Donald Trump’s win and Kamala Harris’s defeat left everyone with mixed feelings.
Kamala entered the race only 107 days ago, competing against a former president who had been campaigning for almost eight years. That’s no small challenge.
She went from being an attorney General to a Senator and then rose to the highest office.
Kamala’s candidacy gave the United States the opportunity to overcome its historical misogyny, to welcome progress, and to affirm the dreams of countless women and people of color who see their own stories in hers.
However, Trump eventually won garnering a total of 276 electoral votes defeating Kamala who polled 219 votes.
Kamala concedes to Donald Trump
Many of Kamala’s supporters stood outside on the university grounds in tears as the election unfolded, on Tuesday night.
However, the anticipated late-night speech never happened; her campaign director came out to inform them that Harris would wait for more results to come in.
On Wednesday, Kamala officially conceded the election to Donald Trump, encouraging Americans who were heartbroken by the outcome to “not despair,” but to stay involved and remain vigilant in the ongoing struggle to safeguard American democracy.
The outcome of the election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for,” she said in a concession speech to a crowd of students and supporters at Howard University in Washington, DC, her alma mater.
“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign.
“Hear me when I say: the light of America’s promise will always burn bright, as long as we never give up.”
Kamala also addressed the concerns her supporters shared that Trump represented a significant threat to the future of American democracy and the planet.
She emphasized that this was not the time to “throw up our hands.”
“This is a time to organize, to mobilize, and to stay engaged for the sake of freedom and justice and the future that we all know we can build together,” she stated.
The vice president’s public concession marked the conclusion of a turbulent election that lasted just over 100 days, the shortest in modern history.
Kamala Congratulates Trump
Harris revealed that she had called Trump earlier in the day to congratulate him on his victory and promised to “engage in a peaceful transfer of power”.
As vice president, she will take on the ceremonial role of president of the Senate during the certification of Trump’s victory in January.
“In our nation, we owe loyalty not to a president or a party, but to the constitution of the United States,” Harris said, drawing loud applause when she committed to help Trump’s team transition to the White House.
In her concluding remarks, Harris, described herself as a “joyful warrior,” referencing what she termed “a law of history,” quoting the saying: “Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.”
“I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time – and for the benefit of us all, I hope that is not the case,” she said.
“But America, if it is, let us fill the sky with the light of a brilliant, billion stars. The light of optimism, of faith, of truth and service.”
Olekanma Favour is a resourceful, self-motivated, and result-driven writer with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and insightful content. She loves tackling complex topics and weaving engaging stories.
When she’s not writing, Olekanma enjoys immersing herself in a good book, exploring new cuisines, and discovering new cultures.