After earning more than 270 electoral votes, Joe Biden has been elected President of the United States. CNN was the first network to call the race in Pennsylvania this morning, with The Associated Press and others soon following. Biden also appeared to be leading just slightly in Georgia, which would make him the first Democratic presidential nominee to win there since 1992. “In the face of unprecedented obstacles, a record number of Americans voted. Proving once again, that democracy beats deep in the heart of America,” the Biden campaign said in a statement.
Today also marks a significant moment for Biden’s running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, who will become the first woman and first woman of color to serve as vice president.
America, I’m honored that you have chosen me to lead our great country.
The work ahead of us will be hard, but I promise you this: I will be a President for all Americans — whether you voted for me or not.
I will keep the faith that you have placed in me. pic.twitter.com/moA9qhmjn8
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 7, 2020
.@JoeBiden and I are ready to get to work on behalf of the American people. pic.twitter.com/dMVaWbcxHV
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) November 7, 2020
Earlier in the week, President Trump tried to preemptively declare victory, including launching lawsuits to stop ballot counting. Trump continues to dispute Biden’s win, and what’s next for the presidential transition is unclear as he has no intention to concede. One lesson we all learned is that polls cannot be trusted to predict the outcome of an election. Many students were wondering this week: How is it this close? The sweeping victory that Dems hoped to see never materialized. And while Trump lost, Trumpism is alive and well.
“With the campaign over, it’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation,” Biden said in a written statement. “It’s time for America to unite. And to heal. We are the United States of America. And there’s nothing we can’t do, if we do it together.”