US Election 2020: Biden takes early lead; Trump catching up

Republican Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Joe Biden are vying for the presidency as results roll in across the US.

So far, Trump has won Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Iowa.

Biden has emerged victorious in California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Hawaii, Minnesota and Washington.  

Biden leads the incumbent by 238 votes to 213 in the electoral college battle. Still, uncertainty looms over when the results will be known considering the record influx of mail-in ballots.

Trump wins Iowa 

The Associated Press announced that Trump has won Iowa, another state he won in 2016 and needed to win again.

BREAKING: Donald Trump wins Iowa. #APracecall at 11:21 p.m. CST. 

— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 4, 2020

Trump wins Ohio

Trump has won Ohio and its 18 electoral votes, the The Associated Press has just announced.

BREAKING: Donald Trump wins Ohio. #APracecall at 12:19 a.m. EST. 

— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 4, 2020

Biden wins Minnesota

The former vice president has won Minnesota and its 10 electoral votes, the AP just announced.

Fox News: Trump will win Ohio

Fox News has projected Trump will win Ohio, a state that was viewed as a must-win for him.

Fox News projects Trump wins the pivotal State of Ohio, clearing a major electoral hurdle in his quest for a second term.

— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 4, 2020

The network has also called Florida for Trump and Arizona for Joe Biden.

Meanwhile, Trump’s advisers are reportedly angry with Fox News for already calling Arizona for Biden.

Trump advisers say campaign is furious with Fox for its Arizona call for Biden, an indication of how much was riding on the state. "Words cannot describe the anger," the adviser said.

— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) November 4, 2020

Trump leads Biden in Florida

Trump was leading Biden in the vital battleground State of Florida on Tuesday, yet it remains unclear whether he can win other competitive swing states that will help decide the election, including North Carolina.

The incumbent was leading Biden 51.2% to 47.8% with 93% of the expected votes counted in Florida, which is widely seen as a must-win state for Trump to get the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency.

Trump gained strength in Florida partly because of an improved performance relative to 2016 in the state's counties with large Latino populations as there were complaints from Democratic Latino activists that the former vice president was ignoring Hispanic voters and lavishing attention instead on Black voters in big Midwestern cities.

Unrest outside the White House

Unrest erupted near the White House on Tuesday night as two men were detained and three others were arrested.

Black Lives Matter demonstrators gathered at the Black Lives Matter Plaza, a two-block section of Downtown Washington which was renamed in June following the death of George Floyd.

It remains unclear why two men were being held outside the Labourers' International Union building as officers formed a barrier between them and the gathered crowds.

Protesters chanted "no justice, no police" and some kicked police bicycles. The officers then escorted the detained men out through the barrier.

This item is being updated......

ME