KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Shortly after NBC News projected Joe Biden has enough electoral votes to become the 46th president of the United States, supporters in Kansas City, Missouri, gathered at Mill Creek Park near the Country Club Plaza.
Cheers and honks rang out for hours with supporters holding signs, jubilant about Biden's presidency.
"I’m pumped. It’s time for a change," Christian Boydo, a Biden support from Wichita, said.
UMKC student Emily Hanson had similar thoughts.
"Really relieved and happy because I’m part of the LGBTQ+ community," Hanson said.
Steven Jennings, of Kansas City, Missouri, was similarly pleased with the presidential election outcome.
"The American, can breathe again, kind of feel like we got our voice back and it’s a good feeling, I’ll tell you that," Jennings said.
But for Trump supporters, the defeat stings.
"Very disappointed, I voted for Trump," said Patti Brent, of Bloomington, Illinois, who was visiting KCMO.
Bruce Kitchell, of Sedalia, also supported the 45th president.
"I voted for Trump, but it was only for a select few things," Kitchell said.
Biden's supporters continued their celebration throughout the day in the same spot where, months prior, protesters called for racial justice and criminal reform -- issues Biden voters said they believe he will tackle once he's in office.
"I would like to see our country come back together," Cameron Bias, a Biden supporter, said. "I feel like it's very split at the moment. I want to see more kindness and more fairness between everyone."
Paul Abrisz voted for Biden as a way to end the divisive rhetoric that he said is coming from the current administration.
"With Biden being elected it shows that’s not what America is going to be," Abrisz said. "We can put that back, back on the ground where needs to be."
Violet Dyer, another Biden supporter, shared the same sentiments.
"After four years of pain and suffering, Joe Biden becoming a president, it means that that is no longer the norm," Dyer said. "It's no longer acceptable."
And now they're looking forward to see what the president-elect will do when faced with challenges.
"Because he has been criticized on things and he has changed them and I hope that he uses that to make America better and America more kind," Bias said.
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However, lawmakers also had a split reaction to the election outcome, as Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley tweeted, in part, "When all lawful votes have been counted, recounts finished, and allegations of fraud addressed, we will know who the winner is.”
A much different tone came from Congressman Emanuel Cleaver.
"I think we’re going into a new era," Cleaver said, "and hopefully somebody who has a history of trying to turn down the temperature politically will sit in the White House and will try to do that."
Even with everyone's differences, they can agree on one common goal.
"I hope that we can come together as a nation, and we want our president to succeed," Brent said. "So I hope that he does well."
Rallies for both Biden and Trump have been held throughout the metro.
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