Vice President Kamala Harris is set to address the nation on Wednesday after an unexpectedly challenging election night that dashed Democratic hopes for a victory celebration at her alma mater, Howard University.
Supporters had gathered at the historically Black university in Washington, D.C., in anticipation of Harris’ potential win. Still, as results rolled in, it became clear that her path to the presidency had faltered.
Harris opted to forgo her appearance at the watch party when projections from key battleground states started favoring her opponent, former President Donald Trump.
Shortly after midnight, campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond addressed the crowd, announcing that Harris would delay her response until Wednesday.
“We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted,” Richmond told supporters, stressing the campaign’s commitment to the electoral process.
At 1:30 a.m., Decision Desk HQ and Scripps News projected Trump as the winner of Pennsylvania, a critical swing state whose 19 electoral votes placed him over the required 270 to secure the presidency.
Shortly afterward, Trump also claimed victory in Wisconsin, cementing his lead.
Despite the Harris campaign’s last-minute memo expressing optimism that outstanding votes in Democratic-leaning areas could shift the results, earlier losses in Georgia and North Carolina presented formidable setbacks.
The disappointing outcomes extended to the Senate, where Democrats lost seats in West Virginia and Ohio, handing Republicans control of the Senate for the next congressional term.
Control of the House of Representatives remains uncertain, with results likely to take days or even weeks to finalize.
If Republicans retain the House, the outcome would mirror the 2016 election, when Trump’s victory secured a Republican stronghold across the executive and legislative branches.
Harris’ upcoming address is expected to reaffirm her dedication to the democratic process and her support for the importance of each vote.
