Harris concedes presidential loss, urges supporters to 'keep fighting' on Democratic principles

Nov. 6 (UPI) - Vice President Kamala Harris told her supporters to continue fighting for their freedoms while enabling a peaceful transition of power for President-elect Donald Trump during a concession speech Wednesday afternoon.

"My heart is full today," Harris said."Full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me, full of love for our country and full of resolve."

Harris delivered her speech at about 4:20 p.m. EST from Howard University in Washington, D.C., and it came after her loss in the general election to President-elect Donald Trump .

"The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for," Harris told the receptive audience that included running mate Tim Walz and his family.

"The light of America's promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting," Harris said.

She thanked President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for their support, along with Walz, campaign staffers and election officials.

"I am so proud of the race we ran and the way we ran it," Harris said. "Over the 107 days of this campaign, we have been intentional about building community and building a coalition [by] bringing people together from every walk of life and background."

She told the audience she spoke with Trump earlier Wednesday and promised to help with a peaceful transition of power.

"We must accept the result of this election," Harris said. "In our nation, we owe loyalty not to a president or a party but to the Constitution of the United States, to our conscience and our god."

Despite losing the election, Harris said much work remains to be done and will take time.

"While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign," Harris said. "The fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness and the dignity of all people."

She said "many feel we are entering a dark time," but told her supporters to "fill the sky with the light of a brilliant, billion stars, the light of optimism, of faith, of truth and service."

Later, in a statement from the White House , Biden praised his vice president.

"What America saw today was the Kamala Harris I know and deeply admire," Biden said. "She's been a tremendous partner and public servant full of integrity, courage, and character. Under extraordinary circumstances, she stepped up and led a historic campaign that embodied what's possible when guided by a strong moral compass and a clear vision for a nation that is more free, more just, and full of more opportunities for all Americans."

He also said, as he as before, that selecting Harris as his running mate was the very first decision he made when he became the nominee for president in 2020.

"It was the best decision I made," he said. "Her story represents the best of America's story. And as she made clear today, I have no doubt that she'll continue writing that story."

The concession speech is not required of losing candidates but has become a traditional way to acknowledge the outcomes of presidential and other elections.

Trump did not deliver a concession speech in 2020 but did claim victory on election night, only to see his apparent lead vanish as mail-in ballots were counted and President Joe Biden eventually declared the winner.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered a concession speech after she lost to Trump during the 2016 election.

Harris originally planned to deliver a victory speech to supporters who gathered at Howard University on Tuesday evening but postponed her appearance when it became clear Trump would win the election.

The co-chair of the Harris campaign, Cedric Richmond, early Wednesday morning informed supporters gathered at an outdoor stage and rally for Harris at Howard University that she would not address them until the afternoon.

"You won't hear from the vice president tonight, but you will hear from her tomorrow because she will be back here tomorrow to address not only the HU family, not only to address her supporters, but to address the nation," Richmond told Harris' supporters at 12:45 a.m.

Howard University is among the nation's historically black colleges and universities and where Harris earned her undergraduate degree.