On Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged her defeat in the election to President-elect Donald Trump. Speaking from her alma mater, she encouraged her supporters not to lose hope and to keep “the fight that fueled this campaign” alive.
Harris spoke to her supporters, from Howard University in Washington, D.C., following her defeat by Trump in the presidential election.
“Let me say my heart is full today. 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.”
The vice president gave special thanks to her family, President Biden, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and her campaign team. According to the White House, Joe Biden observed her speech from the West Wing.
“I am so proud of the race we ran and the way we ran it. Over the 107 days of this campaign, we have been intentional about building community and building coalitions, bringing people together from every walk of life and background, united by love of country with enthusiasm and joy in our fight for America’s future,” Harris said. And we did it with the knowledge that we all have so much more in common than what separates us.”
Harris stated that the election results need to be acknowledged and emphasized that she had communicated with Trump, expressing her dedication to ensuring a smooth transition of power.
“A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results,” she said. “That principle as much as any other distinguishes democracy from monarchy and tyranny, and anyone who seeks the public trust must honor it.”
Harris said the nation does not owe loyalty to a president or party, but to the Constitution, “our conscience and to our God.”
“My allegiance to all three is why I am here today — to say while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign,” she said.
The vice president committed to persist in her efforts to advocate for democracy, uphold the rule of law, and promote equal justice.
“Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn’t mean we won’t win,” she said, delivering an appeal directly to her young supporters.
Harris continued, “Do not despair. This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves. This is a time to organize, to mobilize and to stay engaged for the sake of freedom and justice and the future that we all know we can build together.”
The vice president’s speech came just hours after she called Trump to congratulate him on his win and urged him to be a president for “all Americans.”
