The White House Just Got Less White

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On Tuesday, November 3, millions of Americans cast their ballots for the next president of the United States, and millions more absentee ballots began to be tallied. The ensuing three days have felt more like three torturous years, but today gave way to new and exciting results. Earlier today, the Associated Press called the state of Pennsylvania for Joe Biden, bringing him over the 270 vote threshold in the Electoral College and securing for him the office of the Presidency. Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris will become the very first woman and the first Black South Asian person to serve as Vice President. This election has been historic in so many ways. More people voted for the Biden-Harris ticket than have ever voted for a single candidate in United States history. 

Voter turnout in key states reached record highs. After Stacey Abrams narrowly lost her 2018 gubernatorial bid in Georgia, she spent the next two years building a coalition of organizations (such as Vote Save America) and voters that worked to combat voter suppression in the state. Now, Biden is leading in the state which has not elected a democratic president in nearly 30 years. Without Black voters, Donald Trump would be renewing his tenancy at the White House for another four years. Pew Research released a study that determined Americans are more divided along lines of race and gender than we were four years ago, but that deep divide really exists among white people. 

Although it’s worth celebrating that the nation narrowly avoided electing a fascist for a second term (I will admit I cried tears of relief), the damage that Donald Trump has wrought on the nation’s reputation and character has already been done. Even if he managed to concede gracefully (unlikely) and disappear forever never to be tweeted from again (highly unlikely), his administration has tacitly and at times explicitly endorsed, encouraged, and normalized white supremacy and bigotry. Many voters have been disappointed by Biden’s lack of progressivism,  and the election of Biden and Harris will not solve the problem of systemic racism in America, but it is the first step on a long road forward. Biden has already released the plan for the first 100 days of his presidency, and Senate victories for Democrats in Georgia might help bring these plans to fruition.

In 1920 the Nineteenth Amendment was passed that enshrined in the constitution a woman’s the right to vote. It took another 50 years for that amendment to apply to all women, including women of color. It’s fitting that as we celebrate the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment, we also celebrate the election of Kamala Harris to the office of Vice President. 

It’s been a long week, and these results have been cathartic for so many people. In New York City and Washington, D.C. people are cheering, honking, and marching in celebration.

People in isolation are heading to group chats and social media to share the news with each other. It’s understandable if you’re feeling exhausted after this absolute nail-biter of an election. Take some time tonight to rest, relax, and celebrate. But don’t get too comfortable, because our work isn’t done here. If this election fired you up, frustrated you, and forced you to confront the inequities inherent in the American system, then keep that same energy. Don’t save your activism for only presidential elections: start working now on building the future you want to see in four years.

PoliticsErin AmmonKamala Harris, Joe Biden, 2020 election, election day, election results, progress