US presidential election 2020: Biden leads Trump in early votes

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, Ohio, Florida, Texas 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 223 votes to 212 in the electoral college battle. Still, uncertainty looms over when the results will be known considering the record influx of mail-in ballots.

The Associated Press declares that Trump has officially won Texas and its crucial 38 electoral votes.

BREAKING: Donald Trump wins Texas. #APracecall at 12:05 a.m. CST.
#Election2020 https://t.co/lGfinjTqT4
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 4, 2020

Despite Democrats hoping to flip the traditionally conservative state, the president has held on to Texas, which was another must-win state for him.

Trump said early on Wednesday he would make a statement soon, accusing Democrats of seeking to “steal” the election without providing any evidence.

“We are up BIG, but they are trying to STEAL the Election. We will never let them do it. Votes cannot be cast after the Poles are closed!” Trump said.

His accusations against Democrats are false as no state allows voters to cast a ballot after the polls close.

Biden has spoken to supporters in Delaware, predicting that he will win the election.

“We knew this was going to be long,” the Democratic nominee said. “But look: we feel good about where we are. We really do.”

“I believe we’re on track to win this election.”

He also called on voters to wait until every vote was counted to determine the winner.

Trump has been officially declared by the AP to be the winner of Florida and its 29 electoral votes.

BREAKING: Donald Trump wins Florida. #APracecall at 12:35 a.m. EST. #Election2020 https://t.co/lGfinjTqT4
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 4, 2020

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.
#Election2020 https://t.co/lGfinjTqT4
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 4, 2020

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.

#Election2020 https://t.co/lGfinjTqT4
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 4, 2020

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

BREAKING: Joe Biden wins Minnesota. #APracecall at 11:13 p.m. CST. #Election2020 https://t.co/lGfinjTqT4
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 4, 2020

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.https://t.co/jc9GzdILdt
— 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 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 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......