She has conceded the election.
Vice President Kamala Harris conceded the election, assuring Americans of a “peaceful transfer of power” and reaffirming her commitment to the nation, while also emphasizing her loyalty “to our God” and her ongoing fight for the principles she championed during her campaign.
By Wednesday morning, former President Donald Trump, a Republican, was projected to win the election, marking the first time in U.S. history that someone had secured nonconsecutive presidential terms since Grover Cleveland in the late 19th century.
Speaking to her supporters at Howard University later that day, Harris called for acceptance of the election’s outcome, stating, “We must accept the results of this election” and committed to ensuring a peaceful transition of power. She underscored that, “a fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results,” adding that such a principle distinguishes the U.S. from autocracies. Harris also stressed that loyalty should be directed toward the Constitution, not a president or party, while adding that Americans owe allegiance to their conscience and their faith.
Harris further clarified that while she was conceding the election, she would not abandon the causes she fought for during the campaign. “I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign,” she said, emphasizing her continued commitment to advocating for democracy, justice, and the rule of law. She declared, “I will never give up” and that the struggle for the country’s values was always worth it.
The election’s outcome followed a tumultuous Democratic primary season in which many progressives urged President Joe Biden to step aside due to concerns over his age and mental acuity. In July, Biden announced his withdrawal from the race, endorsing Harris as his successor. However, the decision to replace Biden with Harris was controversial, with some, including Black Lives Matter, criticizing the lack of a public voting process in selecting the new Democratic nominee. Before her speech at Howard University, Harris had personally called Trump to concede and congratulate him on his victory.
In his victory speech, Trump hailed his campaign as “the greatest political movement of all time” and stressed that the country was in urgent need of help. He promised to restore the nation’s borders and address its various challenges, pledging that every day, “I will be fighting for you, and with every breath in my body, I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe, and prosperous America that our children deserve.”