By JONATHAN LEMIRE and ZEKE MILLER Associated Press, and wire reports
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrat Joe Biden has defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States.
Biden vanquished his Republican foe after a campaign as bitter and divisive as Trump’s own presidential term.
Biden says it’s time for America to “unite” and to “heal.”
“With the campaign over, it’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation.
We are the United States of America. And there’s nothing we can’t do, if we do it together.” -statement from President-elect Joe Biden
Victories in “blue wall” northern industrial states propelled Biden to the White House, where he’ll confront America’s deep health, economic and social ills.
A win in Pennsylvania sealed his victory after more than three tension-filled days of counting votes.
Record numbers of Americans voted early and by mail, many out of concern about going to polling places during the coronavirus pandemic.
Biden’s campaign had not yet scheduled a victory celebration, but he was expected to take the stage for a drive-in rally after dark.
President Trump is not conceding to Biden, promising unspecified legal challenges seeking to overturn the outcome of the race for the White House.