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What is the 'blue wall'? Latest polls from key states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin

Kinsey Crowley
Updated
3 min read

Amid talk of the "bellwether counties" and "swing states," you may also hear about the "blue wall."

Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have spent considerable time and resources in the blue wall states throughout their campaigns. The states were Democratic strongholds for decades until Trump flipped three of them in 2016, but President Joe Biden flipped them blue again in 2020.

The blue wall refers to the collection of states that had reliably voted Democrat in recent presidential elections through 2012. Discussion around the so-called blue wall erupted after the 2016 election, when Trump won three such states: Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. Together, the states account for a key 44 electoral votes in the 2024 election.

Here is where the candidates stand in the key blue wall states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin a week away from Election Day, Nov. 5.

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Pennsylvania - 19 electoral votes

Here are some recent polls taken in Pennsylvania, along with the dates they were conducted, sample size and margin of error:

  • Emerson: Trump 49%, Harris 48% (Oct. 21-22; 860 likely voters; margin of error ±3.3 percentage points)

  • Bloomberg: Trump 48.2%, Harris 50% (Oct. 16-20; 812 likely voters; ±3 percentage points.)

Before Trump, a Republican hadn't won Pennsylvania since 1988.

  • 2016 presidential election results: Trump beat Clinton 48.6% to 47.9%

  • 2020 presidential election results: Biden beat Trump 50% to 48.8%

Michigan - 15 electoral votes

Here are some recent polls taken in Michigan, along with the dates they were conducted, sample size and margin of error:

  • Emerson: Trump 49%, Harris 48% (Oct 25-27, 1,000 likely voters, margin of error ±3 percentage points).

  • Bloomberg: Trump 46.5%, Harris 49.6% (Oct. 16-20; 705 likely voters; margin of error ±4 percentage points.)

  • Quinnipiac: Trump 46%, Harris 49% (Oct 17-21; 1,136 likely voters; margin of error ± 2.9 percentage points)

Before Trump, a Republican hadn't won Michigan since 1988.

  • 2016 presidential election results: Trump beat Clinton 47.6% to 47.4%

  • 2020 presidential election results: Biden beat Trump 50.6% to 47.8%

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Wisconsin - 10 electoral votes

Here are some recent polls taken in Wisconsin, along with the dates they were conducted, sample size and margin of error:

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  • USA TODAY/Suffolk University: Trump 48%, Harris 47% (Oct. 20-23, 500 likely voters, margin of error ±4.4 percentage points).

  • Emerson: Trump 49%, Harris 48% (Oct. 21-22; 800 likely voters; margin of error ±3.4 percentage points)

  • Quinnipiac: Trump 48%, Harris 48% (Oct 17-21; 1,108 likely voters; margin of error ± 2.9 percentage points)

Before Trump, a Republican hadn't won Wisconsin since 1984.

  • 2016 presidential election results: Trump beat Clinton 47.8% to 47%

  • 2020 presidential election results: Biden beat Trump 49.6% to 48.9%

This story was updated to correct a typo.

Kinsey Crowley is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected], and follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is the 'blue wall?' Latest election polls from 3 key states

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