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Texas Democrats cheered on former Vice President Joe Biden Saturday as it appeared he had secured enough electoral college votes to win the presidency.
Biden surpassed the needed 270 electoral votes after winning Pennsylvania and Nevada, which news outlets called for him Saturday morning. Other states still outstanding include Georgia and North Carolina, where Biden was also ahead. Democrats had hoped to flip the electoral vote-rich state of Texas, but fell short by 6 points.
Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, who won re-election on Tuesday to a seat he first flipped in 2018, celebrated Biden’s victory and looked ahead to working with the president-elect in Congress.
“The American people have spoken, and the results of this election are clear. That is that Joe Biden will be the next president of the United States and Kamala Harris will be the next vice president of the United States,” Allred said. “We will have, in Joe Biden, a leader who will guide us through this crisis, unite us as a country, and work to build consensus and solve the big problems that we face.”
Republican state Rep. Jeff Leach of Plano tweeted that Biden was the newly elected president and urged people to refrain from attacking him.
“If your first response is to spew hatred and damn Biden’s Presidency to the ash heap, you’re doing it wrong,” he said. “We are called to pray for our leaders at all levels. And though I didn’t vote for him, I will fervently pray for my new President, Joe Biden. Join me.”
John Weaver — a long-time GOP consultant from Texas and a co-founder of The Lincoln Project that opposed Trump — tweeted, “America is great again.”
In a statement, the Dallas County Republican Party said it will support the duly elected president, but the election has not been finalized.
“At this time there is still pending litigation and the Dallas County Republican Party is reserving all comments,” said William Busby, the party’s communications director.
‘The fight isn’t over’
Other Republicans were more open about questioning the finality — and legality — of the electoral process.
“The media’s projected winner is not the actual winner. The fight isn’t over,” said Rep. Brian Babin of Woodville. “We must ensure every LEGAL vote was counted – FAIRLY!”
Despite losing Texas, Dallas will occupy a special place in Biden’s run to the White House. It was here that his former opponents, former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Pete Buttigieg endorsed Biden on the eve of the March 3 primary. Biden, who later dined at Whataburger, earn an insurmountable lead in primary delegates after winning Texas and other states.
On Saturday, O’Rourke celebrated Biden’s victory.
“Congratulations President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and the team that led their campaign,” O’Rourke said. “The volunteers that powered their effort and the voters who have ended our national nightmare!”
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, who endorsed Biden after his first choice, O’Rourke dropped out, said he looked forward to working with the administration to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
“Joe Biden is a strong, empathetic leader who will be a President for everyone,” Jenkins said in a statement. “I’m thankful that we will soon have a federal partner who will follow the science and lead us in the battle against COVID-19.”
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson congratulated Biden on his win and said he looked forward to working with Republican Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, as well as the Dallas congressional delegation to advance the priorities of Dallas at the federal level. Johnson emphasized the importance of Harris’ election as vice president. She will be the first woman of color to serve in that office.
“Politics aside, this is a remarkable moment for our country,” Johnson said. “We need more women and people of color in leadership.”
‘A tidal wave of hope’
Dallas County Democratic Party chairwoman Carol Donovan said Biden was elected by a “tidal wave of hope” and said he and Harris would lead the country into a “new era of normalcy, compassion and civility.”
“Dallas County Democrats are proud to have helped him make history with the highest number of votes for a presidential candidate in our nation’s history,” Donovan said in a statement. “Our nation, and all Americans, will benefit from their leadership, vision, and commitment.”
State Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, also celebrated Saturday morning.
“There it is!” he tweeted after CNN projected Biden as the winner. “Congratulations, President-elect Biden and VP-elect Harris.”
Democrats weren’t the only ones celebrating. Some Republicans who voted across party lines also cheered Biden’s victory over trump.
“I assure you, more than just Democrats are supporting Biden’s victory this morning,” said former Republican State Rep. Jason Villalba. “Character Counts.”
But at the congressional level, Republicans were already signaling that the divisions exposed in this election cycle will continue inside the federal government. In response to a comment by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that the election was a “mandate” for Biden, Republican Chip Roy of Austin said no such mandate existed.
“Speaker Pelosi has demonstrated her own abject failure to lead Democrats, much less a closely divided House of Representatives,” he said. “If you think you are driving through a socialist agenda, you are sadly mistaken. You. Will. Not. “