2020 US Presidential Election - Pennsylvania

While Trump won Pennsylvania (by 0.7 points) in 2016, the state is actually a light blue state. Prior to 2016, no Republican running for US President had won the state since 1988. It’s usually fairly close, although Obama won the state by 10 points in 2008. But, it’s usually 5 points or less. 

So, how did Trump win the state? Well, Trump ran as a different kind of Republican in 2016. He sounded like a populist - a bit like Bernie Sanders. He was going to save coal miner jobs, keep manufacturing jobs here in the country, and was going to renegotiate trade agreements to the advantage of American workers. Many Americans bought in hook, line, and sinker - including those in Pennsylvania. He has not done any of those things. But, in the state of Pennsylvania’s natal chart, Jupiter is conjunct Trump’s Uranus/NN/Sun in the tenth. Beaten down White working class voters in the state probably felt optimistic about Trump’s bid for the presidency. Many of them know better now, I suspect. In Pennsylvania’s progressed chart, Chiron is conjunct Trump’s natal Uranus/NN/Sun and Mars is in square aspect from Virgo. 

Black voter turnout was down a bit in 2016 (from 2012 turnout). Trump has shown his true colors with regard to the African American community, and I suspect that the Black turnout will be up quite a bit, which will help Biden. Pennsylvania’s natal Uranus is conjunct Trump’s natal Saturn/Venus in late Cancer. And, it is in trine aspect to Biden’s Sun in late Scorpio. Pennsylvania’s progressed Jupiter is conjunct Biden’s progressed Jupiter. 

It’s pretty close, astrologically speaking. But, the other factors mentioned above will cause the state to go for Joe Biden. Trump’s mismanagement of the coronavirus pandemic will add to Biden’s lead. The fact that Biden was born in Scranton will also help him win the state. On August 17, Nate Silver’s 538 blog has Biden up 6.4 points and the RCP polling average has Biden up 6.4 points. I think that gap will narrow some by election day - maybe Biden by 3.5 points.

US Presidential Election - Florida

When making a prediction for the US presidential election, I like to compare the astrological charts of the candidates to the horoscopes for the states. I’m unable to do this for all fifty states, so I stick with the battleground states. And, the biggest battleground state with the most electoral votes is the state of Florida. The free will of human beings is involved and what is going on in the world and in the USA is important as well. I also like to look at the polls. It’s as good a tool for such predictions as Astrology, because such elections are very difficult to predict.

Predicting the election in Florida is particularly difficult, because it is always very close. Even in the 2008 election, Barack Obama only won Florida by a 2.8% margin. In the 2016 election, Trump won Florida by a 1.2% margin. In addition, Florida election integrity is not the best. Everyone remembers the hanging chads in the 2000 presidential election. And, Trump seems determined to make voting more difficult this year. With those things in mind, I’ll continue with the analysis.

Florida has a stellium in late Aquarius which is in a trine aspect to Donald Trump’s Uranus/NN/Sun in Gemini (in the tenth). That is very favorable. However, Florida’s natal Saturn is in opposition to Donald Trump’s natal Pluto. The Florida business community might not be happy with the President - especially at this time. Florida’s progressed Moon is at 20 Gemini on November 3, 2020. That is a very favorable aspect as well - especially because the Moon signifies the people. Florida’s P Sun is conjunct Donald Trump’s P Sun. It’s likely that the Governor will do everything he can to deliver the election to the President. Florida’s progressed Mercury is at 27 Virgo and in square aspect to Trump’s natal Sun. The Florida media is not likely to be very friendly to the President. This may counter some of the Governor’s efforts on Trump’s behalf. But, overall, Trump’s chart(s) looks very good when compared to Florida’s chart(s). 

Joe Biden has at least one very favorable aspect compared to Florida’s chart(s). His natal Sun and Venus in Scorpio is conjunct Florida’s natal NN. This would tend to indicate that he is tied in with Florida’s destiny. And, his running mate may be very beneficial to his prospects in the state. Florida’s P Mercury (in late Virgo) and P Venus (in very early Libra) favorably activates Biden’s N Neptune (in the tenth)  in early Libra trine N Uranus in early Gemini (and conjunct his N Descendant). This is another indication that Biden’s running partner may help his prospects in the state. On the downside, Florida’s stellium in late Aquarius is square to Biden’s Sun. 

Astrologically, it looks quite close as well. But, since Trump is the Incumbent, I’d have to give this portion of the analysis to Trump.

However, what has happened with regard to this coronavirus pandemic may make a big difference in this case. President Trump has bungled and really screwed up the response to the pandemic. And, the pandemic has hit Florida really hard. So, Trump being the Incumbent may actually work against him this year - in a big way. Older Floridians are abandoning him at this time, and Biden’s polling is looking very good in the state at this point. On August 16, Nate Silver’s 538 site had Biden ahead by 5.1 points, and the RCP polling average shows Biden ahead by 5.0 points. Look for those numbers to tighten a bit as pollsters switch from registered voter screens to likely voter screens. Anyway, if the election were to be held today, Biden would probably win. But, we will need to wait a while longer to see if this trend holds. If it does, I’d give Florida to Joe Biden.  

Trump really needs Florida to win a second term. If not, he will need to win all of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. He is polling poorly in all of them. Biden just needs one of those states if he wins Florida. Or, he could substitute with Arizona or North Carolina. His polling numbers suggest that he is ahead in Arizona and it’s about even in North Carolina.

UPDATE 1:

We got three Florida polls today - October 6, 2020. The University Of North Florida poll is the one everyone seems to be talking about. This poll shows Biden up by six points. Nate Silver rates this pollster A/B (that’s very good). This pollster interviewed 3,142 likely voters. They oversampled Latino voters, and they even divided them out by nationality - Cuban, Puerto Rican, Mexican, etc. They show Biden ahead with Latinos 54-39. That looks reasonable - the gap is just a little bit less than Clinton got. So, this poll looks very impressive to me. The MOE is 1.8%. Suffolk University also released a poll for Florida showing the race even (45-45). Nate Silver rates this pollster A (also an excellent pollster). However, they only interviewed 500 likely voters. The MOE is 4.4%. 500 voters is not enough in a state as diverse as Florida, in my view. So, I’m not that impressed with this one. Change Research also polled Florida, and they showed a 4 point lead for Biden. Nate Silver rates this pollster C-. The polling average is (as always) more important. The 538 polling average shows Biden in the lead in Florida by 3.5 points. And, RCP shows Biden in the lead by 3.5 points as well. The final RCP polling average only missed the final actual Florida result by one point in 2016. More importantly, the gap is growing as opposed to narrowing. Trump has very little time to turn that around, and they are already voting in Florida (lots of mail-in ballots). And, Biden is still doing very well among seniors (those aged 65 and over) compared to previous years for the democratic candidates in Florida. So, I’ve decided to call Florida for Biden.

Florida election officials begin counting ballots 22 days prior to the election, so we should be able to get a call for Florida on election night (maybe late though). And, with 29 electoral votes, we might be able to call the election the same night.  

Biden Chooses Harris As Running Mate

On August 11, 2020, VP Joe Biden chose Senator Kamala Harris as his VP running mate in the 2020 presidential election. I’ll discuss some of the astrological symbolism for this choice below.

Biden’s natal Moon is at about 1 Taurus. The Moon in a man’s chart not only represents his mother and other persons that nurture him, but it also represents important women in his life. Kamala Harris’ Moon is at about 27 Aries. So, her N Moon is conjunct his N Moon even though it is out of sign. In addition, Kamala’s progressed MC is conjunct Biden’s N Moon. Interestingly, Biden's N Juno is conjunct Harris' N Juno. This is not an actual marriage, but it is a negotiated partnership.

In Biden’s natal chart, his N Moon is the focal point (or apex) of a YOD. It basically means that he needs to pay a great deal of attention to that point or planet in his chart. In traditional Astrology, it was believed to be a fated and malefic point, but it need not be that negative according to modern Astrology. The other planets involved in the configuration are Neptune (in Biden’s tenth house) and the Sun/Venus conjunction in his twelfth. 

Biden’s rising sign is Sagittarius, and Kamala’s rising sign is Gemini (Biden’spartnership sign). And, Kamala’s NN is conjunct her Ascendant in Gemini. Her SA Moon is currently conjunct her natal Ascendant/NN. And, her P and SA Sun is conjunct her natal Descendant.

The Beirut, Lebanon Explosion And The Eclipses

A huge explosion occurred in Beirut, Lebanon on August 4, 2020. As best as I can tell, the time of the explosion was 6:08 PM (local time). Apparently, a warehouse full of ammonium  nitrate blew up. So far, at least 135 people have been killed and thousands of others were injured. 

Transiting Mars (in Aries) has been stimulating the solar eclipse of July 12, 2018 in Cancer and the lunar eclipse of January 10, 2020 in Capricorn. Notice that Mars is in a square aspect to Uranus in the July 12, 2018 solar eclipse in Cancer. That aspect with those planets can be quite explosive.

If we look at the July 12, 2018 eclipse over Beirut, the eclipse point is in the twelfth house and conjunct the Ascendant. That chart is below. 

July 4/5, 2020 Lunar Eclipse In Capricorn

The month of July is included in the current eclipse season in 2020. The third eclipse in the last thirty days, a lunar eclipse, occurs on July 5, 2020 at 13 degrees Capricorn. The partial lunar eclipse will be visible over most of South/West Europe, much of Africa, much of North America, South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Oceans, and Antarctica. You will be affected by this eclipse if you have planets or points between 11 and 15 degrees of Cancer and/or Capricorn. Most folks will simply experience the eclipse as a full Moon. Full Moons usually indicate a climax or coming to fruition of something, and we are normally more emotional during a full Moon. This eclipse will affect large corporations, other large businesses, authority figures, leaders, and other persons in positions of power. Saturn is the lord of the eclipse. As a result, the emphasis of this eclipse is on structure and learning lessons (perhaps the hard way), and big business. This eclipse is on a critical degree and is angular. 

For the US, the eclipse falls in the tenth house in the eclipse chart over Washington DC. Therefore, this eclipse will affect big business, leaders, executives, and the President. The eclipse point is in opposition to the Sun in the nation’s chart. Change is in the air as Uranus trines the Moon and sextiles the Sun. Mercury retrograde points to difficulty with communications, the media, and short distance travel. Mars squaring the Moon and the Sun points to trouble on the homefront. Violence could be a problem. Disagreements and anger between the executive and the people is prominent and widespread. The President’s favorability rating is very likely to suffer under this influence. Protests (BLM) continue around the nation. Chiron on the Ascendant calls the nation to come to grips with its wounds and issues - racism and policing problems among them (Mars is also conjunct). A health related issue - the coronavirus - continues to be a big problem. Asteroids Koronis in the first house in the chart also points to this issue. 

Venus in the second house and in trine aspect to Saturn points to some financial relief for the nation. It could be that the House’s relief package (recently passed) might be passed by the Senate and signed into law. However, the Moon rules the fifth house, so speculative ventures (including the Stock Market) will experience problems. Expect more ups and downs in the stock market.

June 21, 2020 Solar Eclipse In Cancer

Our third eclipse of 2020 will be a  solar eclipse on June 21, and it occurs at 0 degrees and 21 minutes Cancer. This total solar eclipse will be visible from parts of Africa including the Central African Republic, Congo, and Ethiopia; south of Pakistan and northern India; and China. The ring of fire will be visible in these areas - weather permitting. Regions that will see at least a partial eclipse include South/East Europe, much of Asia, northern Australia, much of Africa, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Eclipses generally affect the masses - events that affect most people in a large area or even worldwide. Since this eclipse occurs in domestic and family-oriented Cancer, this eclipse could affect family matters, domestic issues, women’s issues, homes, and land. This eclipse is extremely strong and very important because it occurs at an Aries Point degree. It strongly emphasizes events of  worldwide importance - all countries and Mother Earth.

For the US, this eclipse will affect communications industry and media, the automobile industry, the travel industry, the nation’s educational system, teachers, how we socialize and communicate with each other in this new age of the coronavirus. This annular solar eclipse occurs in the third house over Washington DC. The eclipse point is conjunct Venus and Jupiter in the USA horoscope (all the potential DOI horoscopes). This eclipse will have an enormous effect on national economic issues. It will also affect our relationships with other countries and cultures.

Mars and Chiron square the eclipse point from the twelfth house indicates the continued problem of the coronavirus pandemic and other problems related to the pandemic. Asteroid Koronis is also located in the twelfth house. There could also be secret aggressive action from a foreign adversary. Saturn is in a square aspect to Uranus (in the first house). We desire freedom and liberty in a very strong way, but we also sense a need to be cautious and restricted (such as with shelter in place types of actions). This aspect also affects the high tech industry and Astrology (probably in a negative way). There is a push/pull effect with this aspect, and we don’t know whether to proceed full speed ahead or stand still or back up. Pluto is in a wide opposition to Mercury from the tenth house. There could be powerful forces that seek to influence or oppose the media.

This eclipse is related/similar to the solar eclipse that occurred on June 21, 2001 - also at 0 degrees Cancer. On September 11 of that year, Mars was stimulating this eclipse by opposition in Capricorn (and the terrorist attack occurred).

As always, this eclipse will affect you personally if you have planets and/or points conjunct or opposite the eclipse point (only a two degree orb). Those planets or points between 28 degrees of Gemini and 2 degrees of Cancer or 28 degrees of Sagittarius and 2 degrees of Capricorn are included. Eclipses are Uranian in nature in that what happens is unexpected, and you might not even be certain as to what is happening for six months. For a solar eclipse, it takes about a year for the event to completely mature. Whether the eclipse is experienced as positive or negative depends on the planet that is conjoined or opposed, it’s place in your chart, the condition that the planet is in, and whether and how you might have prepared for what is happening (i.e. free will). If you’d like to know if you have planets or points that fall into this range, let me know. For most people, it will be experienced simply as a New Moon type event. Those are generally felt as the start of something new or a new beginning.

June 5, 2020 Lunar Eclipse In Sagittarius

The month of June is eclipse season in 2020. The first eclipse, a lunar eclipse, occurs on June 05, 2020 at 15 degrees Sagittarius. If you are in Asia, Australia, Europe, and Africa, you might see the Moon turn a shade darker during the maximum phase of this penumbral lunar eclipse. You will be affected by this eclipse if you have planets or points between 13 and 17 degrees of Gemini and/or Sagittarius. Most folks will simply experience the eclipse as a full Moon. Full Moons usually indicate a climax or coming to fruition of something, and we are normally more emotional during a full Moon. The emphasis is on higher education, long-distance travel, the law, and foreign cultures. 

The lunar eclipse in Sagittarius will affect the legal/law industry, institutions of higher learning, and the airline industry. Transiting Mars and Neptune in square aspect to the eclipse point is a difficult aspect with a peculiar effect. It could indicate events as a result of the coronavirus, or it could simply indicate that the coronavirus pandemic simply continues and worsens. Transiting Venus (in apparent retrograde) opposes the eclipse point indicating difficulty with one on one relationships. How do we relate to one another during this very difficult time period?

For the US, the eclipse falls in the third house in the eclipse chart over Washington DC. It could affect the automobile industry, education, and communications issues and industries. And, the effects are mostly negative since the eclipse point is part of a t-square pattern with Neptune and Mars in Pisces in square aspect and the Sun and Venus in an opposition. Neptune is in the sixth house of health, and the planet rules the sixth house as well. So, this indicates continued health care issues. With Mars conjunct Neptune, it looks particularly difficult. We could, however, get good news from afar with Mercury in the ninth house. This house also rules doctors and the medical industry. Mercury trines Mars and sextiles Uranus (in the seventh - partners). The Sun shines a light on the death toll as it conjoins Venus in the eighth. Venus also rules the eighth house of death in this chart.

This eclipse can also affect the employment situation in the nation. And, indeed we are experiencing widespread unemployment already.

The eclipse point is fairly close to an opposition to Trump’s natal Uranus/Node/Sun and conjunct his natal Moon. The eclipse is probably not close enough for it to affect him in a personal way. However, since he is the President of the USA, he is a larger public figure. So, this eclipse will likely affect him in the eyes of the public, and in a negative way.

Dates to look at for this eclipse (when the eclipse point is stimulated) -- 6/02/20 - 6/08/20; 9/05/20 - 9/09/20; 12/04/20 - 12/08/20; 3/25/21 - 4/02/21.