49°
The projections were made late Saturday, Nov. 7 by the Associated Press and other news organizations after Biden was projected to win the state of Pennsylvania, putting him over the 270 electoral votes needed to take the presidency.
Biden currently also holds narrow leads over incumbent President Donald Trump in key swing states, including Wisconsin and Michigan, as well as Nevada, Arizona, and Georgia.
Biden, who will become the 46th chief executive, will address the nation at 8 p.m. Saturday in Wilmington, Delaware, along with his running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, who will become the first female and first person of color to be vice president.
"Character, justice and decency were on the ballot," the Biden campaign said in a statement immediately after the race was projected. "Character, justice and decency won."
Near midday Saturday, Biden had 284 electoral votes to Trump's 214.
Biden's 74,478,000 popular votes are the most by a presidential candidate in United States history. He leads Trump, who has 70,330,000 popular votes, 50.5 percent to 47.7 percent.
"I am honored and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me and in Vice President-elect Harris," Biden said in a statement. "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."
Click here to follow Daily Voice Amherst and receive free news updates.
