Biden on Disappointing Virginia Outcome: 'People Want Us to Get Things Done'

U.S. President Joe Biden said he thinks Democrats need to focus to turn things around from their disappointing election results this week—particularly a shocking gubernatorial loss in a state that Biden won by double digits just a year ago.

"People want us to get things done," Biden told reporters Wednesday."I think we have to just produce results for them—to change their standard of living had given them a little more breathing room."

Biden said he called to "congratulate" former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe Wednesday on his campaign for Virginia governor despite his loss.

"He brought out just about every Democrat there was—more votes whoever has been cast for a Democratic [candidate for governor]," Biden said.

McAuliffe was previously Virginia governor from 2014 to 2018. Virginia governors cannot seek consecutive terms in office.

Biden, who had traveled to Virginia to campaign for McAuliffe, incorrectly stated Wednesday that, "No governor in Virginia has ever won when he or she's of the same party as the sitting president." McAuliffe won his 2013 election during President Barack Obama's second term in office.

But he praised the record turnout in the race, which ended with Republican businessman Glenn Younkin's win. McAuliffe conceded the race to Younkin on Wednesday. But Biden dismissed suggestions that he could have done anything more to get McAuliffe elected.

"I'm not sure I'd be able to change the number of very conservative folks who turned out," he said.

Youngkin got about 51 percent of the votes to McAuliffe's 48.5 percent.

"Yesterday reminded me that one of the sacred rights we have is to be able to go out and cast our votes," Biden said.

He added an apparent dig at his former rival Donald Trump, who has baselessly rejected the certified outcome of the 2020 presidential election, and people who've backed his claims.

"We all have an obligation to accept the legitimacy of elections," Biden said.

Some pundits have pointed to a shift in cultural talking points. Biden said he understands frustrations that have gripped the country over misleading reports on issues ranging from race to COVID-19.

"I just think people are at a point, and it's understandable, there's a whole lot of confusion," Biden said.

An impasse on Capitol Hill has held up key priorities for Democrats' top agenda items, including health care, climate change and assistance for American families. Partisan infighting among House and Senate Democrats has stalled both the $1.2 trillion bipartisan-backed infrastructure package, as well as a separate nearly $2 trillion expansion of the social safety net, which Biden has dubbed his Build Back Better agenda.

After weeks of trying to hash out a deal behind the scenes, House Democrats this week set the stage for forging ahead on a proposal that would require a longer procedure.

His message to Democrats: "Get it to my desk."