2020 Election Results Might Not Be Known Until Thanksgiving, NYT Columnist Says

In 2008, The Associated Press called the presidential election shortly after 11 p.m. on Election Day  — Democrat Barack Obama had won enough Electoral College votes to move into the White House. In 2012, the AP called the election at 11:38 p.m. — Obama beat Mitt Romney by 3% of the vote but easily defeated him in the Electoral College, 332-206.

But things have been different for Republicans in recent elections. In 2000, due to some “hanging chads,” the result of the presidential election was not determined until Dec. 12. Four years later, in 2004, President George W. Bush wasn’t deemed the winner until the morning after Election Day.  And in 2016, CNN didn’t call Trump’s victory until 2:29 a.m. despite his sound electoral defeat of Hillary Clinton.