WASHINGTON (NewsNation Now) — Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris secured the ticket Saturday to become the 46th president of the United States and the first female vice president. Former presidents are congratulating the Biden-Harris ticket after their election victory.
Former President George W. Bush congratulated the president-elect and vice president-elect on their historic win Sunday. Bush said he spoke to Biden and thanked him for what Bush says was “the patriotic message” in Biden’s national address on Saturday night after being declared the election winner, according to AP projections.
Bush said in a statement that while he and Biden have political differences, the former president said he knows Biden “to be good man who has won his opportunity to lead and unify our country.”
Bush also said the American people “can have confidence that this election was fundamentally fair, its integrity will be upheld, and its outcome is clear.” However, President Donald Trump has the right to request recounts and pursue legal challenges, with any unresolved issues to be “properly adjudicated.”
President Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama also shared messages of congratulations, hope and unity.
The oldest living president, Jimmy Carter, 96 sent hopeful regards to the Biden-Harris team.
“Rosalynn joins me in congratulating our friends President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. We are proud of their well-run campaign and look forward to seeing the positive change they bring to our nation,” Carter said. “Rosalynn joins me in congratulating our friends President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. We are proud of their well-run campaign and look forward to seeing the positive change they bring to our nation.
President Clinton, who served from 1993 to 2001, said the “momentous victory” will unite the country.
“America has spoken and democracy has won,” Clinton wrote on Twitter. “Now we have a President-Elect and Vice President-Elect who will serve all of us and bring us all together.”
President Obama congratulated his friend and former vice president on his win.
“I could not be prouder to congratulate our next President, Joe Biden, and our next First Lady, Jill Biden,” Obama said in a statement. “We’re fortunate that Joe’s got what it takes to be President and already carries himself in that way.” He said he knows that Biden will work in the best interest of every American.
Biden will be the oldest president once he is inaugurated. Harris will be the first woman to hold the vice presidency. She is also the first Black and South Asian woman elected to the position.
The Biden-Harris administration will be sworn into their roles on Jan. 20.