Following her defeat in the presidential race to Donald Trump, former Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a heartfelt concession speech, urging her supporters to respect the election results and reaffirming her commitment to a peaceful transition of power. Addressing a crowd at her alma mater, Howard University, the 60-year-old Harris spoke with resolve, saying that the “light of America’s promise will always burn bright”. Despite her loss, Harris expressed determination to keep fighting for the future she believes in.
In a dramatic election outcome, Republican Party leader Donald Trump made an astonishing comeback, securing 295 electoral votes to Harris’ 226, in a race that deeply divided the nation, reports AP. The winning candidate needed 270 electoral votes to clinch the presidency.
Top quotes from Kamala Harris’ speech:
-“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 is 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.”
-“I know folks are feeling and experiencing a range of emotions right now. I get it. But we must accept the results of this election.”
-“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fuelled this campaign.”
-“The fight for freedom, opportunity, for fairness and dignity of all people will continue.”
-“The fight for our freedom will take hard work, but as I always say we like hard work; the fight for our country is always worth it.”
-“To the young people who are watching, it is okay to feel sad and disappointed. But please know it’s going to be okay.”
-“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. 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.”
-“To everyone who is watching, 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.”