Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged her loss in the 2024 US presidential election on Wednesday at Howard University, addressing her supporters.
She congratulated President-elect Donald Trump, emphasized her dedication to a smooth transition of power, and highlighted the significance of democracy’s fundamental values.
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“It’s a core tenet of democracy that we accept the results of an election when we lose,” Harris said, emphasizing the importance of conceding with dignity.
Contrasting her response with Trump’s 2020 reaction, she reaffirmed her commitment to the Constitution and vowed to keep advocating for the causes her campaign stood for.
Harris urged her supporters to take action, stating, “This is not the time to give up, but to get to work.” She called for continued efforts to “fight for freedom and justice,” pledging that her battle would persist “in the voting booth, courts, and public arena.”
Harris made history as the first Black and South Asian woman to secure a presidential nomination, focusing on economic stability and reproductive rights, especially following the 2022 abortion rights rollback. Despite her efforts, voter dissatisfaction with inflation and immigration issues led swing states to lean towards Trump, who campaigned to restore a “golden age” for America.
In her closing remarks, Harris urged young voters to keep fighting, saying, “Never give up… you have the power to do extraordinary things,” and thanked her family, including her husband Doug Emhoff, for their unwavering support.
On January 6, Harris will oversee the official certification of Trump’s victory as Senate President. Trump’s win in Michigan, where he gained 15 electoral votes, was influenced by strong backing from Arab and Muslim communities, many of whom were disillusioned with the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of the Israel-Gaza conflict. In Dearborn, Michigan, home to the largest Arab American population in the U.S., Trump garnered 46.8% of the vote, a notable shift from Biden’s win in 2020.
