ABSTRACT
The elections of 2020 set the stage for the presidency of Joseph R. Biden, Jr. The race for president lasted almost four years. Donald J. Trump started his reelection campaign almost immediately after his 2016 election victory, even though he faced minimal opposition within his own party. The Trump administration’s slow and inadequate response to the health threat and its negative economic impact undermined the president’s election campaign. People were frightened. COVID-19 dominated the news. This enabled the Democrats to energize their base, attract Independents, and even gain the support of some Republicans who saw Trump as a danger to the country and his party. The 2020 presidential campaign focused on the candidates’ style of leadership and the policies they would pursue as president. When the presidential election results became clear four days after election day, Trump refused to concede.
