Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the nation on Wednesday afternoon after losing the 2024 presidential election to Republican rival, 45th President Donald Trump.
Harris delivered public comments from her alma mater, Howard University, in Washington. She graduated from the historically black college in 1986.
“I am so proud of the race we ran and the way we ran it,” she told the crowd.
“My heart is full today, full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me; full of love for our country, and full of resolve,” Harris said. “The outcome of this election was 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 called Trump earlier in the day to concede and congratulate him on securing a second term in the White House. During that phone call, Harris said she vowed to help Trump and his team and intended to “engage in a peaceful transfer of power.”
A fundamental principle of American democracy is accepting the results of the election, she added.
Despite her concession, Harris said she stands by the American ideals she fought for.
“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fuels this campaign.”
Harris told supporters that it’s okay to feel sad and disappointed. She acknowledged that her supporters may be feeling a range of emotions after the loss, but encouraged them to stay engaged.
“This is not a time to throw up our hands, this is time to roll up our sleeves.”
She also thanked her husband Doug Emhoff, running mate Tim Walz, President Joe Biden, and First Lady Jill Biden.
David Plouffe, Harris’ senior campaign advisor, called the election a “devastating loss” in a statement on X.
“We dug out of a deep hole but not enough,” he wrote.
Notably, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the former House speaker, attended Harris’s concession speech. Pelosi remains a major figure within the Democratic Party.
The 2024 race between Trump and Harris was considered a toss-up for weeks, according to the polls, which consistently showed the candidates locked in a tight race. But Trump ultimately emerged as the decisive winner on Election Night, clearing the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency and securing victory in the so-called “blue wall” states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
Harris’s journey as the Democratic presidential nominee began in July after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race following a debate against Trump.
As the new nominee, she had three months to campaign after replacing Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket. On the campaign trail, Harris often distanced herself from her predecessor, claiming to represent a new generation of leadership. Throughout the campaign, Democrats set fundraising records and received the support of high-profile surrogates including billionaire investor Mark Cuban and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
Meanwhile, Biden also called Trump and congratulated him on his victory, and invited him to meet at the White House. Biden plans to publicly address the election results on Thursday.
Notably, Harris is expected to oversee Congress’ ceremonial certification of the election as the current sitting vice president.
Inauguration Day is Jan. 20, 2025.