2024 U.S. Election: Kamala Harris Concedes—’We concede the election, not the fight’

Vice President Kamala Harris formally conceded her loss to President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday. In an emotional speech at her alma mater, Howard University, Harris vowed to continue her fight for democracy, despite not winning the Oval Office.

“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign,” she declared. Harris’s speech, filled with defiance and hope, aimed to inspire her supporters. “The light of America’s promise will always burn bright, as long as we keep fighting,” she added.

Harris faced unique challenges in her short, 107-day campaign after President Biden dropped out, and she quickly rose to the top of the Democratic ticket. Her campaign struggled, however, with limited voter support, partly due to her incumbency’s challenges and difficulty in distancing from Biden’s administration.

As Trump prepares for another term, Harris emphasized the importance of accepting election results to uphold democracy, saying, “When we lose an election, we accept the results.”

Many supporters attended her concession speech, with some visibly emotional. Harris used her platform to encourage young women and minorities to persist, no matter the odds. “Don’t let anyone tell you something is impossible because it hasn’t been done before,” she urged, encouraging the next generation to keep fighting.

Addressing her supporters, Harris also expressed appreciation for her family, running mate Tim Walz, and President Biden, who watched her speech from the White House.

Although the crowd was smaller than on election night, her message resonated. Supporters like Kadidra Hurst appreciated Harris’s encouragement, saying, “We keep our foot on the gas.”

The night before, crowds at Howard had gathered to watch the results with high hopes, but battleground losses left them disappointed. Harris’s campaign theme song, “Freedom” by Beyoncé, played as her supporters left, determined to keep advocating for change in a divided America.

For Harris’s young supporters, her campaign represented a fight for equality and possibility. “The world is scared of a woman leading, let alone a Black woman,” said Howard senior Jala Dowd.