Biden projected to win Illinois, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Rhode Island, D.C.

Democratic nominee Joe Biden has secured a combined 72 electoral votes in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C., The Associated Press and Politico project.

None of the East Coast's blue strongholds, nor Illinois, were surprising wins for Biden, leading to calls in those states within minutes of their polls closing.

Delaware Sen. Chris Coons (D), Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin (D), Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey (D), New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (D), and Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed (D) were all projected to win re-election shortly after polls closed, AP and The New York Times report.

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