By now, most Americans might know that Donald Trump has won the 2024 presidential election. Trump gave a victory speech in Florida on election night hours before the Associated Press called the race after 5 a.m. EST on Nov. 6. As the chances of winning slipped out of her hands, Vice President Kamala Harris opted not to address the nation last night.
Early Wednesday, Harris’ team confirmed that she would deliver a concession speech at Howard University on Wednesday afternoon. However, hours before doing so, she spoke personally to Trump on the phone.
Keep scrolling to see all the details on Harris’ concession process, President Biden’s reaction, and what led to Kamala’s election loss.
Kamala Harris Concedes To Donald Trump Via Phone
A senior adviser to Vice President Harris confirmed to AP News that she called President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him. The aide, who declined to be identified because the conversation was private, said Harris discussed the need for a peaceful transfer of power. AP reports that Trump’s team confirmed the phone call.
Harris was once viewed as a potential savior for Democrats after President Biden’s and Trump’s first presidential debate rocked the party’s confidence. Biden dropped out of the presidential race on July 21 and endorsed his vice president. She reacted by swiftly unifying the Democratic Party around her candidacy.
Ultimately though, Trump reclaimed his former title and White House with 295 total electoral votes so far. When AP first called the race, he was at 277. Meanwhile, Harris has stalled at 226 electoral college votes.
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Harris lagged behind Trump in every battleground state despite describing him as a danger to the country’s foundational institutions during her campaign. And Trump appeared on track to win the popular vote for the first time in his three campaigns for the White House. His popular vote victory comes after two impeachments, felony convictions, and his attempt to overturn his previous election loss.
Harris Addresses The Nation From Howard University
As mentioned, Harris arrived on the campus of her alma mater after 4 p.m. EST on Wednesday. It’s the same location where her supporters watched returns Tuesday night before the VP’s team encouraged them to go home after midnight. At the time, Trump was pulling ahead in battleground states.
AP reports that House Speaker emerita Nancy Pelosi, White House adviser Tom Perez, and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser were in the crowd for Harris’ concession speech. The second gentleman, Doug Emhoff, and Harris’ running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, and his wife, Gwen, were also present. President Biden watched the concession speech from the West Wing, per the White House.
Kamala took the stage wearing a dark-colored suit, and giving her signature campaign wave and smile. As the crowd cheered, she strutted to the podium while Beyoncé’s ‘Freedom’ played through the speakers. She admitted that her heart feels full of “love…gratitude” for the trust her supporters placed in her.
“The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for. But hear me when I say, the light of America’s promise will always burn bright, as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting,” Harris said, slightly clearing her throat afterward.
Harris thanked her husband, Doug, President Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, her running mate, and all her campaign and poll workers. “Folks are feeling and experiencing a range of emotions right now—I get it. But we must accept the results of this election,” Kamala Harris urged.
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Ultimately, Harris said, “This is not the time to throw up our hands, this is the time to roll up our sleeves” and exited the stage to ‘Freedom,’ the same way she came in.
Keep in mind that Kamala’s concession speech won’t be the last time she acknowledges her loss to Trump. As the sitting vice president, she is expected to oversee Congress’ ceremonial certification of the election.
It’s the same role that Mike Pence played four years ago when Trump directed his supporters to march on the U.S. Capitol. Although critics said the violent insurrection crystallized Trump’s threat to American democracy, that ultimately did not dissuade voters from electing him again.
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President Biden Calls Trump After Presidential Win
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What Led To Kamala's Loss?
Losing by 226 to 295 electoral college votes is a remarkable twist of fate for Harris. Four years earlier, her own presidential campaign also flamed out and revealed the political limitations of someone once dubbed “the female Barack Obama.” Even though Biden chose Harris as his running mate, she languished in the role after taking office as the first woman, Black person, or person of South Asian descent to serve as vice president.
Although Harris pitched “a new way forward,” she struggled to differentiate herself meaningfully from the unpopular sitting president. In addition, she had limited time to introduce herself to skeptical voters, who never cast a ballot for her in a presidential primary.
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