Bay Area Residents React To Biden And Harris' Projected Victory

OAKLAND, CA — Cheers of celebration erupted out of the Bay Area Saturday morning as the largely left-leaning cities, and many of its leaders, celebrated the projected win of Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris, who hails from Oakland. Harris is the first Black woman and first South Asian American to be elected Vice President of the United States.

Oakland residents poured out into several street corridors around the city as they celebrated not just Biden's victory, but Harris' historic feat — a winner from their own city.

Around two dozen quickly assembled in front of Oakland's Grand Lake Theater, a hotspot for protestors, to celebrate as media outlets declared Biden and Harris winners.

"I'm feeling very good," said Molly Glocker, one of the people who gathered outside Grand Lake Theater. "This means a better future for my two daughters."

Cheryl Davis of Piedmont said she came to the theater to celebrate, and with a sense of relief.

"I don't have to be depressed for the next four years because of the evil perpetrated by a venal president," Davis said.

Celebrations also broke out around Lake Merrit in Oakland as people were seen jumping and shouting, with joggers running by to join in on the cheering.

Celebrations around Lake Merritt in Oakland after Joe Biden is projected as president elect and Kamala Harris vice president elect. #Election2020 https://t.co/oq3YTCHPTx
Video by James Huntington @KGOdesk @abc7newsbayarea pic.twitter.com/SK4taTIEfW
— Dion Lim (@DionLimTV) November 7, 2020

"Today, America said yes: Yes to decency and compassion. Yes to new leadership that elevates our values of diversity and inclusion," said Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. "Yes to a Black, Indian-American woman from Oakland, California."

"Oakland's own makes history," the Golden State Warriors also tweeted Saturday morning.

Here’s the scene at Oakland’s Grand Lake Theater, one of the city’s iconic protest spots. Most major media projected Joe Biden as winner of the presidency an hour ago. Kamala Harris was born in Oakland. #Election2020 pic.twitter.com/0sbPEmsmn8
— Darwin BondGraham (@DarwinBondGraha) November 7, 2020

In San Francisco, Mayor London Breed said Biden would help unite a divided country.

"Joe Biden ran on the simple but powerful idea that we should strive to be a united country, not a divided one. As president, he has promised to represent everyone, not just those who voted for him, and he will put the needs of the American people first," Breed said in a statement issued Saturday morning.

San Franciscans were seen dancing, with some in costume, in a large mob in the Castro District.

Election party in the Castro getting lit. #Election2020results #sanfrancisco pic.twitter.com/iQaCvIiRyG
— Karl Mondon (@karlmondon) November 7, 2020

Oakland’s own makes history. pic.twitter.com/PCFH14iaTx
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) November 7, 2020

Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín also chimed in to celebrate Biden and Harris' victory.

"It could not be more fitting that the first woman, the first African American woman, the first Indian American and the first Asian American Vice President of the United States is a daughter of Berkeley," Arreguín said in a Saturday morning statement. "This community's diversity and progressive values helped shape a leader that stands for equality, empowerment, and justice–qualities our nation has suffered without the past four years. Berkeley is both an epicenter and engine for social change, and the Vice President-elect has been, and will be, a force for progress. She has broken down monumental barriers and Berkeley could not be more proud."

Gov. Gavin Newsom, the former mayor of San Francisco where Harris served as the district attorney before being elected California attorney general and U.S. senator, posted a photo of the two of them.

"My dear friend, and now Madame Vice President-elect, congratulations," Newsom wrote. "California is so, so proud today."

Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Francisco/San Mateo, one of the Bay Area members of Congress who will work with the new Biden administration, said, "We can focus on building back our infrastructure, economy, and health care by strengthening the Affordable Care Act."

Speier added, "A Trump campaign punctuated by racism and misogyny will end with a Black woman in the White House and a bold agenda for women's equality and dignity."

Street party on Berryman in North Berkeley @berkeleyside pic.twitter.com/XkPEkdGBXL
— Darrell Owens (@IDoTheThinking) November 7, 2020

The Bay City News contributed to this report.