Harris Urges Acceptance of Election Results, Persistence in Fight

At Howard University, a leading historically Black school and her alma mater, Kamala Harris addresses her election loss to Donald Trump.

Kamala Harris conceded her defeat to Trump on Wednesday, simultaneously urging supporters to persist in their fight for their vision of the country. The Democratic vice president emphasized that this struggle would continue “in the voting booth, in the courts and in the public square.”

“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign,” Harris affirmed. Notable attendees at her speech included her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, as well as California Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Lee.

Prior to her speech, Harris acknowledged Trump’s victory in a phone call, assuring a peaceful transition of power.

Previously considered a potential savior for the Democratic Party after Joe Biden’s reelection campaign faltered, Harris is now grappling with a significant rejection by American voters in this year’s presidential election.

Trump, whom she deemed a grave danger to the country’s foundational institutions, outperformed her in every battleground state. Despite a history of legal controversy, Trump was on track to win the popular vote for the first time in his three White House campaigns.

Biden has plans to address the election results shortly. It’s anticipated that as the incumbent vice president, Harris will preside over Congress’ ceremonial certification of the election—a role not dissimilar to Mike Pence’s in the previous election.

Despite early struggles, Harris managed to unify the Democratic Party around her candidacy following Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race. She became a prominent advocate for abortion rights after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

Despite the odds against her, Harris energized Democrats with her candidacy. However, she found it challenging to distinctly differentiate herself from the unpopular incumbent president and had limited time to introduce herself to voters who never cast a ballot for her in a presidential primary.

The Democrats now face the prospect of navigating a second Trump presidency, with the role Harris will play in the party’s future remaining uncertain.

“The work of protecting America from the impacts of a Trump Presidency starts now,” stated Jen O’Malley Dillon, Harris’ campaign chair, in a letter to staff. “I know the Vice President isn’t finished in this fight.”