The 2020 election was one of the most nerve-wracking, polarizing, and contested elections to date. The incumbent President, Donald Trump was facing longtime democratic front-runner and former Vice President Joe Biden. The election took place on November 3rd, 2020; what a year for an election of this caliber! 

Like most Americans, I was glued to the couch despite the first few hours being uneventful as the Republican and Democratic strongholds are called. I went to bed, but I did wake up to check my phone periodically. The country was watching the typical swing states, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Nevada, Arizona, and North Carolina. A new swing state arose in the midst of the election cycle, Georgia, a state that had not been “blue” since Bill Clinton’s 1992 election. The election was dragged out for ten days with recounts, audits, and lawsuits. Joe Biden ended up winning with 306 electoral votes vs. Trump’s 232. The results were heavily debated and resulted in the January 6th Insurrection attempt.

After the unrest, he was inaugurated on January 20th, 2021. Here is a look at President Biden’s accomplishments, hardships, and his historic cabinet since he took office.

“A Cabinet of Firsts”

• He chose former opponent Kamala Harris to be his Vice President making her the first woman and person of color elected for that position.
• Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg is the first openly gay Cabinet member.
• Defense Secretary Gen. Llyod Austin is the first African-American to hold the role.
• Xavier Becerra is the first Latino to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
• Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is the first Native to hold a role in a Presidential Cabinet.
• Avril Haines is the first woman to be the Director of National Intelligence.
• Alejandro Mayorkas is the first Latino and immigrant to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security.
• Michael Regan is the first Black man to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Janet Yellen is the first woman to be Treasury Secretary.

Accomplishments

• The American Rescue Plan – a $1.9 trillion bill providing aid to state and local governments, increased unemployment insurance, support for vaccination efforts, education aid, refundable child tax credits, stimulus checks, and housing assistance.
• Vaccines – mass testing and vaccination sites with 200 million doses administered by his 92nd day in office. Additionally, the government has placed several vaccine mandates for federal employees and requires businesses with 100+ employees to test weekly or ensure vaccination.
• Rejoining the World Health Organization and Protecting the Affordable Care Act
• Reserved the Middle Eastern travel ban and ended the “Remain in Mexico” policy,
• Repaired the U.S.-Iran Nuclear Deal
• Sanctions and diplomatic expulsions towards Russia for election meddling.
• Rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement and Repealed the Transgender Military Ban
• Halted the Keystone XL Pipeline
• Signed a 1.2 billion dollar infrastructure bill for repairs on transportation systems, climate change, public transit, electric vehicles, power and water systems, internet service, and universal pre-K.

Struggles

• Mexico border crisis with covid-19 and unprecedented numbers of unaccompanied minors. Accusations of poor living conditions for the immigrants.
• The U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan after a 21-year war was poorly executed leaving U.S. citizens behind, Afghani women in dire situations, and resulting in the deaths of civilians and military personnel. The Afghan government was unable to secure the country leaving the Taliban a military extremist group with several accusations of human rights violations in charge of the country.
• The economy has been struggling since February 2020, but the country has hit a 30 year high for inflation as well as migrating the “The Great Resignation” with high unemployment rates and an average of 3-4 million workers quitting their jobs.

President Biden has had a shaky start to his Presidency but is one of the most accomplished Presidents to date. Biden and the democrats need to continue this trend or could face major losses in the 2022 midterm election.