Vice President Kamala Harris Concedes to Donald Trump in Phone Call

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kamala Harris officially conceded the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump on Wednesday, calling the President-elect to congratulate her on his victory.

According to a senior adviser to the vice president, Harris emphasised the need for a peaceful transfer of power during the conversation. The aide, who requested anonymity to discuss a private matter, confirmed the details of the call.

Harris, who had once been seen as a potential saviour for the Democratic Party after Joe Biden’s re-election campaign faltered, faced a significant setback in the 2024 election. She trailed Trump in every critical battleground state despite describing him as a threat to the country’s foundational institutions.

In a bitter twist, Trump appeared poised to win the popular vote for the first time in his three campaigns for the White House. This came even after two impeachments, felony convictions, and his attempt to overturn the previous election results.

Vice President Kamala Harris Credit: Photo by Adam Schultz / Biden for President

The vice president planned to deliver a formal concession speech at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Howard University in Washington, her alma mater. The announcement followed a disappointing election night for her supporters, who had gathered at the university only to be sent home after midnight as Trump pulled ahead in critical battleground states.

As sitting vice president, Harris is also expected to oversee the ceremonial certification of the election results in Congress—a role previously held by former Vice President Mike Pence. This role took on added significance after the violent January 6th Capitol insurrection, which occurred when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol as Pence oversaw the certification of the 2020 results.

While critics argued that the events of January 6 crystallised the dangers Trump posed to American democracy, his actions did not dissuade voters from re-electing him. Despite his controversial tenure and legal battles, his popularity in the 2024 race has underscored his enduring political appeal.

Harris’s candidacy marked a dramatic turn of events in the Democratic race after Biden, who had struggled to convince voters of his ability to serve a second term at 86, stumbled badly in a June debate with Trump. Biden dropped out of the race on July 21 and endorsed Harris, which helped unify the Democratic Party around her candidacy. The endorsement marked a significant shift, with Harris rapidly becoming the face of the party’s hopes in the election.

Kamala Harris followed a similar strategy to the Trump campaign in Michigan, courting working-class voters. Getty Images

The turn of fate was remarkable for Harris, who had previously experienced her presidential campaign collapse in 2020, highlighting the challenges she faced in her political journey. Although she had once been hailed as a rising star, dubbed “the female Barack Obama,” her presidential aspirations stalled. After joining Biden’s ticket as vice president, Harris struggled to assert herself in the role despite making history as the first woman, Black person, and person of South Asian descent to serve as vice president.

In recent years, Harris had found a renewed sense of purpose, particularly after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, with Harris emerging as a critical advocate for abortion rights. Additionally, she worked to strengthen her political network, building relationships with local politicians, business leaders, and cultural figures that could aid her in the future.

However, Harris faced steep odds as she entered the 2024 presidential race following Biden’s sudden exit. With only 107 days until Election Day, she inherited Biden’s political operation but faced a restive electorate eager for change. While Harris pitched a vision of “a new way forward,” she struggled to distinguish herself from Biden, who remained unpopular among many voters. With little time to introduce herself to voters who had never cast a ballot for her in a presidential primary, her campaign faced significant hurdles.

Now, as Democrats face the prospect of a second Trump presidency, the future of Harris’s political career remains uncertain. The party must reckon with a challenging political landscape, and it remains to be seen what role Harris will play in the years ahead.