Brian Hagberg
WASHINGTON – The Associated Press is reporting that former Vice President Joe Biden has secured enough Electoral College votes to become the 46th President of the United States.
With the call Saturday morning that Biden had secured enough votes to win Pennsylvania, the Democratic challenger to Republican incumbent President Donald Trump moved past the 270 electoral votes needed to secure the White House.
The call for Pennsylvania came at 11:25 a.m. Saturday.
Biden received more than 74 million total votes, the most ever for a candidate, and his Vice Presidential running mate, Kamala Harris, is set to become the first woman to hold that office.
Trump has been challenging the late vote counts since early Wednesday morning, and the campaign released a statement Friday saying those challenges will continue.
This election is not over. pic.twitter.com/0WJGtgqKxX
— Team Trump (Text VOTE to 88022) (@TeamTrump) November 6, 2020
President-elect Biden released a statement shortly after the race was called.
“I am honored and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me and in Vice President-elect Harris,” he said. “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.”
UPDATE, Nov. 7, 12:40 p.m.: Trump issues statement
President Trump issued a statement early Saturday afternoon contesting that Joe Biden is now President-elect.
“The simple fact is this election is far from over,” Trump said. “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. Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated.”
