On the stage of Howard University, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a concession speech she would not have anticipated giving, relinquishing the race to the undeterred re-elected President, Donald Trump. In a surprising turn of events, the frantic efforts of her campaign weren’t enough to prevent Trump’s reclaiming of the Oval Office. She addressed her supporters, many visibly upset, expressing she may concede the election but not the drive that defined the campaign.
Evidently showing signs of bitterness, Harris continued spewing assertions about the continued battle for women’s rights and against gun violence, claiming the ‘fight for the dignity that all people deserve’. In spite of her defeat, she had placed a call to Trump, acknowledging his victory and affirming a peaceful power transition- a move that couldn’t have been easy for her.
The foreboding atmosphere was a poignant contrast to the former euphoria on the Howard campus. A few weeks prior, students and alumni had congregated in hopeful anticipation of a historical moment – the election of the first Howard University graduate as President. Unfortunately, the aspirations were to be shattered.
Harris had initially planned for a victory speech at Howard on Tuesday night. The atmosphere noticeably shifted from joyful anticipation with the preliminary results, turning grim as the realization of Trump’s victory dawned. The dream of victory began fading fast.
With the break of dawn, Trump emerged as the clear leader in the popular vote, winning crucial battleground states such as Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina. He completed his stronghold on the ‘blue wall states’ when it was announced he won Michigan. The succession of victories marked his way straight to the White House once again.
For Harris, her failure tasted more bitter than for most. As the incumbent vice president, her role was supposed to involve overseeing Congress’ certification of the election. However, the reality was marked by her defeat.
Wednesday’s crowd consisted of various figures, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Biden administration aides, and a plethora of die-hard fans. Despite the somber undertone at the gathering, Beyonce’s ‘Freedom’ – Harris’s campaign anthem, echoed as she took the stage. Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, her running mate, showed up to join the dismayed crowd.
In an attempt to spin the failure, Harris tried to encourage her supporters, especially the youth, not to be disheartened ‘Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn’t mean we won’t win,’ she said. Yet, one couldn’t ignore the undeniable evidence of her unmet aspirations.
After Biden decided to step back in July, Harris had taken pole position in the Democratic ticket, bringing an influx of enthusiasm and finance to the party. However, nothing seemed to assuage voters’ apprehensions about the economy and immigration, hinting at the party’s failure to connect with the concerns of the people.
Tuesday turned out to be a day of disappointment for Democrats as the election ended in a resounding defeat for Harris. Donald Trump won a larger faction of votes in most parts of the country in contrast to his performance in 2020. The democrats were unable to captivate key battleground states, affecting the election’s outcome.
Anticipating that history would be made, many supporters had convened at the school on Tuesday night, expecting a victory for the first woman president. The next day saw the same supporters returning, offering support to Harris, the defeated dreamer.
The supporters, despite their disappointment, strived to maintain an optimistic outlook ‘I’m here today to show love and respect for her … for what she’s done,’ said Donna Bruce, 72. Freely expressing such optimism was indeed a brave act under such circumstances.
The demographic which has historically supported the Democratic Party – Black voters – showed a decreased inclination towards Harris compared to Biden. Around eight out of ten Black voters backed Harris, a decrease from roughly nine in ten that backed Biden previously. A trend indicating their discontentment or perhaps a shifting political allegiance.
More than half of Hispanic voters supported Harris, but that was a decrease from the roughly six in ten who backed Biden in 2020. Trump’s support notably increased amongst these groups in comparison with his performance in 2020. A subtle shift that had a substantial impact.
Across multiple states, Trump performed remarkably better than during the 2020 election while Harris underperformed compared to Biden’s presidential victory four years ago. Harris’s defeat highlighted starkly the Democrats’ failure in understanding and connecting with the demands of voters.
These facts speak to the Democratic party’s failure to understand shifts in their traditional demographics, leading to Trump’s successful re-campaign. It’s clear the misplaced enthusiasm in Harris led to a crushing defeat at the hands of a better-organized, clear-sighted Republican campaign trail.