By Mia Mitchell
CCC Journalism Program
Democrat Joe Biden won the presidency over Republican incumbent Donald J. Trump this week in an election with the highest voter turnout in election history with 161 million ballots cast.
Biden won more than 74 million popular votes and Trump won more than 70 million. After four days of counting, electoral votes from three swing states, Pennsylvania (20), Arizona (11) and Nevada (6), boosted Biden to 290 electoral votes, well over the 270 needed to win the presidency.
On Saturday evening, Biden delivered his victory speech to the nation from his hometown of Wilmington, Del.
“We have the opportunity to defeat despair and to build a nation of prosperity and purpose,” Biden said.
He then addressed those who voted for Trump, “I understand your disappointment tonight. I’ve lost a couple of elections myself. But now let’s give each other a chance.”
https://www.nytimes.com/article/biden-speech-transcript.html
Jodi Irvin, a student at Camden County College, said he experienced difficulties after the presidential campaigns ended.
“Since the election, everything for me is going bad — my job, my personal life and schools. I woke up after the election results to see my car damaged. Everything is a mess and the country is falling apart,” Irvin said.
California U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris made history this week by becoming the first woman and the first person of color to win the vice presidential election. She is the daughter of immigrant parents of Indian and black descent.
In her victory speech on Saturday evening, Harris acknowledged “all the women who worked to secure and protect the right to vote for over a century: 100 years ago, with the 19th Amendment, 55 years ago with the Voting Rights Act.”
“Tonight,” Harris said. “I reflect on their struggle, their determination and the strength of their vision.”
https://www.nytimes.com/article/watch-kamala-harris-speech-video-transcript.html
After Biden was projected as the winner Saturday morning, Trump, who was at his golf course in Sterling, Va., tweeted about possible voter fraud and refused to acknowledge Biden’s victory. Trump made many accusations and filed lawsuits, which experts say lack evidence, against the states he felt he should have won.
Soon after Biden was projected as the winner, celebrations broke out across the nation. Thousands of people danced and reveled in the streets of major cities to celebrate Biden’s win and Trump’s loss.