“Although I lost this election, I do not concede defeat in the fight that drove this campaign,” Harris told supporters at Howard University in Washington, DC, on the afternoon of November 6. Howard University is a historically black university and is where Harris studied.
Democratic presidential candidate, US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks, admitting defeat in the 2024 US presidential election to President-elect Donald Trump, at Howard University in Washington DC on November 6.
Ms Harris pledged to continue to fight for women's rights and against gun violence and "fight for the dignity that all people deserve".
Vice President Harris said she called President-elect Trump, congratulated him on his victory and promised to participate in a peaceful transition of power.
Harris spoke to a crowd that included former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, White House aides to President Joe Biden and thousands of supporters. Her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, was also in attendance.
Harris encouraged her supporters, especially young people, not to give up even when they feel disappointed. “Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn’t mean we’re not going to win,” Harris stressed.
A supporter listens to US Vice President Kamala Harris's speech on conceding defeat in the 2024 US presidential election to President-elect Donald Trump, at Howard University in Washington DC on November 6.
Harris surged to the top of the Democratic field in July after Biden suspended his re-election bid, bringing new enthusiasm and cash to the Democratic campaign, but she has struggled to overcome voter concerns about the economy and immigration, according to Reuters.
She suffered a defeat on November 5 (US time), when Mr. Trump won more votes nationwide than he did in 2020 and the Democrats failed to win important "battleground" states that decided the election.
Thousands of people gathered at the university on the evening of November 5 to attend what they hoped would be a historic victory for the first woman to become US president. They returned on the afternoon of November 6 to show their support after Ms. Harris’s defeat. Many supporters were in tears as Ms. Harris spoke, according to Reuters.
“I’m here today to show my love and respect for her … for what she did,” said Donna Bruce, 72. Bruce said she had just seen a little girl wearing a T-shirt that read: “A black girl will save the world .” “I still believe that. Maybe not this black girl, but I believe that a black girl will save the world.”
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