#Biden holds early lead in Arizona

Former Vice President Joe Biden opened up an early lead over President Trump in Arizona, a state that has voted Republican in presidential elections for more than two decades.

With about 75 percent of expected votes counted, Biden lead Trump by about eight percentage points, with a 53-45 lead, according to voter returns.

Trump won the state in 2016 as he cruised to a stunning upset victory over Hillary Clinton.

Arizona, a so-called “sunbelt” state along the lower region of the US, has voted Republican consistently since Democrat Bill Clinton carried it in the 1996 election.

The state has 11 electoral votes.

As votes across the country have come in Tuesday night, neither Biden or Trump have opened up a wide lead in electoral votes.

Trump has pulled ahead in swing states including Florida and Ohio, but other states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin remain too close to call.