Vice President-elect Kamala Harris addresses the nation from the Chase Center on November 7 in Wilmington, Delaware. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris invoked the life and legacy of the late Rep. John Lewis during her opening remarks tonight, reminding Americans that "democracy is not guaranteed."
Democracy is "only as strong as our willingness to fight for it," Harris said.
"To guard it and never take it for granted," she added from Wilmington, Delaware. "It takes sacrifice. But there is joy in it. And there is progress, because we, the people, have the power to build a better future."
Harris added: "And when our very democracy was on the ballot in this election with the very soul of America at stake and the world watching, you ushered in a new day for America."
Harris' speech comes less than 10 hours after CNN projected Joe Biden's victory in Pennsylvania, putting him over the 270 electoral vote threshold needed for the presidency.
Harris will be the nation’s first Black and South Asian vice president, and first woman to hold that office.
Watch:
7:44 p.m. ET, November 7, 2020
Biden and Harris will soon address the nation
From CNN's Arlette Saenz
The stage is set for President-elect Joe Biden to speak on November 7 in Wilmington, Delaware Andrew Harnik/AP
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will soon address the nation at the Chase Center in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.
Biden’s central message will be one of unity, advisers say. His remarks thematically draw from the final major speeches from his campaign – in Gettysburg and Warm Springs, Georgia, advisers say, as he urges Americans to come together and promises to be a president for all Americans.
His speech has been written for some time, but adjustments have been made as the week has progressed.
In case you missed it: It was Biden's boyhood state of Pennsylvania that put him over the 270 electoral vote threshold today and delivered the White House.
Harris, a senator from California, will make history as the first woman, the first Black person and the first person of South Asian descent to become vice president.
7:43 p.m. ET, November 7, 2020
Biden's projected presidential victory comes 48 years to the day of first Senate win
From CNN's Leinz Vales
As Americans across the United States prepare to watch President-elect Joe Biden’s victory speech, CNN’s Arlette Saenz highlighted the significance of the day he was projected the winner.
“It was 48 years ago today that Joe Biden first won his Senate seat here in Delaware and now 48 years later he’s heading to the White House,” Saenz said at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware.
Some background: Biden, who was Delaware's longest serving senator, was elected to office in 1972. He was first elected to the Senate at age 29, defeating Republican Sen. J. Caleb Boggs and would win reelection in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996 and 2002.
CNN's Arlette Saenz reports:
8:18 p.m. ET, November 7, 2020
Democratic candidate in runoff race says he's confident Georgia will solidify "its status as a blue state"
From CNN's Leinz Vales
Democrat Senate candidate Raphael Warnock speaks during a campaign rally in LaGrange, Georgia, on October 29. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images
On the night of Joe Biden’s projected victory over President Trump, Democrat Senate candidate Raphael Warnock said he’s confident that the President-elect will win Georgia and he will win his runoff with Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler.
“There is no question that Georgia is well on its way to solidifying its status as a blue state,” Warnock told CNN’s Erin Burnett. “We’ve been working on this for years. The other side knows it. That’s why they’ve been engaged for voter suppression for so long. We saw record voter turnout. 1.8 million Democrats showed up and showed out more than ever and we saw it again in this election. And I think our side is going to be very energized to show up for the January 5th.”
Warnock, who is a reverend and leader of Atlanta’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, said his campaign website has received an uptick in internet traffic since Election Day.
“My campaign is fueled by ordinary people because that is who I’m standing up for,” Warnock said.
Biden found out that he won the race from his grandchildren, source says
From CNN's Arlette Saenz
President-elect Joe Biden spent the majority of his time at home today with his family – taking in the moment they’ve worked for together for years.
In fact, it was his grandchildren who were the ones who informed him that the race was called in his favor, a source on the campaign says.
This photo posted by his oldest granddaughter Naomi was taken shortly after he learned he was now President-elect:
7:00 p.m. ET, November 7, 2020
Biden's central message tonight will be one of unity
From CNN's Arlette Saenz
When he addresses the nation for the first time as President-elect, Joe Biden’s central message will be one of unity, advisers say.
His remarks thematically draw from the final major speeches from his campaign – in Gettysburg and Warm Springs, Georgia, advisers say, as he urges Americans to come together and promises to be a president for all Americans.
His speech has been written for some time, but adjustments have been made as the week has progressed.
6:47 p.m. ET, November 7, 2020
Here's what one of Biden's first actions as President will be, Democratic senator says
From CNN's Adrienne Vogt
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar speaks with CNN on November 7. CNN
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said that President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will work on building a “big coalition” to unite Democratic and GOP lawmakers.
“I was buoyed by people like Mitt Romney and some of the Republicans who are coming out and making very clear they believe in our democracy. And I think that's going to be really important when the celebrating ends, that the hard work begins. And that's going to be my point when I do talk to Joe and Kamala in person … They're going to have to build a big coalition and I am ready to help,” she said.
Biden has not reached out to her about a possible position in his Cabinet, the 2020 Democratic presidential candidate said.
Klobuchar said Biden has told her that will reach across the aisle to bring Democrats and Republicans together.
“One of the first things he's going to do in these next few weeks will be calling Democratic and Republican governors, calling Democratic and Republican members of Congress to start talking about what he needs to do and getting advice on things. That's what he does. I don't think you saw Donald Trump doing a lot of that. You’re going to see Joe Biden doing a lot of that,” she said.
Biden will “seize, yes, the celebration today but also the hard work of governing,” she added. “We can't wait anymore to do something about the pandemic and the economy — and to do something about climate change and immigration reform — he knows that.”
Klobuchar also spoke about Sen. Kamala Harris becoming America's first female, first Black and first South Asian vice president-elect.
“Kamala, of course, as she has said, stands on the shoulders of so many, including Geraldine Ferraro and including Shirley Chisholm and… certainly Hillary Clinton have made this attempt before. … I can't wait to see her tonight and mostly [to] see her lead,” Klobuchar said.
6:26 p.m. ET, November 7, 2020
Georgia's Fulton County rescanning work from Friday after discovering a reporting issue
From CNN’s Jason Morris
Fulton County, Georgia, officials are rescanning their work from Friday after discovering a reporting issue, according to Walter Jones, spokesperson for Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
“Fulton County has discovered an issue involving reporting from their work on Friday. Officials are at State Farm Arena to rescan their work from Friday. The Secretary of State has a monitor onsite, has sent additional investigators, and dispatched the Deputy Secretary of State as well to oversee the process to make sure to thoroughly secure the vote and protect all legal votes. Observers from both political parties are there as well," Jones said in the statement.
The Georgia Secretary of State’s office didn’t provide additional details beyond the statement. CNN has reached out to Fulton County for details.
6:28 p.m. ET, November 7, 2020
Biden will do what needs to be done to get the pandemic under control, New York physician says
From CNN's Leinz Vales
A physician in New York City speaks with CNN’s Polo Sandoval on Saturday. CNN
As cities across the United States erupt in celebration after the projected victory of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, a physician in New York City told CNN’s Polo Sandoval that she’s “thrilled” to have a leader who will take the coronavirus pandemic seriously.
“I’m a pediatrician and can I not tell you, I’m not a single-issue voter, but the pandemic, I mean, just seeing how this pandemic ravaged our city, I am so thrilled that we’re going to have a leader who is going to take this pandemic and do what needs to be done — what needs to be done in the city and in the country so that we can get it under control," she said.
What we know: Biden plans to announce his 12-person coronavirus task force on Monday, two sources with knowledge told CNN.
The task force will reportedly be lead by three cochairs: Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner David Kessler and Yale University’s Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith.
