WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Donald Trump was elected the 47th President of the United States after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the race for the White House, according to the Associated Press.
Trump’s victory comes after he earned the 270 electoral college votes needed to clinch the presidency. He is now the first president to win non-consecutive terms in more than a century.
Leaders across D.C., Maryland and Virginia have sent their congratulations to President-elect Trump; however, some are still hopeful about the election results.
Trump’s running mate, Vice President-elect JD Vance (R), posted the following message on X:
“THANK YOU! To my beautiful wife for making it possible to do this. To President Donald J. Trump, for giving me such an opportunity to serve our country at this level. And to the American people, for their trust. I will never stop fighting for ALL of you.”
In a post on X, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) congratulated Trump and others who won within their district.
“Congratulations to the 47th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, and Vice President-elect JD Vance. The American people have spoken overwhelmingly to return common sense, strength, and leadership back to the White House. Through the Trump presidency, we will pave the way for an economic revival, a secure border, and a stronger America on the world stage.
As we await the final results in the 7th Congressional District, I’d like to congratulate Senator Tim Kaine, Congressman Rob Wittman, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, Congressman Bobby Scott, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, Congressman-elect John Mcguire, Congressman Ben Cline, Congressman Don Beyer, Congressman Morgan Griffith, Congressman-elect Suhas Subramanyam, and Congressman Gerry Connolly on their victories. I want to thank every candidate, regardless of party, who stepped up in the name of service to the Commonwealth. Public service is a sacrifice, and we must always be grateful to those willing to make it. This was a hard fought election, now it’s time to set aside partisanship and go to work for Virginians.
All Virginians should be proud of the way we conducted this election. We know the election was fair and secure. In Virginia, we took concrete steps to protect our election process and Virginians know that they can have faith in our election results because we have paper ballots, counting machines not connected to the internet, strong chain of custody requirements, secure drop boxes and most importantly – the cleanest voter rolls in America. I’d like to thank Susan Beals and the Department of Elections, our local registrars, and all of our poll workers and election staff who volunteered their time.”
On the other hand, Monica Hopkins, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union Washington Legislative Office (ACLU) of the District of Columbia, said “looming threats are real,” and the organization is prepared to use the lessons learned during Trump’s first presidency.
Here is the full statement:
“Today, we brace ourselves for what is to come when President-elect Donald Trump and anti-D.C. members of Congress take office. We will not mince words: a second Trump Administration and an anti-D.C. Congress are a grave threat to our rights and self-governance in the District. Trump and his allies have threatened to “take over” D.C. by calling in the National Guard or even by repealing our right to Home Rule. We will now be on the defensive, protecting the basic rights and freedoms that are rightfully ours.
The looming threats are real, but so is our power and resilience. At the ACLU, we are once again prepared to use all the lessons we learned during the first Trump Administration and all the tools we have at our disposal. We will continue ensuring that our nation lives up to the promise of the Constitution.
The rights and freedoms of D.C. residents were on the ballot in this historic election. Without D.C. Statehood, the federal government has legal authority over D.C. laws and our budget. This means that every state’s election results can directly impact our lives as District residents. Year after year, we have faced the prospect of federal lawmakers, never elected by D.C. residents, banning abortion in D.C., dictating how we spend our tax dollars, stopping us from addressing public safety, and so much more.
This election also crystallized the fact that we must fortify and accelerate our fight for D.C. Statehood so that D.C. can be part of a national firewall for freedom. We must continue protecting our current, if limited, self-governance by defending Home Rule. We must also advance D.C. Statehood to correct the historical wrong that has denied D.C. residents, the majority of whom are Black and brown, the right to govern ourselves and to have a say in the direction our country takes.
Making D.C. Statehood a reality, and defending our self-governance, requires each one of us to talk with our pro-democracy friends, families and allies around the country about why D.C. Statehood and Home Rule matter – and what everyone can do to help.
Together, we can meet this moment. We can defend our values. We can assert our power. And we can build a more just and free D.C.”
