At 10:30 on November 7th, 2020, The Associated Press reported that Joe Biden had secured the state of Pennsylvania, and with it, the position of President-elect of the United States. With 284 Electoral votes by his side, Joe Biden has superseded incumbent President Trump’s 214 Electoral votes after four days of tense and tumultuous ballot counting. In the hour following Biden’s win in Pennsylvania, Nevada was also called for the President-elect, putting him at 290 Electoral votes, resting comfortably above the 270 required. Biden is also poised to win in Georgia with a .2% lead, although state officials have already announced a recount due to the close numbers. Regardless of the fact, two states have yet to be called for either party, Biden has surpassed the 270 votes required to be declared the winner of the 2020 Presidential election.

With his win in the 2020 Presidential election, several historic accomplishments have already been made. Biden will be the oldest President to serve in the history of the United States and received the most votes of any Presidential candidate in history with 74,857,880 votes and counting. His Vice-President-Elect Kamala Harris will be the first woman and South Asian to hold an oval office position and will be the first black woman to ever be Vice-President. In many ways, this election has come very full-circle for Biden, as the deciding state was his birth-place of Pennsylvania.

President Trump has remarked on Biden’s victory with accusations of “fraud”, and a “rigged election”, claims that have already been thrown out in several states his legal teams have challenged. The President went on to say that “the election is far from over”, despite his electoral shortcomings. In order for President Trump to serve out four more years in office, the Supreme Court would have to require a statewide recount of the results in Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, with all four turning red. Regardless, Trump’s legal teams will begin mobilizing on Monday in what seems like a futile attempt to protect his Presidency. 

Biden and Harris quickly took to social media after the announcement to express their gratitude for the support of the American people. “I’m honored that you have chosen me to lead our great country,” the President-Elect said. “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.” Vice-President-Elect Harris shared similar sentiments, saying that “We have a lot of work ahead of us. Let’s get started,”. The Biden-Harris ticket has endured much criticism and turmoil over the last few months, but things are just getting started as the two brace to lead a divided and polarized nation.