Harris Concedes Presidential Race, Vows To Continue ‘The Fight That Fueled’ Campaign | EUROtoday

Vice President Kamala Harris gave a 12-minute concession speech late Wednesday afternoon at her alma mater, Howard University, the place she urged her supporters not to surrender hope after shedding the presidency in a rout to Donald Trump.

“A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results. That principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny, and anyone who seeks the public trust must honor it,” Harris stated, sporting a darkish purple swimsuit and sounding choked up on the high of her remarks.

“At the same time, in our nation, we owe loyalty not to a president or a party, but to the Constitution of the United States. And loyalty to our conscience and to our God,” she continued. “My allegiance to all three is why I am here to say, while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign.”

The vice chairman, on the campus of one of many nation’s high HBCUs, implored the younger voters who backed her to not lose hope. “It’s OK to feel sad and disappointed, but please know it’s going to be OK,” she stated. “On the campaign, I would often say, ‘When we fight, we win.’ But here’s the thing: Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn’t mean we won’t win.”

The vice chairman’s supporters and Howard college students reconvened on the quad on the college, which was purported to be the positioning of her victory speech following a 107-day marketing campaign. The temper was somber and the group quiet. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the vice presidential nominee, gave the impression to be holding again tears when TV cameras panned to him taking a seat simply earlier than the speech. Harris’ household additionally regarded emotional taking within the scene.

On Tuesday night time, the ambiance on the Harris marketing campaign watch get together went from jubilant to downbeat because the outcomes started rolling in and confirmed Harris lagging in swing state after swing state.

“It was still surprising to me — and I’ll be very honest — that so many people would support Donald Trump after seeing who he is, what he talks about, the rights he wants to take away. That’s still a surprise to me,” stated Sonya Locket, a member of Harris’ graduating class, as the result was crystallizing Tuesday. “It is and it isn’t, actually.”

Lisa Hargrove, a 48-year-old chief of employees for a civil rights group, stated it was disheartening what the election revealed in regards to the nation.

“It’s 2024. It’s a little bit unnerving how far apart the two sides are,” she stated. “It’s so extreme, you know? I feel like most of the people that I know and associate with are somewhere in the middle, on one side or the other, and just the fact that we’re here right now, it’s just a lot to process.”

Trump achieved a close to sweep of the Electoral College, with the previous president projected to win all seven swing states in addition to the nationwide fashionable vote, in a shocking rejection of Democrats amid heightened issues in regards to the financial system and immigration. Exit polling revealed that Trump notched positive factors with nearly each demographic group, most notably Latinos and younger voters.

Harris known as Trump earlier Wednesday to concede. According to Trump’s marketing campaign, Harris “congratulated him on his historic victory,” whereas Trump lauded the vice chairman’s “strength, professionalism and tenacity throughout the campaign,” Trump marketing campaign communications director Steven Cheung stated in an announcement.

Not solely did Trump not concede the 2020 election or commit publicly to an orderly switch of energy, he additionally didn’t present as much as Joe Biden’s inauguration after fomenting the Jan. 6 riot on the U.S. Capitol.

“There are no Ls,” stated Jahmere Hargraves, a senior at Howard, on his means out of Harris’ election night time rally. “We turn all our Ls into lessons and our lessons into blessings.”