On Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris conceded the election to President-elect Donald Trump, saying that her heart is “full of resolve” while urging her supporters to continue “the fight that fueled this campaign.”
The vice president’s speech came just hours after she called Trump to congratulate him on his win and discussed the “importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans.” In her role as president of the Senate, Harris will preside over Congress’ counting of electoral votes during a joint session on Jan. 6 that will reaffirm Trump’s win.
Harris addressed a crowd of supporters from her alma mater, Howard University in Washington, D.C., thanking her family, President Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden, as well as her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz and their campaign staff. She began: “Let me say my heart is full today. My heart is full today, full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me, full of love for our country, and full of resolve. The outcome of this election was not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for, 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.”
The vice president added: “I am so proud of the race we ran and the way we ran it. Over the 107 days of this campaign, we have been intention about building community and building coalitions, bringing people together from every walk of life and background, united by love of country with enthusiasm and joy in our fight for America’s future. And we did it with the knowledge that we all have so much more in common than what separates us. A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results. That principle as much as any other distinguishes democracy from monarchy and tyranny, and anyone who seeks the public trust must honor it.”
Harris said the nation owes loyalty to the Constitution, “our conscience and to our God. My allegiance to all three is why I am here today — to say while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign … Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn’t mean we won’t win. Do not despair. This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves. 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.”
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said that during Harris’ call with Trump, the president-elect “acknowledged Vice President Harris on her strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country.”
The White House said in a statement that President Biden has spoken with Harris by phone and congratulated her on a “historic campaign,” and that the President also spoke with Trump and “expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together.”
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