Apparent President-elect Joe Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, are making transition plans even though sitting President Donald Trump is showing no signs of conceding.
Biden and Harris made a joint appearance in Wilmington, Delaware, hours after national media outlets said the ticket won Pennsylvania, pushing Biden above the 270 electoral votes needed to win the race. Biden pledged repeatedly to work to heal the nation — reaching out several times to Trump supporters — and to strengthen relationships with American allies.
Harris spoke about being an example for women, especially those of color, and like Biden she said she would represent all Americans — using Biden’s two terms serving alongside former president Barack Obama as an example.
While Biden and Harris began announcing transition plans, including a coronavirus response team by Monday, Trump again challenged the results and promised yet more lawsuits “to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated.” Trump issued several lawsuits after Election Day, mainly in so-called battleground states. Those have either been dismissed or are awaiting rulings.
This was Biden’s third run for the office, falling short of the nomination in 1988 and 2008 before serving as Barack Obama’s running mate from 2008-2016. Depending on the outcome of the Trump lawsuits, he likely becomes the oldest president in American history — supplanting Trump in that regard. Harris, meanwhile, is posed to become the first woman, and the first woman of color, as vice president.
11:50 am Saturday: Biden now listed as apparent president-elect; Trump plans additional lawsuits, not concession
Numerous legal challenges exist, but all current indications are former vice president Joe Biden will become President in January.
ABC News and numerous other national media outlets called Pennsylvania for Biden on Saturday morning, giving Biden 273 electoral votes — above the 270 needed to defeat current President Donald Trump. Biden is also ahead in Arizona, Georgia and Nevada, although those states have not been called. Trump, meanwhile, is ahead in North Carolina — which also has not been called.
This was Biden’s third run for the office, falling short of the nomination in 1988 and 2008 before he served as Barack Obama’s vice president from 2008-2016, when Trump was elected. He likely becomes the oldest president in American history — supplanting Trump in that regard — depending on how Trump’s lawsuits in several states are resolved with more coming, according to Trump in a statement shortly after media outlets said he lost. Trump has challenged a perceived lack of access to observe poll workers in Pennsylvania as well as an alleged illegal deadline change for mail-in voters. He has also challenged the use of Sharpies to mark ballots in Arizona. Lawsuits from Trump in Georgia, Michigan and Nevada have been denied.
Besides Biden’s age, his campaign is historic also with his choice of Senator Kamala Harris as vice president. Harris is the first woman, and the first woman of color, to rise to vice president.
The Biden-Harris ticket gained over 74 million votes, about four million than Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
The final results of the Presidential race will be determined later, and the same can be said for Congress. Democrats are poised to retain control of the House, but the fate of 16 seats is still up for grabs. Republicans, meanwhile, look to retain control of the Senate but there are still six seats not yet decided.
Text of Joe Biden’s statement
“I am honored and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me and in Vice President-elect Harris.
“In the face of unprecedented obstacles, a record number of Americans voted. Proving once again, that democracy beats deep in the heart of America.
“With the campaign over, it’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation.
“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.”
Text of President Donald Trump’s statement
“We all know why Joe Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner, and why his media allies are trying so hard to help him: they don’t want the truth to be exposed. The simple fact is this election is far from over. Joe Biden has not been certified as the winner of any states, let alone any of the highly contested states headed for mandatory recounts, or states where our campaign has valid and legitimate legal challenges that could determine the ultimate victor. In Pennsylvania, for example, our legal observers were not permitted meaningful access to watch the counting process. Legal votes decide who is president, not the news media.
“Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated. The American People are entitled to an honest election: that means counting all legal ballots, and not counting any illegal ballots. This is the only way to ensure the public has full confidence in our election. It remains shocking that the Biden campaign refuses to agree with this basic principle and wants ballots counted even if they are fraudulent, manufactured, or cast by ineligible or deceased voters. Only a party engaged in wrongdoing would unlawfully keep observers out of the count room – and then fight in court to block their access.
“So what is Biden hiding? I will not rest until the American People have the honest vote count they deserve and that Democracy demands.”
