WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden, clinching his victory with Monday’s Electoral College vote as President Donald Trump continues his quest to overturn the election, will declare in a Monday night speech U.S. democracy is the winner.
Biden will deliver his address at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time from Wilmington, Delaware.
Here are excerpts released by the Biden transition team:
“If anyone didn’t know it before, we know it now. What beats deep in the hearts of the American people is this: Democracy.
“The right to be heard. To have your vote counted. To choose the leaders of this nation. To govern ourselves.
“In America, politicians don’t take power — the people grant it to them.
“The flame of democracy was lit in this nation a long time ago. And we now know that nothing — not even a pandemic or an abuse of power — can extinguish that flame.”
ANOTHER EXCERPT
“In this battle for the soul of America, democracy prevailed.
“We the People voted. Faith in our institutions held. The integrity of our elections remains intact.
“And so, now it is time to turn the page. To unite. To heal.
“As I said through this campaign, I will be a president for all Americans. I will work just as hard for those of you who didn’t vote for me, as I will for those who did.
“There is urgent work in front of all of us. Getting the pandemic under control to getting the nation vaccinated against this virus. Delivering immediate economic help so badly needed by so many Americans who are hurting today — and then building our economy back better than ever.”
Electors in all the states were meeting Monday. In Illinois, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, in the Illinois House chamber in Springfield, presided as all 20 Illinois electoral votes were cast.
The electors in six key swing states where Trump tried to overturn the results — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — cast ballots for Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
When the electors finish voting, Biden will have defeated Trump 306-232, with 270 electoral votes needed to become president. The votes are counted in a Jan. 6 joint session of Congress.
Trump White House adviser Stephen Miller, appearing Fox & Friends on Monday, called the election “fraudulent” and said with the inauguration on Jan. 20, there was still time to reverse the results.
