The recent U.S. presidential election left most Americans waiting on the edge of their seats for five long days. While some states quickly declared a winner, other states tediously counted the abundance of absentee ballots, early voting ballots, and mail-in ballots as the country watched nervously.

As the votes were counted, the numbers grew closer and closer, even becoming a tie at one point. After the long, nerve-racking wait, a projected winner was announced, and Joe Biden was declared the president-elect with a projected 290 electoral votes. Donald Trump trailed behind with only 214 electoral votes.  Many Americans took a large sigh of relief as they headed to the city streets to celebrate, while others complained and called fraud.

The 2020 presidential election has been unlike any other, making history in many ways. This year’s election was held in the midst of a global pandemic, which affected, or should have, the campaigns of the candidates. The final candidates included Democrat Joe Biden, Republican Donald Trump,  Libertarian Jo Jorgensen, American Solidarity candidate Brian Carroll, and Constitution candidate Don Blankenship.

The two main candidates were Joe Biden and Donald Trump,

and, while the three third-party candidates were on the ballot, it’s rare they get enough votes to truly be in the race.

In this election, Joe Biden received the most votes any candidate has ever received, while Donald Trump received the second most. One of the biggest victories in this election was vice president-elect Kamala Harris, doubling as the first woman, and the first woman of color, in the office of the vice president.

As Joe Biden took the lead in many key swing states, Donald Trump and his supporters questioned the legitimacy of the votes. In some places, they gathered and chanted to “stop the count,” all the while chanting “keep counting votes”

in other states. Trump and his administration went as far as to file lawsuits with absolutely no evidence. In the midst of this, Biden supporters trusted the officials’ statements of a legal election and didn’t hesitate to celebrate Biden’s win and Trump’s loss.

Streets flooded with citizens overjoyed with the victory and the overdue symbol of hope it represented. Voting Trump out was critical to preserve democracy and to push forward the fight for social justice. While many people celebrated Biden winning, even more people were celebrating Trump’s loss. Throughout every major city, people danced and sang in the streets displaying signs. Many were heard singing “ding dong the wicked witch is dead” referring to Trump’s loss. People were seen outside the White House dancing and holding signs that read “You’re Fired!”

For America, this was a major victory, complete with huge celebrations that hadn’t been seen since the end of World War II.

This election had America anxiously waiting to hear the results as well as multiple historic moments. It’s important the nation continues to move forward and progress as one. Many people hope that Biden will begin mending the wedge that Trump so deeply drove between Americans.

While this election was a step in the right direction, it’s important to not lose sight of what so many have been fighting for. History was made on November 3, 2020, and we can hope for a future moving in the right direction.