Major Candidates and Their Campaign Finance Totals
The Federal Election Commission reports that the 2020 presidential race included dozens of major and minor candidates. Joe Biden and Donald Trump became the two major-party nominees after the Democratic and Republican conventions. As of the latest FEC filings, Biden raised over $1.6 billion and spent roughly $1.5 billion, while Trump raised over $1.1 billion and spent more than $1 billion during the cycle. Third-party candidates such as Jo Jorgensen and Howie Hawkins also filed with the FEC and reported fundraising totals below $10 million each. For detailed filings, visit the FEC's candidate search page at FEC 2020 Candidate Filings.
Campaign finance disclosures show that individual contributions made up the bulk of fundraising for both major candidates. Super PACs and outside spending groups aired millions of dollars in ads supporting or opposing the candidates. The Center for Responsive Politics tracks these totals and provides searchable data on donors, committees, and independent expenditures at OpenSecrets 2020 Presidential Race Data.
Policy Positions and Key Endorsements
Joe Biden's platform emphasized the Affordable Care Act expansion, a $2 trillion clean energy plan, and a $15 federal minimum wage. Donald Trump's platform focused on tax cuts, border security, and deregulation. Both candidates released detailed policy white papers and outlined positions on healthcare, taxes, and immigration. Endorsements from unions, business leaders, and advocacy groups played a visible role in shaping public perception.
Policy analysts and fact-checkers compared each candidate's proposals to CBO and Joint Committee on Taxation estimates. For example, Biden's healthcare plan projected changes in insurance coverage and federal spending over ten years. Trump's tax policy proposals were evaluated for their impact on corporate and individual rates. These analyses are available through nonpartisan research organizations and government budget offices.
Polling Averages, Debate Performance, and Election Outcome
National polling averages in the final weeks showed Joe Biden leading Donald Trump by several points in key battleground states. The Commission on Presidential Debates hosted three debates in September, October, and late October 2020. Fact-checking organizations such as PolitiFact and FactCheck.org reviewed claims made during the debates and campaign events. Voter turnout reached historic levels, with millions of Americans casting ballots early or by mail.
On election night, major networks called the race for Joe Biden in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Arizona. The Electoral College results gave Biden 306 votes to Trump's 232. The results were certified by Congress on January 7, 2021, and the transition of power proceeded under the Presidential Transition Act. For the official Electoral College tally and state-by-state results, see the National Archives' 2020 election page at National Archives 2020 Electoral College Results.