Joe Biden elected president

"It's easier to be a parent this morning," CNN's Van Jones said in an emotional reaction to Joe Biden winning the 2020 presidential race.

"It's easier to tell your kids character matters, it matters. Tell them the truth matters. Being a good person matters," Jones said.

"I just want my sons to look at this ... It's easy to do it the cheap way and get away with stuff, but it comes back around. It comes back around. And it's a good thing for this country. I'm sorry for the people who lost, for them it's not a good day. But for a whole lot of people it's a good day," he said.

Jones noted that, for many people in the country, especially minorities, life will be made easier.

"If you're Muslim in this country, you don't have to worry if the President doesn't want you here. If you're an immigrant, you don't have to worry if the President is going to be happier to have babies snatched away or send DREAMers sent back for no reason," he said.

Jones also highlighted how Biden winning the election is a "vindication" for a lot of people who have really suffered throughout President Trump's term.

After CNN projected Joe Biden’s presidential win, Van Jones, a former adviser in the Obama administration, and former GOP Sen. Rick Santorum both agreed that working-class voters still feel forgotten by both parties — and that is a hill that politicians will need to climb. 

“From the Republican point of view, we're not convinced it's over yet and we're going to wait and see how the rest of these states play out,” Santorum said.

Santorum said Republicans are worried about globalism, religious liberty and free speech, among other issues. 

“As much as people are concerned, I understand you're feeling relieved, there's a lot of people now on our side who are feeling concerned,” he said. 

Jones said people should take Santorum’s remarks “very seriously.”

“And cultural wars notwithstanding, there's a moment here. Do your lawsuits, that's your right. But there is a moment here where we can reset, and I think Joe Biden wants us to reset. And I will do everything I can. We've got a lot of fear and a lot of pain — we got a lot of promise, too. … If we could sit down at the same table, we could get something done together,” Jones added. 

Rick Santorum and CNN's Van Jones discuss what Joe Biden's win means for the country:

Kamala Harris, who will be the nation’s first Black and South Asian vice president, and first woman to hold that office, reacted on Twitter to their projected win.

"This election is about so much more than @JoeBiden or me. It’s about the soul of America and our willingness to fight for it," Harris tweeted alongside a video.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us. Let’s get started," she added.

See her tweet:

President-elect Joe Biden has issued a statement, saying he is “honored and humbled by the trust the American people have placed” in him and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.  

Here's the full statement:

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised Joe Biden for his presidential victory on Twitter today.

Read the tweet:

Moments after networks, including CNN, called the presidential race for Joe Biden, President Trump said in a statement from his campaign that Biden is “rushing to falsely pose as the winner,” and call the race “far from over.”

The statement says the campaign’s legal battle will begin Monday:

"I will not rest until the American People have the honest vote count they deserve and that Democracy demands," Trump says in the statement.

Trump is currently at his Virginia golf course.

After days of waiting, CNN's Wolf Blitzer called the presidential race for Joe Biden at 11:24 a.m. ET.

Blitzer added: "The former vice president, in his third run for the highest office, pulling off a rare defeat of the sitting commander in chief. With this victory, Kamala Harris is set to become the first woman and the first person of color to be the vice president. Again, CNN projects Joe Biden will become the 46th president of the United States. Jake, he is now president elect Joe Biden."

Watch the moment Blitzer announced CNN's projection:

As Kamala Harris made history as the first woman of color to be Vice President, CNN's Dana Bash commented on Black women finally seeing representation:

CNN's Abby Phillip commented on what this moment represents to millions in this country:

"Her path to this moment, I think, is fairly unconventional. She was one of the first major candidates to drop out of the Democratic field, but was someone who, I think, in the Party believed always had so much promise," she said. "One of the roles that she will play for Joe Biden is helping him bridge that gap between the Joe Biden who has been in Washington for decades and decades, the old guard, the 70 something-year-old White man, with the younger part of the party that is clambering to be heard. They feel like their futures are on the line, especially after the last four years. And I think a lot of them are looking to Kamala Harris to give voice to that."

CNN's Jake Tapper added:

Moments before CNN projected that Joe Biden will win the presidency, President Trump's campaign manager insisted to staff that their candidate still has a path to victory. 

While providing an update on the legal challenges surrounding the election, Bill Stepien told officials:

It was a private call, but CNN was provided access by a source affiliated with the reelection effort. 

Stepien argued Trump still has a path to victory in Arizona and Pennsylvania while providing an overview of where things stand as vote counting is ongoing. 

He railed against the high volume of mail-in voting and insisted officials believe they stand “a very good chance” of emerging as the winner if the race proves to be close.

Stepien insisted the call wasn't about fundraising but then solicited donations to the legal defense fund. "Again, this is not a fundraising solicitation, but that is an avenue to help."