Vice President Kamala Harris faced the reality of her presidential election defeat on Wednesday, addressing a crowd of supporters who were visibly emotional during her speech. She sought to offer them solace while acknowledging their shared disappointment.
“The results of this election are not what we had hoped for, not what we fought tirelessly for, and not what we cast our votes for. However, let me be clear… The promise of America will continue to shine bright,” she spoke at her alma mater, Howard University in Washington, DC.
Harris recognized that Democrats are experiencing a whirlwind of feelings following their loss to former President Donald Trump and aimed to uplift their spirits.
Yet, she emphasized the importance of accepting the election outcomes to uphold democracy. Unlike Trump, who refused to concede in 2020 after losing to Joe Biden and Harris, Harris openly admitted her defeat on Wednesday.
“Earlier today, I called President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his win. I promised him our support during the transition and our commitment to ensuring a smooth transfer of power,” she stated, earning applause from the audience.
Her concession wraps up a tumultuous election campaign. Just 15 weeks before Election Day, she unexpectedly became the leading candidate for the Democrats. Despite facing challenges, including narrowly escaping an assassination attempt, she navigated a rocky political landscape characterized by razor-thin margins that pushed the nation to the brink.
Harris’s defeat signifies a shift within the Democratic coalition, as Trump and the Republican Party made inroads with various voter demographics, including Latinos. This occurred despite Trump’s promotion of a divisive and chaotic MAGA agenda that’s gained prominence since he entered politics in 2016.
She faced a challenging environment where voters expressed deep economic anxieties and sought transformation, while the Trump movement characterized her as unstable and disloyal through a barrage of unfounded claims and racist attacks. Trump, too, capitalized on tensions by alluding to violence and threatening rhetoric against alleged opponents.
At 60, Harris delivered an invigorating message filled with enthusiasm and determination, urging her listeners to “lift one another up” while reflecting on her tenure as a formidable prosecutor, contrasting her tone against Trump’s, who at 78, conveyed stern warnings against perceived authoritarianism.
Amidst rising discontent with the country’s trajectory and an economy still grappling with the aftermath of the pandemic and inflation, voters decisively backed Trump.
As a former California senator and attorney general who broke barriers as the first female vice president, Harris energized the Democratic party when she entered the presidential race. Following a period of disappointment as Biden struggled, the Democratic base was re-energized when Harris emerged as a viable candidate, leading to a surge in donations and shattered fundraising records.
Harris pursued an image of positivity while attempting to distance herself from the unpopularity of the current administration and its policies that appeared disconnected from the electorate’s needs.
She reiterated her commitment to safeguarding women’s right to abortion access and articulated policies aimed at creating a “care economy” to assist first-time homebuyers, parents, and older citizens. Addressing one of the Biden administration’s critical weaknesses, she pledged to adopt a firm stance on illegal immigration while supporting better resources for asylum seekers and promising to reform the cumbersome citizenship process.
Central to her campaign was the defense of reproductive rights. Harris consistently harnessed the public’s outrage over Trump’s efforts to dismantle Roe v. Wade, denouncing harsh state laws as “Trump anti-abortion laws.” During a notable moment in her singular debate with Trump, she connected emotionally with audiences by highlighting a woman denied medical treatment during a miscarriage, stating, “I was bleeding in the garage.”
Interestingly, Harris didn’t emphasize the historical significance of her candidacy in the same way Hillary Clinton did during her campaign against Trump in 2016. However, she was acutely aware of her role. In an interview with NBC News on October 22, she confidently asserted that the nation was “absolutely ready” for a female president and expressed her commitment to moving the country past a polarizing phase.
“I see it across every area of our society,” she remarked. “This election is significant, not just for turning a new leaf but for closing a chapter on divisive politics in America.”
Yet, many within the MAGA movement perceived her as a formidable threat, and Harris struggled to navigate the entrenched divisions that increasingly characterize American elections.
Only a week ahead of the election, she spoke to a crowd of about 45,000 supporters at the Ellipse in Washington, recalling the White House backdrop where Trump had previously spoken before the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. Her speech resonated against the fabric of American political strife.
“Fellow Americans, we have endured so much divisiveness, confusion, and mistrust for too long, and we often overlook a fundamental truth: It doesn’t have to be this way. This situation is not inevitable,” Harris proclaimed on that brisk fall evening. “It’s time to stop casting blame and start embracing one another. We need to turn away from fear and division. The moment has arrived for a new generation of leadership in America, and I am ready to assume that role as your next President.”
Rapid Campaign Developments
Harris arrived at this juncture through a series of extraordinary developments.
A critical moment for the Democratic Party was Biden’s performance during the June 27 debate with Trump, where he challenged Trump to engage in early debates. The hope was that Biden could effectively address concerns regarding his cognitive health.
However, the outcome was disastrous. Biden struggled to articulate his thoughts clearly, at times appearing confused and even mistakenly declaring, “Democrats have finally defeated Medicare.”
While the Democratic Party faced significant challenges, the Republican base found renewed energy following an incident in which Trump was shot and injured during an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. Despite the chaos, Trump, surrounded by Secret Service agents and visibly injured, defiantly raised his fist and shouted, “Fight! Fight! Fight!” This moment quickly became a powerful and memorable image.
As support surged among Republicans, anxiety grew among Democrats, leading to concerns that their chances in the upcoming election were slipping away.
The Biden campaign was thrown into disarray, sparking panic within party ranks. Congressional leaders began calling for Biden to step aside, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was reported to be quietly lobbying for his exit. Questions about the campaign’s viability arose as fundraising efforts stalled, hampering their ability to ramp up operations as the election date approached.
Ultimately, on July 21, President Biden announced his decision to withdraw from the race, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.
In a statement following Harris’ concession speech, Biden reaffirmed his support for her, calling her selection as his running mate the “best decision” he ever made. “What America witnessed today was the Kamala Harris I know and hold in high regard,” Biden declared.
Biden expressed confidence in Harris, stating that she “will continue to exemplify what America can achieve and be a role model for future generations.”
Just weeks after Biden’s withdrawal, a revamped Democratic National Convention took place in Chicago, where party members celebrated the potential of Black women in leading the charge against Trump. Harris’ entry into the race marked a remarkable return for her since having suspended her previous presidential campaign ahead of the 2019 Iowa caucuses.
Harris’ involvement shifted the race’s dynamics significantly, broadening the Democratic field well beyond traditional battleground states, boosting excitement, and attracting new volunteers and voter registrations. This resurgence was supported by an impressive fundraising effort, amassing over $1.4 billion.
The previously lackluster Biden campaign transformed, with Harris leading the charge by organizing large rally events targets of at least 10,000 attendees in pivotal states. She also attracted star power, with numerous celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, Bruce Springsteen, and John Legend, offering their support in various ways.
Meanwhile, Trump struggled to adapt to the new dynamic presented by Harris. He faced difficulties in his campaign, making several missteps that left him visibly rattled. His criticisms of Harris included remarks about her race and gender, and his performance in the sole debate with her was notably lackluster, culminating in bizarre claims about Haitian immigrants.
During the debate, Harris delivered a sharp rebuttal to Trump’s assertion that he had won the 2020 election, stating, “Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people. It’s clear he’s having a tough time accepting that.”
Nevertheless, Trump maintained his connection with working-class voters across various racial and ethnic groups, continuing to garner support, particularly among men.
