WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris finally conceded her blowout election loss to former President Donald Trump Wednesday — consoling supporters and saying she would “never give up the fight” despite accepting the outcome.
“To the young people who are watching, it is OK to feel sad and disappointed, but please know it’s going to be OK,” Harris, 60, said in late afternoon remarks on the campus of Howard University, her alma mater — hours after calling Trump, 78, to offer congratulations.
“On the campaign, I would often say, ‘When we fight, we win.’ 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,” the veep went on.
“Don’t ever stop trying to make the world a better place. You have power and don’t you ever listen when anyone tells you something is impossible because it has never been done before.”
Harris, who would have been the first female president and first woman of color to be commander in chief, lost or was trailing Trump in all seven vital swing states Wednesday evening and was on track to be the first Democratic nominee lose the popular vote in 20 years — with her loss and congressional defeats raising doubt about who will lead the party for the next four years.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who set in motion Harris’ 107-day failed candidacy by helping force President Biden to relinquish the Democratic nomination in July, was among those who attended Harris’ 11-minute concession speech.
The defeated Harris recycled many well-worn stump lines as Biden, 81, remained out of public view for the second day in a row.
“I will never give up the fight for a future where Americans can pursue their dreams, ambitions and aspirations, where the women of America have the freedom to make decisions about their own body and not have their government telling them what to do,” the vice president said.
“We will never give up the fight to protect our schools and our streets from gun violence,” she declared.
“Do not despair. This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves.”
The crowd booed as Harris told them that “earlier today, I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory,” but then cheered when she added: “I also told him that we will help him and his team with their transition, and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power.”
“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 or tyranny. And anyone who seeks the public trust must honor it,” she said, working in an implicit dig at Trump’s conduct after losing the 2020 election to Biden.
“At the same time, in our nation, we owe loyalty, not to a president or a party, but to the Constitution of the United States, and and loyalty to our conscience and to our God, my allegiance to all three is why I am here to say, while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign,” she said.
“And we will continue to wage this fight in the voting booth, in the courts and in the public square, and we will also wage it in quieter ways: In how we live our lives, by treating one another with kindness and respect, by looking in the face of a stranger and seeing a neighbor, by always using our strength to lift people up to fight for the dignity that all people deserve.”
Hours earlier, Harris had declined to address thousands of shocked supporters who had gathered for an Election Night watch party at the same venue after it became clear that Trump was on course to become the 47th president.
“I’ll close with this,” Harris said.
“There’s an adage a historian once called a law of history, true of every society across the ages. The adage is: Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.”
“I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time, but for the benefit of us all, I hope that is not the case. But here’s the thing, America, if it is, let us fill the sky with the light of a brilliant, brilliant, billion of stars — the light of optimism, of faith, of truth and service,” she concluded.
Earlier Wednesday, Trump’s campaign released a statement praising Harris after she called to concede.
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,” spokesman Steven Cheung said.
Trump’s victory — coupled with Republicans retaking the Senate and seeming poised to hold the House — puts in motion a resumption of his populist agenda, including tougher policies on illegal immigration and trade disputes, plus plans to cut taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security benefits.
The billionaire developer-turned-politician has vowed to finish off high inflation, allowing for lower interest rates, while pulling back on foreign-focused spending with his “America first” mantra — including by rapidly negotiating an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.
A victorious Trump addressed a rapturous celebration in West Palm Beach, Fla., in the wee hours of Wednesday after Fox News became the first major outlet to project his victory.
“There’s never been anything like this in this country, and maybe beyond,” the Republican nominee declared.
“We’re going to help our country heal,” Trump added, “and it needs help very badly. We’re going to fix our borders … fix everything about our country.”