Schumer: Time for country to unify

by Jordain Carney - 11/09/16 1:06 PM ET

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who is poised to become the next Senate minority leader, urged the country to unite after the contentious 2016 presidential election, saying he had already spoken to President-elect Donald Trump.

“This was a divisive and hard fought election, and the outcome surprised many Americans from both political parties. It is time for the country to come together and heal the bitter wounds from the campaign,” Schumer said in a Wednesday statement.

{mosads}He added that Trump called him on Wednesday morning, and he congratulated the real estate mogul on his surprise White House victory.

“Last night the American people exercised their sacred right to vote and made their voices known, electing Donald Trump to the presidency, and returning Republican majorities to both Houses of Congress. I congratulate Leader [Mitch] McConnell and Speaker [Paul] Ryan on their victories as well,” he said.

Democrats went into Tuesday’s election believing that with Republicans defending 24 Senate seats they would be able to pick up the five seats — or four if Hillary Clinton had won the White House — they would need to retake the Senate majority.

Instead, Republicans defied the odds and kept control of the upper chamber, with Democrats only picking up two seats. The outcome paves the way for McConnell to keep his position as majority leader and for Schumer to become minority leader.

The New York Democrat added that his caucus will “spend the coming days and weeks reflecting on these results, hearing from the American people, and charting a path forward to achieve our shared goals and to defend our values.”

His comments come after Clinton publicly conceded the race Wednesday and told her supporters that Trump deserved an “open mind” and a chance to lead. President Obama also pledged a smooth transition to a Trump administration in a separate speech from the White House.

Schumer congratulated Clinton, who served with him in the Senate, calling the former secretary of State a “remarkable woman whose service is a beacon to all of us, and I know she will continue to serve the country well.”

Tags Chuck Schumer Donald Trump Hillary Clinton