Hillary Clinton Becomes Presumptive Democratic Nominee & Makes History

Hillary Clinton just made history as the first ever woman that claimed the Democratic presidential nomination on Tuesday night after decisive victories in the California, New Jersey and New Mexico primaries. The announcement was made in a speech Clinton delivered in Brooklyn 30 minutes before polls closed in California last night, as she had already garnered 2,383 delegates.

“Tonight’s victory is not about one person; it belongs to generations of women and men who struggled and sacrificed and made this moment possible,” Clinton said onstage at Brooklyn’s Duggal Greenhouse.

“Barriers can come down. Justice and equality can win. Our history has moved in that direction, slowly at times, but unmistakably. Thanks to generations of Americans who refuse to give up or back down.”

Hillary, who started her career as a lawyer, moved into the White House as first lady, continued as a senator, and then held the title of secretary of state, pledged to build on the achievements of pioneers like the 19th-century leaders at Seneca Falls, N.Y., who began the fight for women’s rights in America.

“Tonight caps an amazing journey — a long, long journey,” she said, nearly a century after women won the right to vote nationwide. “We all owe so much to those who came before, and tonight belongs to all of you.”

Bernie Sanders, who has sparked a fire through the nation with his commitment to change, vowed to “fight hard to win” the final primary, in the District of Columbia next week, and to continue “our fight for social, economic, racial and environmental justice” at the Democratic convention in Philadelphia.

“I am pretty good in arithmetic, and I know that the fight in front of us is a very, very steep fight,” he said. “But we will continue to fight for every vote and every delegate we can get.”

President Barack Obama called Hillary later in the night to congratulate her on “securing the delegates necessary to clinch the Democratic nomination,” according to a White House statement emailed to reporters.