After a long and stressful election, America has voted Joe Biden in as the 46th president and running mate Kamala Harris as vice president.

The race was called in Biden’s favour on Saturday [November 7] after he took the lead in the state of Pennsylvania, pushing him past the 270 electoral votes he needed to win the election.

Taking to Twitter, the 77-year-old thanked his supporters and promised to work hard to prove their votes were worth it.

In a statement he said: “In the face of unprecedented obstacles, a record number of Americans voted. Proving once again, that democracy beats deep in the heart of America.

“With the campaign over, it’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation. It’s time for America to unite. And heal.”

This is an historic victory for a number of reasons. Kamala Harris, who is of Indian and Jamaican heritage, is officially the first woman, and woman of colour, to be elected vice-president of America.

Joe Biden also broke the record for the most votes in an American election ever, a title previously held by former President Barack Obama, whom Biden served as vice president for.

When Biden is inaugurated in January 2021, he will be 78 and thus the oldest president to ever serve in America.

While the presidency is essentially guaranteed for Biden, incumbent president Donald Trump has not yet conceded defeat. According to Associated Press, he is threatening further legal action on ballot counting.

Trump is the first incumbent president to not be re-elected since George H.W. Bush in 1992.

Soon after the announcement was made, a crowd began to gather outside the White House in Washington DC to celebrate.

Americans have taken to social media to express their excitement.

Picture: Twitter / Joe Biden

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