Kamala Harris concedes the 2024 election to Donald Trump, pledging a peaceful transition while emphasising continued commitment to her campaign’s ideals.
The Democratic Party’s Vice Presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, has formally conceded the 2024 US Presidential election to former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, who secured a return to the White House with a decisive 279 electoral votes to Harris’s 223.
Harris’s concession marks a stark contrast to the 2020 election, where Trump, after losing to Joe Biden, famously refused to concede, alleging widespread voter fraud.
Also read: Donald Trump declares victory in US election amid unfinished vote count
Harris’s campaign confirmed she reached out to President-elect Trump by phone to concede and congratulate him on his victory.
According to a senior adviser quoted by Sky News, Harris stressed “the importance of a peaceful transfer of power” and reaffirmed the value of unifying leadership in serving “all Americans.”
In a heartfelt concession speech at Howard University, Harris thanked her supporters, many of whom gathered at her alma mater, hoping for a victory celebration.
Instead, the Vice President acknowledged the election outcome, saying, “We must accept the result.” She assured her supporters that her commitment to the ideals driving her campaign remains unwavering
. “While I concede this election,” Harris stated, “I do not concede the fight that fuelled this campaign.”
Encouraging supporters to remain resilient, Harris expressed pride in the campaign’s mission and conduct.
“I am so proud of the race we ran and the way we ran it,” she said, addressing the crowd’s mixed emotions with reassuring words. “It’s going to be okay.
Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn’t mean we won’t win. Don’t ever give up. Do not despair.”
Witnesses reported seeing a glimmer of emotion in Harris’s eyes, especially when supporters began chanting “We love you.” She expressed gratitude for the support of President Joe Biden, who had been a key advocate throughout her campaign, and her running mate, Tim Walz, who attended the event alongside former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
President Joe Biden later contacted former President Trump, congratulating him and inviting him to the White House to facilitate a smooth transition.
A White House statement confirmed Biden’s call, emphasising the need to “bring the country together” following a heated campaign season. Biden also congratulated Harris for her “historic campaign” and acknowledged the spirit of her concession as a testament to democratic values.
Former President Barack Obama also shared his support for Harris, releasing a statement that, while expressing disappointment at the outcome, underlined the importance of accepting results in a democracy.
“This is obviously not the outcome we had hoped for,” Obama stated, “but living in a democracy is about recognising that our point of view won’t always win out and being willing to accept the peaceful transfer of power.”
Kamala Harris’s concession sets a significant example of peaceful transition, reinforcing her commitment to democratic ideals and her continued advocacy for the values she championed throughout her campaign.
