Harris will not speak from Howard University on election night as planned
Despite the bleak outlook for Democrats at that moment of the night, Richmond told those gathered at Howard there were "still votes to be counted."
"We still have states that have not been called yet," Richmond added. "We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken."
Before Richmond spoke and informed the crowd Harris would not be speaking as originally planned, videos began circulating online showing those gathered at Howard vacating the premises as the race's momentum appeared to swing in favor of Republicans.
'BAIT AND SWITCH' LEGISLATION
Richmond's indication that Harris would be calling it a night early came roughly an hour before the race was called for President-elect Donald Trump. Republicans also took back control of the Senate early in the night Tuesday, and it still remains possible the GOP wins a supermajority with enough victories in the House of Representatives.