WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democrat Kamala Harris urged unity in a concession speech at Howard University following her defeat to Republican Donald Trump. The election results prompted foreign leaders and President Joe Biden to congratulate Trump and left Democrats downtrodden after the former president scored victories in swing states.
Trump’s victory was felt down ballot, with the GOP reclaiming control of the Senate by flipping seats in Montana, West Virginia and Ohio. House Republicans hold the upper hand to retain control though the lower chamber’s Democratic leaders insist the potential for their majority is still in play.
Harris may have been ending her campaign against Trump, but her concession outlined the contours of future fights against the president-elect.
“We will continue to wage this fight in the voting booth, in the courts and in the public square,” Harris said, a nod to the work Democrats are poised to do in the next four years.
Harris specifically called out the young people she sought to organize, acknowledging the loss may hurt but that the work is not over.
“Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn’t mean we won’t win. The important thing is don’t ever give up,” she said. “Don’t ever stop trying to make the world a better place.”
Harris attempted to focus on the future work Democrats need to do in her concession speech.
“While I concede this election,” she said, “I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign.”
“I will never give up a fight for a future where Americans can pursue their dreams ambitions and aspirations,” she said. America, she added, “will never give up the fight for our democracy.”
House Speaker emerita Nancy Pelosi, White House adviser Tom Perez and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser were among the crowd at Howard.
