What to know about Wisconsin and other “blue wall” states

Polls in Wisconsin closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday, and many voters across the U.S. are wondering if Vice President Kamala Harris will win the state and others in the “blue wall” as the race remains close.

The “blue wall” refers to a group of states that have consistently voted Democrat in presidential elections from 1992 through 2012. Former President Donald Trump managed to flip three of these states in 2016, though President Joe Biden won them back in 2020.

Here’s what you need to know about the “blue wall” states as votes continue to roll in:

What states are part of the ‘blue wall’?

Some sources claim eighteen states and Washington, D.C. make up the “blue wall” in the U.S. Three key swing states are included in the “blue wall.” They are:

• Michigan
• Pennsylvania
• Wisconsin

Who won the ‘blue wall’ states in 2016?

Democratic nominee Hilary Clinton lost the key “blue wall” states in 2016, when Trump flipped Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

Who won the ‘blue wall’ states in 2020?

Biden won every “blue wall” state in 2020, managing to bring Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan back to Democrats.  

How many electoral votes are at stake in each ‘blue wall’ state?

According to the National Archives, here is how many electoral votes each “blue wall” state gets:

• Michigan — 15 votes
• Pennsylvania — 19 votes
• Wisconsin — 10 votes

Current electoral vote allocations are based on 2020 Census data, per the National Archives.