Kamala Harris concedes in speech at Howard University, says election loss ‘not what we fought for’

(CN) — Vice President Kamala Harris addressed a crowd of supporters Wednesday afternoon at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she conceded the 2024 presidential election following her stunning loss to former president Donald Trump.

“The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for,” Harris said. “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.”

Trump was declared the winner early Wednesday morning after races in five key battleground states — Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin — were called for the Republican, putting him above the 270 electoral vote-threshold required to win the White House.

Swing states Nevada and Arizona have yet to be called, but Trump currently leads in both.

During her speech, Harris pinpointed the young voters in the crowd, telling them that “it’s okay to be sad and disappointed” with the results.

“You have power,” she reminded them.

Harris clarified that, while she is conceding the election, she won’t let up fighting for reproductive rights, democracy and equal justice.

“On the campaign, I would often say, ‘When we fight, we win,’” Harris said. “But here’s the thing. Sometimes, the fight takes a while. That doesn’t mean we won’t win. The important thing is, don’t ever give up. Don’t ever stop trying to make the world a better place.”

Trump Campaign Communications Director Steven Cheung said in a statement that Harris called Trump on Wednesday to concede.

“President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone earlier today where she congratulated him on his historic victory,” Cheung said. “President Trump acknowledged Vice President Harris on her strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country.”

Harris acknowledged the conversation in her concession speech. She said that she promised to help his team with their transition and “engage in a peaceful transfer of power,” a point of emphasis throughout the race considering Trump staged a failed insurrection following his 2020 election loss in a bid to cling to power.

President Joe Biden, who defeated Trump in 2020, also called Trump to congratulate him on his victory Wednesday. According to a statement from the White House, Biden “expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together."

Harris, a Democrat, looked to become the first female president in American history. In a historic turn of events, she replaced Biden as the party’s nominee after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July.

At 78, Trump is the oldest person to win the U.S. presidency. He’s just the second to win nonconsecutive terms.

Trump is also the first convicted felon to win the nation’s highest office. In June, a Manhattan jury found him guilty of falsifying business records to cover up a hush-money scheme related to his first presidential run in 2016.

The election was billed by pollsters to be a coin flip, with many speculating that its results might not be known until later this week due to the tightness of the race.

But no such razor-thin margin was had. Trump outperformed polls nationwide to clinch the election with relative ease by Wednesday morning. For the first time in his three presidential bids, Trump is expected to win the popular vote, too.

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