If Arizona Goes For Trump, What States Would Biden Need To Win?

President Donald Trump has narrowed Democratic challenger Joe Biden's lead in Arizona, giving the Republican incumbent hope he could carry the state.

The Associated Press and Fox News called Arizona for Biden on election night, but CNN has held off saying it is too early to call the state's race.

As of Thursday morning, Biden is leading in Arizona by around 70,000 votes—but the president narrowed his lead in the Republican stronghold as more votes were tallied.

So if Trump ultimately secure Arizona's 11 electoral college votes, it could make Biden's path to 270 trickier.

Biden currently sits on 253 electoral college votes, while Trump has 213, according to CNN's tally.

The only state that could give Biden all the electoral college votes he needs to top the 270 electoral college votes needed to claim victory is Pennsylvania.

But the former vice president has other paths to win even if he doesn't win his native state's 20 electoral college votes—although it would require him to win at least two of the other states still in play.

Biden has a narrow lead in Nevada, where an update on results is expected at around 12 p.m. ET on Thursday.

If he manages to carry Nevada, which has six electoral college votes, he would need only 11 more to reach the crucial 270.

Meanwhile, the reliably Republican state of Georgia has unexpectedly become a battleground this year.

The race is extremely tight in Georgia, where Trump currently has a lead of fewer than 20,000 votes. But around 50,000 votes are left to be counted, including mailed ballots from densely populated counties in the Atlanta metro region which lean Democratic.

If Biden is able to flip Georgia, the state's 16 electoral college votes as well as Nevada's six would push him over the threshold to win.

Other states still in play include North Carolina and Alaska, which have 15 and three electoral college votes. Trump is ahead in both states.

On Wednesday, Biden said that he is confident he will emerge victorious when every count has been counted.

Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly attacked the integrity of the democratic process and his campaign has filed lawsuits in several states, including the crucial battleground of Pennsylvania. The Trump campaign has also said it will request a recount in Wisconsin, which has been called for Biden.

Biden
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, joined by vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), speaks one day after Americans voted in the presidential election, on November 4, in Wilmington, Delaware. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Editor's pick

Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek magazine delivered to your door
  • Unlimited access to Newsweek.com
  • Ad free Newsweek.com experience
  • iOS and Android app access
  • All newsletters + podcasts
Newsweek cover
  • Unlimited access to Newsweek.com
  • Ad free Newsweek.com experience
  • iOS and Android app access
  • All newsletters + podcasts