Kamala Harris concession/ Trump wins 2024/ Biden congratulates Trump/ election results 2024/ Trump victory call/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to call President-elect Donald Trump to concede the 2024 race, with a public address scheduled at Howard University. President Biden will also congratulate Trump, extending an invitation to the White House and offering to attend his inauguration. Trump won key battleground states, securing 276 electoral votes, while Harris faced challenges rallying support amid gender and partisan divides.
Harris to Concede as Trump Wins Presidency: Quick Look
- Concession Call Expected: Harris plans to call Trump and concede Wednesday, with a public speech at 4 p.m. ET.
- Biden’s Congratulatory Actions: Biden to congratulate Trump and offer an invitation to the White House.
- Trump’s Early Victory Declaration: Trump addressed supporters at 2:30 a.m. after a projected win in key states.
- Harris’s Campaign Challenges: Faced a gender gap and struggled to distance herself from Biden.
- Trump’s Campaign Message: Promoted economic strength and national security, despite legal controversies.
Harris Is Expected to Call Trump to Concede the 2024 Presidential Race
Deep Look
Vice President Kamala Harris is set to concede the 2024 presidential race to President-elect Donald Trump, with plans to speak publicly from Howard University, her alma mater, at 4 p.m. ET. Harris’s concession will follow a call to Trump, marking the end of a tightly contested election that saw Trump secure key battleground states and reach the necessary electoral vote count to reclaim the White House.
President Joe Biden, who endorsed Harris following his withdrawal from the race earlier this year, will also reach out to congratulate Trump. In a gesture aimed at reinforcing democratic norms, Biden plans to invite Trump to the White House and attend the upcoming inauguration—actions that Trump notably did not take following his loss in 2020.
Trump’s Election Night Victory and Key State Wins
The race was called early Wednesday morning, Trump’s win just after 5:30 a.m. ET. With 276 electoral votes, Trump narrowly surpassed the threshold needed, leaving Harris with 223 electoral votes. Trump had already declared victory at 2:30 a.m. from his election night event in Florida.
While some states, including Nevada, Michigan, and Arizona, remained too close to call on Wednesday morning, Trump secured critical wins in Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. Both candidates had campaigned extensively in these swing states, and Trump’s victories there ultimately secured his path to the White House.
Harris’s Late-Stage Campaign and Challenges
Harris launched her campaign in July after Biden’s exit from the race amid concerns about his age and general electability following a difficult debate against Trump in June. Although Biden, at 81, had originally planned to run, growing concerns from within the Democratic Party led him to step aside, endorsing Harris as the party’s nominee.
With only three months to campaign, Harris faced an uphill battle, especially as Trump’s campaign had been gaining momentum since the 2022 midterms. Polls in recent weeks reflected a deadlocked race, with a notable gender gap showing that Trump led among male voters. NBC’s exit polls revealed that 54% of male voters cast their ballots for Trump, compared to 44% for Harris, with white male voters largely favoring the former president.
Harris’s Platform and Campaign Themes
Throughout her campaign, Harris attempted to position herself as a candidate for change, although distancing herself from the Biden administration proved challenging. Her policy proposals included an “opportunity economy” to bolster the middle class, a tax increase on the wealthy, and pledges to codify Roe v. Wade protections at the federal level. She also outlined plans to make housing more affordable and to assist families with home healthcare costs.
Harris was critical of Trump, describing him as “increasingly unstable” and a “fascist,” warning voters that his return could threaten democracy. However, these warnings faced a mixed reception, as Harris struggled to break from the shadow of Biden’s administration and distinguish her vision from the party’s recent record.
Trump’s Winning Message and Continued Controversies
Trump, now 78, presented himself as the candidate with the strength to bolster the U.S. economy and handle international conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. His message of economic revival and America-first policies resonated with voters, who looked past his legal controversies, including his conviction on 34 felony counts related to a New York hush money case and his involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 election, which culminated in the January 6 Capitol attack.
Despite these legal issues, Trump’s campaign was focused on projecting confidence in his ability to secure economic stability and national security. His supporters viewed him as a strong leader who could restore order and advance U.S. interests both domestically and abroad.
Concession and Transition Process
With Harris’s concession imminent, the Biden administration is set to facilitate a smooth transition, highlighting democratic norms by extending a White House invitation to Trump. Biden’s actions reflect an intention to mend political divides and promote a stable transition of power, contrasting with Trump’s refusal to concede in 2020. As Biden prepares to congratulate his former opponent, Trump will soon begin the formal process of establishing his administration for a second term, with the inauguration scheduled for January 20, 2025.
Harris’s speech at Howard University will mark the end of a historic campaign in which she sought to become the first woman of color elected to the presidency. As she reflects on her campaign and concedes the race, her focus will likely remain on the key issues she championed throughout her run and on reinforcing the importance of democratic principles in the face of political challenges.
