020,346 (LV) –35%63% – – –2%SurveyUSASep 26–28, 2020588 (LV)± 5.4%34%59% – –3%6%Redfield & Wilton StrategiesSep 19–21, 20201,775 (LV) –28%62%1%1%1%8%UC Berkeley/LA Times Sep 9–15, 20205,942 (LV)± 2%28%67%1%0%0%3%Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaSep 4–13, 20201,168 (LV)± 4.3%31%60%3%2%1%2%Spry Strategies/Women's Liberation FrontAug 29 – Sep 1, 2020600 (LV)± 4%39%56% – – –5%SurveyMonkey/TableauAug 1–31, 202017,537 (LV) –35%63% – – –2%David Binder ResearchAug 22–24, 2020800 (LV) –31%61% – –3%5%Redfield and Wilton StrategiesAug 9, 20201,904 (LV)± 2.3%25%61%1%1%2%9%SurveyMonkey/TableauJul 1–31, 202019,027 (LV) –35%63% – – –2%University of California Berkeley Jul 21–27, 20206,756 (LV)± 2.0%28%67% – – –5%SurveyMonkey/TableauJun 8–30, 20208,412 (LV) –36%62% – – –2%Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaMay 19–26, 20201,048 (LV)± 4.6%33%57% – –6%3%SurveyUSAMay 18–19, 2020537 (LV)± 5.4%30%58%––5%7%Emerson College May 8–10, 2020 800 (RV) ± 3.4% 35%65% – – – –Public Policy Polling Mar 28–29, 2020 962 (RV) – 29%67% – – – 3%AtlasIntel Feb 24 – Mar 2, 2020 1,100 (RV) ± 3.0% 26%62% – – 12% –YouGov Feb 26–28, 2020 1,507 (RV) – 31%59% – – 4% 4%CNN/SSRS Feb 22–26, 2020 951 (RV) ± 3.3% 35%60% – – 3% 3%University of California Berkeley Feb 20–25, 2020 5,526 (RV) – 31%58% – – – 11%SurveyUSA Feb 13–16, 2020 1,196 (RV) ± 3.1% 37%57% – – – 6%YouGov/USC Price-Schwarzenegger Institute Feb 1–15, 2020 1,200 (RV) ± 3.1% 30%60% – – – 4%SurveyUSA Jan 14–16, 2020 1,967 (RV) ± 2.8% 35%59% – – – 6%CNN/SSRS Dec 4–8, 2019 1,011 (RV) ± 3.4% 36% 56% – – 3% 5%SurveyUSA Nov 20–22, 2019 2,039 (RV) ± 2.4% 32% 59% – – – 9%SurveyUSA Oct 15–16, 2019 1,242 (RV) ± 3.8% 32% 59% – – – 9%Emerson College Sep 13–16, 2019 830 (RV) ± 3.3% 36% 64% – – – –SurveyUSA Sep 13–15, 2019 1,785 (RV) ± 3.2% 31% 57% – – – 11%SurveyUSA Aug 1–5, 2019 2,184 (RV) ± 2.7% 27% 61% – – – 12%SurveyUSA Mar 22–25, 2018 882 (RV) ± 3.8% 33% 56% – – – 11%with Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin DonaldTrump (R) BernieSanders (D) Other UndecidedAtlasIntel Feb 24 – Mar 2, 2020 1,100 (RV) ± 3.0% 28%60% 12% –YouGov Feb 26–28, 2020 1,507 (RV) – 31%59% 6% 4%CNN/SSRS Feb 22–26, 2020 951 (RV) ± 3.3% 36%59% 3% 2%University of California Berkeley Feb 20–25, 2020 5,526 (RV) – 31%59% – 10%SurveyUSA Feb 13–16, 2020 1,196 (RV) ± 3.1% 37%58% – 6%YouGov/USC Price-Schwarzenegger Institute Feb 1–15, 2020 1,200 (RV) ± 3.1% 31%61% – 4%SurveyUSA Jan 14–16, 2020 1,967 (RV) ± 2.7% 36%59% – 5%CNN/SSRS Dec 4–8, 2019 1,011 (RV) ± 3.4% 38% 54% 4% 4%SurveyUSA Nov 20–22, 2019 2,039 (RV) ± 2.4% 34% 60% – 7%SurveyUSA Oct 15–16, 2019 1,242 (RV) ± 3.8% 33% 59% – 8%Emerson College Sep 13–16, 2019 830 (RV) ± 3.3% 38% 63% – –SurveyUSA Sep 13–15, 2019 1,785 (RV) ± 3.2% 33% 57% – 10%SurveyUSA Aug 1–5, 2019 2,184 (RV) ± 2.7% 29% 62% – 9%

with Donald Trump and Tulsi Gabbard Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin DonaldTrump (R) TulsiGabbard (D) UndecidedSurveyUSA Jan 14–16, 2020 1,967 (RV) ± 2.8% 38%43% 19%

with Donald Trump and Elizabeth Warren Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin DonaldTrump (R) ElizabethWarren (D) Other UndecidedAtlasIntel Feb 24 – Mar 2, 2020 1,100 (RV) ± 3.0% 28%60% 12% –YouGov Feb 26–28, 2020 1,507 (RV) – 32%57% 5% 6%CNN/SSRS Feb 22–26, 2020 951 (RV) ± 3.3% 37%56% 3% 4%University of California Berkeley Feb 20–25, 2020 5,526 (RV) – 33%58% – 10%SurveyUSA Feb 13–16, 2020 1,196 (RV) ± 3.1% 38%54% – 8%YouGov/USC Price-Schwarzenegger Institute Feb 1–15, 2020 1,200 (RV) ± 3.1% 32%59% – 4%SurveyUSA Jan 14–16, 2020 1,967 (RV) ± 2.8% 39%55% – 7%CNN/SSRS Dec 4–8, 2019 1,011 (RV) ± 3.4% 37% 53% 4% 6%SurveyUSA Nov 20–22, 2019 2,039 (RV) ± 2.4% 35% 56% – 9%SurveyUSA Oct 15–16, 2019 1,242 (RV) ± 3.9% 33% 55% – 12%SurveyUSA Oct 15–16, 2019 1,242 (RV) ± 3.8% 35% 56% – 8%Emerson College Sep 13–16, 2019 830 (RV) ± 3.3% 39% 61% – –SurveyUSA Sep 13–15, 2019 1,785 (RV) ± 3.2% 35% 53% – 12%SurveyUSA Aug 1–5, 2019 2,184 (RV) ± 2.7% 30% 58% – 12%SurveyUSA Jan 7–9, 2018 909 (RV) ± 3.3% 32% 53% – 14%

with Donald Trump and Michael Bloomberg