The 2020 United States presidential election in Texas 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. Texas has historically voted Republican, but recent demographic shifts have made the voter turnout more competitive. Texas 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 the Democratic Party's nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, and his running mate, California Senator Kamala Harris. The state of Texas had 38 electoral votes in the Electoral College.
Although it was considered a vulnerable state for Trump by some pollsters and experts and a potential upset victory for Biden due to its recent demographic trends, Texas was again won by Trump with 52.1% of the vote, roughly the same percentage he carried it with in 2016.
Despite not winning the state, Biden improved on Hillary Clinton's 2016 vote share by 3.24 points, with his 46.48% vote share the largest percentage in the state by a Democratic presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter carried the state in 1976. Trump's 5.58% margin of victory was the narrowest for a Republican since 1996, when Southerner Bill Clinton was the Democratic nominee.
Texas was the third-narrowest of Trump's state victories, behind only Florida and North Carolina, and the ninth-closest state overall. However, Trump made many of his largest gains in the country in South Texas in counties along the Mexico–United States border, flipping eight counties in the region.
Voter turnout in the state increased to its highest level since 1992, when two Texans, George H. W. Bush and Ross Perot, were on the ballot.
Primary elections
Republican primary
The Republican primary was held on March 3, 2020. Donald Trump and Bill Weld were the only declared Republican candidates, as former South Carolina Governor and U.S. Representative Mark Sanford and U.S. Representative Joe Walsh had dropped out. Texas Governor Greg Abbott declined to run against Trump, as did 2016 Republican primary candidate and current senator Ted Cruz. The primary was won markedly by Trump with over 94% of the vote.
Democratic primary
The Democratic primary was held on March 3, 2020. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Michael Bloomberg and Joe Biden were among the major declared candidates. The primary was won by Biden, with Sanders coming second.
General election
Final predictions SourceRankingThe Cook Political ReportInside ElectionsSabato's Crystal BallPoliticoRCPNiskanenNiskanen Center Electoral Map, Niskanen Center, March 24, 2020, retrieved: April 19, 2020CNNThe EconomistCBS News270towinABC NewsNPRNBC News538
Polling Graphical summary
Aggregate polls +Source of pollaggregationDates administeredDates updatedJoeBiden DonaldTrumpOther/UndecidedMargin270 to Win270 to WinOct 29, 2020 – November 2, 2020November 3, 202047.5%48.8%3.7%Trump +1.3Real Clear PoliticsReal Clear PoliticsOctober 20–31, 2020November 3, 202046.5%47.8%5.7% Trump +1.3FiveThirtyEightFiveThirtyEightuntil November 2, 2020November 3, 202047.4%48.6%4.0%Trump +1.1Average47.1%48.4%4.5%Trump +1.2
Polls