In an email interview, Kilili said, “It does appear that the Democrats have retained control of the U.S. House of Representatives. And it certainly remains possible that Democrats will control the U.S. Senate, too, after the runoff elections in Georgia on Jan. 5, 2021.”
He added, “What is certain is that the new president and Congress will face great difficulties and will have much work to do.”
Kilili, who ran unopposed this year, said the current situation “reminds me of my first term in office in 2009 when the country faced the Great Recession. Now, of course, I am not a freshman but a member of the [U.S.] House leadership with responsibility for education nationwide and for the welfare of the insular areas. So I look forward to using my experience and working with the incoming Biden-Harris administration to help the people of the Marianas and all of America.”
Kilili is an independent who caucuses with U.S. Democrats.
In a statement on behalf of the CNMI people, he congratulated President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris “on their hard-won and decisive victory.”
“The largest-ever voter turnout and the largest-ever popular vote for Biden and Harris confirm that democracy in America remains strong,” Kilili added.
“For women, Asian Americans, and those of us whose parents were not citizens of this country, the election of Kamala Harris is particularly meaningful.
“During the eight years of the Obama administration I had numerous opportunities to talk informally with then-Vice President Biden about the Marianas and the aspirations of our people. He is an understanding and compassionate man; and I was an early endorser of his presidential candidacy.
“I look forward to working in the U.S. House of Representatives over the next two years to advance the Biden-Harris agenda of controlling the pandemic, reviving the economy, continuing the fight against poverty, moving forward on racial justice, advancing equality for all, and addressing the threat of climate change.
“These are goals the people of the Marianas and Americans everywhere can come together to fully support.”
