Following Vice President Kamala Harris’s election loss to Donald Trump, her campaign leadership addressed staffers in an all-staff call this week, urging them not to speak with reporters and addressing future job concerns.
According to sources who spoke with ABC News, Campaign Chair Jennifer O’Malley Dillon and Deputy Campaign Manager Quentin Fulks led the call, explaining the need for discretion and encouraging staffers to “stay in this fight.”
Fulks, who stressed the importance of ongoing support, told staffers they were still needed.
However, some team members reportedly felt a “gaslighty” undertone, reminiscent of a similar all-staff call held after President Joe Biden’s unexpected withdrawal from the race in July.
During that call, staffers were reportedly given just one minute’s notice before Biden’s decision became public.
ABC News has reached out to the Harris campaign for an official comment on the recent meeting, which included a message from O’Malley Dillon. She shared emotional words, acknowledging that although the campaign was “very close,” the outcome was tough to accept.
According to sources, O’Malley Dillon credited campaign efforts, noting that their field teams knocked on over 50 million doors in the lead-up to Election Day and bolstered several Senate races. Near the end of the call, she teared up while speaking to the team.
Harris herself addressed the campaign staff, candidly admitting that the result “sucks,” but also recognizing the positive aspects and accomplishments of the campaign.
“Sometimes the fight takes a while,” she told her staff, “The important thing is don’t ever give up.”
This echoed her public concession speech at Howard University, where she similarly encouraged supporters not to lose hope.
Campaign insiders also cited a recent appearance on The View as a pivotal moment, where Harris struggled to distinguish her platform from Biden’s. When asked what she might have done differently than Biden, she initially responded, “there is not a thing that comes to mind,” later mentioning her promise to include a Republican in her Cabinet.
Many felt this moment highlighted a lack of clarity that impacted the campaign’s momentum.
During the recent call, leadership also outlined resources to help staffers transition to new positions, as the team continued processing both the shock and the unexpectedly wide margins in battleground states.
