A Hollywood producer could not have imagined a more symbolic picture to illustrate the end of Kamala Harris’ electoral journey in 2024.
Published at 12:45 a.m.
Updated at 5:00 a.m.
By the time the Democratic Party presidential candidate took the stage to deliver her defeat speech Wednesday, the yellow disk of the sinking sun was disappearing behind the imposing columned building that served as her backdrop.
Her features drawn, her voice a little less confident than usual, the vice-president chose this moment and this place, located on the campus of Howard University, her alma mater, to concede victory to Donald Trump and ensure his country for a peaceful transfer of power.
She thus brought a high point to a 107-day presidential campaign which will have given hope to her party of winning the presidency after the historic withdrawal of Joe Biden from the race for the White House, a hope which will have clashed at the end of has a majority of recalcitrant voters.
PHOTO TERRANCE WILLIAMS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kamala Harris supporter cries during Democratic candidate’s speech
“We must accept the results of this election,” she said, addressing thousands of supporters, some of whom shed tears. “Earlier today, I spoke to President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his victory. I also told him that we will help him and his team with his transition and engage in a peaceful transfer of power. »
The moment was not chosen to explicitly recall Donald Trump’s refusal to accept his 2020 electoral defeat or the word fascist that some, including Kamala Harris herself, have used to describe him. But the vice-president made herself understood by evoking the democratic ritual in which she was engaged and from which the president-elect turned away four years ago.
One of the fundamental principles of democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results.
Kamala Harris, Democratic candidate
“This principle, as much as the others, is what distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny,” she said. And anyone who seeks public trust must honor it. At the same time, in our country, we are loyal not to any president or party, but to the Constitution of the United States. »
“It’s time to roll up our sleeves”
Kamala Harris continued by inviting her supporters to continue the fight that animated her campaign.
“Do not despair,” she said, addressing young people in particular. “Now is not the time to give up. It’s time to roll up our sleeves. Now is the time to organize, mobilize and stay engaged in the name of freedom, justice and the future we can build together. »
After experiencing an election night “bizarrely similar to that of 2016”, Nataliya McLaughlin said she was ready to continue Kamala Harris’ fight.
“We have no choice,” she said, emphasizing the need to continue to defend the rights of minorities and women, among others.
But she still had difficulty digesting Donald Trump’s decisive victory.
PHOTO RICHARD HÉTU, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Nataliya McLaughlin and her son on the Howard University campus Wednesday
“We can blame people who didn’t vote or who voted for a third party because they didn’t agree with Kamala’s policy on the Gaza war,” he said. she said, holding her 5-month-old son on her lap. “But we can’t really blame them, because of the overwhelming number of people who voted for hatred, racism and sexism. Trump should not have even been allowed to run for president after January 6, in my opinion. »
Josh Odom, for his part, did not hide his impatience when speaking about the commentators who attributed Kamala Harris’ defeat to “wokism”.
“The majority of Trump voters are fueled by resentment,” said the 29-year-old student. “They use the ballot to express their resentment towards people of color, trans people, queer people, women. They are not interested in party politics. And when commentators talk about wokism, it’s nothing more than a coded message, a dog whistle, to put people of color, trans people, queers, marginalized people in their place. »
PHOTO RICHARD HÉTU, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Rudy Padilla on the Howard University campus Wednesday
Still, Donald Trump has significantly increased his support among Latino men, a phenomenon that has dismayed Rudy Padilla, the son of immigrants from Mexico.
“I think a lot of Latino men believe in Donald Trump. And they share the feelings he expresses when he talks about women. I’m not one of them,” the Washington tech worker said. “And there are a lot of Latino men who disagree with what Donald Trump represents. But it is reaching more and more, unfortunately. »
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