When Vice President Kamala Harris entered the Senate chamber on Monday, she presided over the certification of the 2024 election results.
True to her word, she oversaw the process, guiding Congress through the certification of the electoral votes that ultimately declared Donald Trump the winner and confirmed his return to the White House.
With her hands clasped in front of her, Harris listened attentively as senators read the electoral totals from each state. She smiled broadly when the votes crossed the threshold to officially declare Trump the next president. Her party cheered and gave her a standing ovation when her own vote total was announced.
Harris’ message on this January 6th echoed what both she and President Joe Biden had emphasized throughout the campaign: a commitment to “freedom” and democracy, while firmly rejecting the violent events of January 6, 2021, when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to overturn the election.
This year’s event was a stark contrast to four years ago. Gone were the gallows and the chants calling for Harris’ hanging for not rejecting the election results. Instead, the certification process unfolded smoothly, taking just 30 minutes.
In the end, the American people had chosen Trump, who secured 312 electoral votes to Harris’ 226. He also won the popular vote and flipped key battleground states, including those in the Democrats’ “blue wall,” crucial for their victory.
Harris conceded her loss and offered a message of hope to her supporters the day after the election.
“The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for,” she said. “But hear me when I say… the light of America’s promise will always burn bright.”
