Joe Biden, in victory speech, pledges to unite America
Joe Biden is now president-elect, and Sen. Kamala D. Harris of California is set to become the highest-ranking woman in the nation’s 244-year existence. In a victory speech on Saturday night, Biden called it “a time to heal in America” and said, “I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide but unify, who doesn’t see red states and blue states, only sees the United States.”
Harris praised Biden as “a healer, a uniter, a tested and steady hand" and spoke of what her win represented, saying, “While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last, because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.” Biden supporters came together to celebrate in cities throughout the country, while in state capitals from Phoenix to Austin, Trump supporters were gathering at protests over vote counts, planned before Biden’s victory was announced. Trump and his team have vowed to fight the results in court, and the president has baselessly called into question the integrity of legally cast votes since news organizations made their call.
Here’s what to know now
Biden’s victory is a repudiation of Trump, powered by legions of women and minority voters.
Harris has been embraced by Democrats who saw in her a reflection of themselves — a party supported by women and, especially, Black women.
Biden is planning to quickly sign a series of executive orders after being sworn into office on Jan. 20, including on climate and immigration.
Trump was the most unpopular president of modern times, numbers show, and aides and allies say that he ultimately lost because of his mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump’s bid to discredit the integrity of the U.S. election results has raised fears that he will refuse to concede and seek to undermine a transfer of power.
Biden has ambitious plans to curb the coronavirus that could face big hurdles.
After decades of trying, Biden, a former six-term senator and two-term vice president, the son of a car salesman and a homemaker, is president-elect.
Analysis: Can Biden unite the country?
The United States is poised to make a 180-degree turn on climate change and conservation policy.
America’s friends and rivals around the world are considering what a Democratic administration would mean for them.
A winner has not yet been called in Alaska, Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina.