Ohio

Ohio, a key battleground state which accounts for 18 electoral votes, has swung between Republican and Democratic candidates for decades. It has also established itself as a must-win state to achieve victory in the presidential

elections

.


Trump won the state handily in the 2016 election, beating Hillary Clinton by more than 8 percentage points, while Barack Obama carried it in 2008 and 2012.



This year, Trump holds a narrow edge in Ohio in most polls. But Democrats hope they can win back the state's 18 electoral votes as suburban, college-educated and women voters have grown more disenchanted with Trump's coronavirus response.

As in Michigan and Wisconsin, high turnout in cities such as Dayton among Black voters, who have been disproportionately affected by the virus, will be key to Biden's chances of winning Ohio.