Local politicians react to Biden, Harris presidential win

Democrat Joe Biden has won the popular vote and the Electoral College, defeating President Donald Trump to become the 46th President of the United States on Saturday. Biden is now positioning himself to lead a nation gripped by a pandemic and a confluence of economic and social turmoil.

As many residents in cities across the country who voted for Biden, including Seattle, took to the streets to celebrate or bang pots and pans together on their doorstep (like Rep. Pramila Jayapal), state and local politicians wished the new president-elect and vice president-elect congratulations on social media.

Governor Jay Inslee, just reelected to his third term in Washington state, released the following statement:

The American people have spoken. My heartfelt congratulations go out to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on receiving more votes than any presidential ticket in history and, with it, a clear majority of votes in the Electoral College. I am extremely optimistic about America’s future under their leadership.

The Biden-Harris administration will restore our nation to its principles, with respect for the rights of each and every American regardless of personal opinion or patronage. President-elect Biden has been a public servant for more than four decades, and the promise of his candidacy spoke to Americans of all generations. He will bring thoughtful, compassionate and credible leadership to the White House.

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris brings sorely needed consistency, qualification and integrity to this administration as well. She will be the first woman and the first person of color to ever serve in her office. She will be a transcendent public servant, speaking to millions of Americans who have been diminished and even villainized by the Trump administration. The daughter of immigrants, Kamala Harris now stands at the vanguard of a growing contingent of elected women of color who are shaping America’s present and future.

The Biden-Harris administration will advance an agenda of recovery and sustainability. They will lead a strong and science-based approach to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and rebuilding our economy and addressing the hardship faced by millions. They will protect and expand access to health care for Washingtonians. They will protect clean air and clean water in our communities, while taking bold action to defeat the climate crisis – putting America on the path to a robust clean energy economy that creates millions of living-wage jobs.

They will reassert America’s leadership on the global stage, standing up to our adversaries and rebuilding relationships with key allies in the pursuit of global peace and prosperity. They will protect democracy at home as well, veering sharply from the cynical and imperious approach of the Trump-Pence administration toward our institutions and the American people.

Most importantly, this new administration will govern on behalf of all states and all Americans, with an aim toward unity over division. They were elected by a broad cross-section of Americans who expressed clearly it is time for our country to come together again. I am confident we will witness a peaceful transition of power as our nation has seen with every change in administration since 1797, when George Washington was succeeded by John Adams.

Our nation’s elections process is what has made American democracy a beacon of hope around the world. Americans cast their ballots and our elections system, powered by thousands of diligent poll workers in every community, counted the votes and a winner has emerged.

Again, congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris for their hard-won victory. I know they will serve their voters just as fervently as they will those who did not vote for them. This is America as it should be.”

Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell both took to Twitter with their congratulations.

American voters spoke, and I am thrilled to congratulate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on being elected our next President and Vice President.

— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) November 7, 2020

“Joe and Kamala are true public servants who understand the immense challenges workers and families are experiencing because they’ve lived many of those same challenges — and they have the vision and drive to bring us together around solutions,” Murray continued in the tweet thread.

She also noted that “our country has an incredible amount of work ahead of us,” but she is excited to take up the work with a Biden-Harris administration.

Sen. Cantwell tweeted her congratulations to the “historic ticket” on their election win, adding that Kamala Harris has “made history and opened doors for women, especially women of color, that will never again be closed.” She thanked Joe Biden for the platform he ran on, and said he is the “right man for this job.”

Joe Biden is the right man for this job of moving our country forward. I am also so proud of my colleague Kamala Harris. She made history and opened doors for women, especially women of color, that will never again be closed.

— Sen. Maria Cantwell (@SenatorCantwell) November 7, 2020

The Mayor of Seattle, Jenny Durkan, wrote that “this is a day to start healing as a nation, and that [Biden] will be a President for ALL Americans.” Durkan thanked all who voted and participated in democracy in her tweet thread, included in part below.

Thank you to all who voted, and participated in our democracy in ways big and small. In Seattle, this means a federal partner in the fight against COVID, building a just and equitable economy and restoring the promise of America for working Americans.

— Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) November 7, 2020

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