RICHMOND, Va. -- President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris addressed the country Saturday after the Associated Press and other news organizations declared them victors in Election 2020.
"I just think we have a more optimistic country right now," said Leslie Wyatt, who was out walking her dog Sunday.
Wyatt said she knew she had to do something to create the change she wanted to see.
"I really am happy about the outcome," Wyatt explained. "I'm typically a Republican, and I voted Republican a lot of the ticket, but I couldn't vote for President Trump because of his behaviors and his rhetoric."
Like Wyatt, many voters were anxiously waiting to hear an outcome, but here in Virginia, some are still waiting for all the votes to be counted.
"We want fair and just elections across the board even right here in Virginia," Bishop Leon Benjamin, the former chairman of Richmond Republican Committee, said." That after all is said and done, whether Trump wins or Joe Biden, that everyone says at least everything was counted. All legal votes were counted, everything was done fair."
Shortly after the announcement, President Trump released a statement saying he won the election and continued to claim "voter fraud."
Enrique Gonzalez said he did not want to gloat about Biden's victory.
"I don't want to like ruffle any feathers, but you know Trump supporters were very adamant about their voices being heard when Trump won in 2016," Gonzalez said. "I think we're going to try and come together and say, 'Look, this is who won the election.' Realistically we just need to kinda move on and move forward with it."
Trump officials said the president will only concede when he has worn out all legal options.
In the meantime, everyone is hoping that the country can unite moving forward.
"I think that people coming together despite being conservative or liberal is a beautiful thing," Gonzalez said. "And it's going to happen as time progresses and as we get closer to Inauguration Day."
Benjamin said he is "praying that we can all come together, pray for our nation and then unite under the outcome."
"I don't know if anyone has the single answer right now, but I do think together Republicans and Democrats and independents can make some move forward," Wyatt said.
