State, local leaders react following Biden's projected presidency win

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) --- Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States on Saturday, Nov. 7. Reactions from state and local leaders following the presidency win came quickly Saturday.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers congratulated Biden on their 'historic victory' on Twitter Saturday.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett tweeted Friday, a day before the projected win was announced, congratulating Biden and projected Vice-President Kamala Harris. Saturday, he retweeted his own tweet. 

Milwaukee Common Council President Cavalier Johnson called Biden's win an 'incredible journey of public service' in a Tweet on Saturday. 

Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas: 

"One of the most distinguishing features of our democracy is the peaceful transition of power. Today, former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris, having been declared by the Associated Press and other news outlets as receiving a plurality of the electoral votes, have been named President and Vice President-Elect of the United States. I congratulate them on their election to the highest offices in the land. In the days ahead, I trust that as a nation we will close ranks and heal the divisions of the 2020 elections to address the most serious and pressing challenges of our time.

As a nation, we must find solutions to the coronavirus pandemic, rebuild our economy to the greatest in the world and address the disparities that leave so many Americans behind. We can only build a brighter future for generations to come by moving past our divisions and working together toward that “more perfect union.”

I pledge to work with the current administration and our law enforcement partners to ensure that some basic tenets of our democracy, the right to peacefully assemble and the peaceful transition of power, are carried out safely here in our community. And I look forward to working with the new administration and making a strong and safe Milwaukee County."   

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley released the following statement Saturday evening: 

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin also tweeted about the projected win:

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson: 

“In the face of coordinated efforts to undermine his administration from day one, and a mainstream media that shed all pretense of fairness, President Trump has tenaciously fought to make America better – and he produced remarkable results. His unbelievably energetic reelection campaign efforts earned him 200,000 more votes in Wisconsin than in 2016 and once again made pollsters look ridiculous. Regardless of the outcome, in my book he will always be a winner and patriot that truly loves America.” 

U.S. Sen. Chris Larson tweeted the following: 

U.S Rep. Gwen Moore released the following statement regarding Biden's projected win: 

"I am so thrilled that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won the election. The American people had their say. This election reflects the voice of every American voter and was conducted fairly and with transparency.

Decency, honesty, integrity, and competency will now be in the White House. And we will end the chapter of the cruel, callous, and corrupt Trump administration. The nightmare is finally over.

We are experiencing tough times and are in serious need of national leadership. I am confident that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will lead us through this pandemic and economic recession and will help heal our divided country. I am so ready to work with the Biden-Harris administration for the people."

U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan tweeted, "Donald,  you're fired!"

Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker did not make a specific announcement regarding the projected win, but hours prior to the announcement, he retweeted an op-ed he wrote in the Washington Times stating Trump can still win the election. The opinion article stated Trump's team should prepare for a recount in Wisconsin. 

Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale released the following statement in response to Biden's projected win: 

“Joe Biden has won more votes than any presidential candidate in history, including 60 percent of union households. He has now won the Electoral College, flipping multiple states from Trump, and is the next President of the United States of America. The bedrock of our American democracy is that the voters, not the candidates, get to decide who our next leaders are.

Union members voted in historic numbers for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris because they’ll rebuild our American middle class with pro-worker policies like the PRO Act, investments in infrastructure and American manufacturing, and an economic recovery plan that puts working people first. Union members voted for a president who will take immediate action to control the spread of covid 19, which is at an all-time high in Wisconsin, and keep workers safe with enhanced workplace protections and safety standards. 

Together, with a Biden Harris Administration, we look forward to the continued fight to revive our economy by growing the labor movement to protect the rights and safety of all workersA president who respects the dignity of work and supports our union rights will advance our nation.

Joe Biden understands that unions are an essential underpinning of a healthy American economy that works for everyone.

We got to work on our member to member Labor 2020 program with virtual phone banks, worksite leaflets and conversations, mail pieces and digital ads. Our union member education and mobilization program faced many pandemic related challenges, and still delivered like never before.

Now, we look ahead to the fight to strengthen working families with renewed resolve. Together, in solidarity, we will win a better day for America’s working people.”

AFSCME Wisconsin released the following statement: 

"AFSCME Wisconsin applauds the landmark organizing work of AFSCME members, retirees, and local leaders which helped deliver a historic electoral victory for Wisconsin’s working families. Amid a global pandemic, AFSCME members mobilized to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the next President and Vice President of the United States and contributed to the highest electoral turn out in our nation’s history.

Participants engaged in a unique organizing model geared towards long-term worker engagement and solidarity-building. From the Wisconsin state legislature to the U.S. presidency, AFSCME organizing efforts created the momentum necessary to develop worker power beyond a single election cycle.

AFSCME Wisconsin Vice President and organizing volunteer Mark Pelzek stated, “this program allowed us to find out how our coworkers are managing with the pandemic and other workplace issues. We discussed standing together as union to fight for solutions and using our strength for collective action. This program helped us mobilize to cement a Joe Biden victory and elect worker-friendly candidates. We positioned ourselves to build our union by organizing and standing together to demand solutions and improve our working conditions for years to come.”  

"AFSCME Wisconsin Executive Director Patrick Wycoff stated, “our work this election cycle was based on the premise that workers acting collectively can not only change their workplaces, but also their communities. In the last two months, AFSCME members’ nearly 40,000 phone calls to their coworkers laid the foundation for organizing activities which will outlast any elected leader. We invested in this program because we believe in the dignity of our essential work. We know that when we organize and stand together, our power is limitless. The voice of essential workers was heard loud and clear this election: we will not be silent; we will not stop organizing.”


This story will be updated as more statements are released. 

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