With the election right around the corner, all eyes are on the polls to see who will be the next Commander in Chief: President Donald Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden. So far, a record-breaking 58.6 million ballots have already been cast, both by mail or in-person, as voters head to the polls early. (In comparison, that’s already more than all of the early votes cast in 2016, and there’s still a week to go before election day.) While 38 states have voted for the same party for the past four elections and are likely to stick to their party lines, there are a handful of battleground states that could cross the aisle. Depending on the turnout, these swing states could determine who will be the victor.
Using the most recent polling data from Real Clear Politics as of Oct. 26, we found the 15 major swing states to watch right now and which way they’re currently leaning. These are Real Clear Politics' averages of the current projected vote shares and don’t guarantee which candidate will win, as was evident in the 2016 election. So, it’s more important than ever to make sure you get out and vote on or before Nov. 3. And for more states you might want to keep an eye on, This Is the Most Hated State in America.
1 | Arizona
ShutterstockBiden: 48.8 percent
Trump: 46.4 percent
Presidential Poll Spread: Biden +2.4
In 2016, Trump won by a 3.5-point margin. And for more places that are facing challenges, This Is the Worst State to Live in Right Now.
2 | Florida
ShutterstockBiden: 48.7 percent
Trump: 47.2 percent
Presidential Poll Spread: Biden +1.5
In 2016, Trump won by a 1.2-point margin.
3 | Georgia
ShutterstockBiden: 46.8 percent
Trump: 47.2 percent
Presidential Poll Spread: Trump +0.4
In 2016, Trump won by a 5.1-point margin. And for states that aren't looking pretty, This Is the Ugliest State in the U.S.
4 | Iowa
ShutterstockBiden: 47.2 percent
Trump: 46.4 percent
Presidential Poll Spread: Biden +0.8
In 2016, Trump won by a 9.5-point margin.
5 | Michigan
ShutterstockBiden: 50.6 percent
Trump: 42.5 percent
Presidential Poll Spread: Biden +8.1
In 2016, Trump won by a 0.3-point margin.
6 | North Carolina
ShutterstockBiden: 49 percent
Trump: 47.8 percent
Presidential Poll Spread: Biden +1.2
In 2016, Trump won by a 3.7-point margin. And if you want more state guides to read, sign up for our daily newsletter.
7 | Ohio
ShutterstockBiden: 46.2 percent
Trump: 46.8 percent
Presidential Poll Spread: Trump +0.6
In 2016, Trump won by a 8.1-point margin.
8 | Pennsylvania
ShutterstockBiden: 49.8 percent
Trump: 44.5 percent
Presidential Poll Spread: Biden +5.3
In 2016, Trump won by a 0.7-point margin.
9 | Wisconsin
ShutterstockBiden: 49.7 percent
Trump: 44.3 percent
Presidential Poll Spread: Biden +5.4
In 2016, Trump won by a 0.7-point margin.
10 | Texas
ShutterstockBiden: 46 percent
Trump: 48.6 percent
Presidential Poll Spread: Trump +2.6
In 2016, Trump won by a whopping 9-point margin.
11 | Maine
ShutterstockBiden: 50.5 percent
Trump: 39.5 percent
Presidential Poll Spread: Biden +11
In 2016, Clinton won by a 2.9-point margin.
12 | Minnesota
ShutterstockBiden: 48 percent
Trump: 42 percent
Presidential Poll Spread: Biden +6
In 2016, Clinton won by a 1.5-point margin.
13 | Nevada
ShutterstockBiden: 49 percent
Trump: 43.8 percent
Presidential Poll Spread: Biden +5.2
In 2016, Clinton won by a 2.4-point margin.
14 | New Hampshire
ShutterstockBiden: 52.7 percent
Trump: 42.5 percent
Presidential Poll Spread: Biden +10.2
In 2016, Clinton won New Hampshire by a razor-thin 0.3-point margin.
15 | Colorado
ShutterstockBiden: 48.5 percent
Trump: 39 percent
Presidential Poll Spread: Biden +9.5
In 2016, Clinton won by a 4.9-point margin.
