Election 2020 updates: Biden warns of 'dark winter,' pushes masks in pandemic plan
The president-elect emphasized how he would handle the pandemic response.
Joe Biden is set to become the 46th president of the United States, capping a tumultuous and tension-filled campaign during a historic pandemic against President Donald Trump. ABC News characterized Joe Biden as the apparent winner of his home state of Pennsylvania, putting him over the 270 vote threshold needed to capture the presidency.
The hard-fought battle against the president was set against the backdrop of racial unrest and the coronavirus pandemic and bitter divisions among the electorate.
Trump had falsely declared on election night, when he held a lead in several key states, that he won the contest and alleged without evidence, after the count started to swing the other way, that the election was being stolen from him and that fraud had been committed.
Painting the election as a "battle for the soul of the nation," Biden won on a message of unity over division, compassion over anger, and reality over what he called Trump's "wishful thinking" as the coronavirus pandemic cast a heavy shadow over the campaign.
The 2020 election has shattered voting records with votes totaling 147 million and counting, surpassing the 138 million who voted in 2016.
Top headlines:
Biden increases his edge over Trump in Arizona
Biden's lead in Arizona increased by 795 votes overnight, as the longtime Republican stronghold edges toward flipping blue.
As of 4:50 a.m. Friday, Biden has 1,532,062 votes -- 50.1% -- while Trump has 1,485,010 votes -- 48.5% -- with 90% of the expected vote reporting statewide. That's a difference of 47,052 votes.
About 263,000 ballots are left to be counted in the Grand Canyon State, where 11 Electoral College votes are up for grabs.
Republican candidates have won Arizona in every presidential election but one since 1952. Bill Clinton flipped the red state blue in 1996.
-ABC News' Kendall Karson and Chad Murray
Biden takes the lead in Georgia
Biden has overtaken Trump's lead in Georgia by 917 votes.
As of 4:50 a.m. Friday, Biden has 2,449,371 votes while Trump has 2,448,454 -- 49.4% each -- with 99% of the expected vote reporting.
About 10,000 ballots are still left to be counted in the Deep South State, where 16 Electoral College votes are up for grabs.
Voters in Georgia, once a reliable Republican stronghold, haven't swung for a Democratic presidential candidate since Bill Clinton in 1992.
-ABC News' Chad Murray and Quinn Scanlan
Biden chips away at Trump's lead in Pennsylvania
Biden continued to chip away at Trump's lead in Pennsylvania early Friday morning, with the two candidates now separated by just 18,229 votes
As of 3 a.m. ET, Trump has 3,286,171 votes in the Keystone State -- 49.5% -- while Biden has 3,267,942 -- 49.2% -- with 95% of the expected vote reporting. There are some 160,000 ballots left to be counted in Pennsylvania, and Biden needs about 56% of the outstanding votes to win the state.
Trump flipped the blue state red on his path to the White House in 2016. He won Pennsylvania's 20 Electoral College votes, defeating Hillary Clinton there by 44,292 ballots.
Prior to that year, Pennsylvania had voted for Democratic presidential candidates in six consecutive elections.
-ABC News' Adam Kelsey and Chad Murray
Trump's lead in Georgia dwindles to just 665 votes
Trump's lead in Georgia dwindled to just 665 votes early Friday morning.
As of 3 a.m. ET, Trump has 2,448,183 votes while Biden isn't far behind with 2,447,518.
Sixteen Electoral College votes are up for grabs in Georgia, a longtime Republican stronghold. Voters in the Deep South state haven't swung for a Democratic presidential candidate since Bill Clinton in 1992.