Joe Biden tops 270 electoral college votes to defeat Trump in US election

Democrat Joe Biden has passed the threshold of 270 electoral college votes needed for victory in the presidential race.
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The former vice president was called as the winner of Pennsylvania on Saturday, November 7, meaning he had an insurmountable lead in the race for the White House.

Winning the vote in Wisconsin, Michigan and Arizona – three states which voted for incumbent Donald Trump in 2016 – opened up a number of pathways to the presidency for the democratic candidate.

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And it was victory in Pennsylvania, some four days after polls closed, which saw him over the line on Saturday.

President Donald Trump made a series of unsubstantiated allegations to claim he is being cheated out of re-election, while Mr Biden had called for calm as votes in key battleground states were counted well past November 3.

A top election official dismissed Mr Trump’s fresh claims of voter fraud as Mr Biden edged closer to victory.

Mr Trump posted a number of tweets alleging that “bad things” happened, referring to votes being “illegally received” and insisting he has won “by a lot”.

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But Federal Election Commission commissioner Ellen Weintraub said there was no evidence of voter fraud.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris address the nation at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware on November 6. Picture: Drew Angerer/Getty Images.Joe Biden and Kamala Harris address the nation at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware on November 6. Picture: Drew Angerer/Getty Images.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris address the nation at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware on November 6. Picture: Drew Angerer/Getty Images.

Speaking after Mr Trump’s string of tweets – which were flagged by Twitter as containing “misleading” information about the election – she said: “State and local officials, and poll workers throughout the country, really stepped up.

“And there have been very few complaints about how this election has run.

“Very few substantiated complaints, let me put it that way. There is no evidence of any kind of voter fraud.”

“There is no evidence of illegal votes being cast.”

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Tweeting shortly after the election was called on Saturday, Mr Biden thanked America for voting him into office.

Democratic senator Kamala Harris will serve alongside Mr Biden as Vice President.

She will be the first female Vice President in American history.

Mr Biden’s message said: “America, I’m honored that you have chosen me to lead our great country.

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“The work ahead of us will be hard, but I promise you this: I will be a President for all Americans — whether you voted for me or not.

“I will keep the faith that you have placed in me.”

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