Remaining silent for many hours after the announcement of Donald Trump’s victory, Kamala Harris spoke from Washington. Acknowledging defeat, she called on her supporters to “keep fighting.”
It’s a violent slap in the face that will leave its mark on the Democratic camp. While Kamala Harris showed herself confident, very confident even during the last days of the campaign for the 2024 American presidential election, the results that fell early in the night gave a trend that has never faded as the states fell one after the other. to one in Donald Trump’s purse, even in the famous “swing states” announced as very tight.
If Donald Trump began his speech in Florida at 8 a.m. French time, celebrating his victory with his supporters by declaring himself the winner while the fateful milestone of 270 electors required to win had not yet been reached, Kamala Harris gave up speaking during his election night in Washington, which ended short. She then walled herself in silence, far from the fervor which gripped the Trumpist camp.
Later on Wednesday, Kamala Harris contacted Donald Trump and conceded victory. The Democrat then spoke from Howard University in Washington. Cheered by the crowd, the unfortunate candidate remained smiling. She publicly admitted her defeat. “My heart is heavy. The lights of America will always remain bright, as long as we fight. We must accept the outcome of this election,” she said. Claiming to have “congratulated” her rival and to have assured him of help from Democrats for the transition of power, Kamala Harris nevertheless called on her supporters not to give up and to “continue to fight”. “We will never abandon the fight for democracy and the rule of law,” declared the one who predicted “a dark period” to come.
A very weak result for Kamala Harris
A defeat for the 60-year-old vice-president was a foregone conclusion on Wednesday morning in France in view of the decisive states falling into the hands of the 78-year-old former president. The result of Kamala Harris, who could struggle to reach 47% nationally, should only allow her to obtain 230 to 240 electors. A snub at the end of an unprecedented campaign, marked by the resounding entry into the running of the vice-president last July, after the withdrawal of the president Joe Biden.
After a semblance of momentum, the Democratic candidate was quickly overtaken in voting intentions by Donald Trump in the fall, but still seemed to maintain her chances. At the end of the campaign, she described her rival as a potential “fascist” dictator and a danger to women’s rights. But it is ultimately Donald Trump, describing his opponent as a weak and “stupid” leader, lax in the face of illegal immigration and crime, who will gain access, and for the second time, to the White House.
22:36 – “We will never give up the fight for democracy and the rule of law,” assures Kamala Harris
During her speech, Kamala Harris said she had spoken to Donald Trump on the phone earlier in the day. She claims to have assured him that “we would be there to help him in the transition and that the transition of power will take place in peace”. Saying she was “proud of the campaign we led”, Kamala Harris assured that the fight was not over yet. “We will never give up the fight for democracy and the rule of law,” she said, calling on her supporters to “keep fighting.”
22:29 – Kamala Harris calls to “accept the result” of the election
From Howard University, Kamala Harris spoke for the very first time this Wednesday evening after her defeat in the American presidential election. Long cheered upon her arrival, the Democratic candidate remained smiling while recognizing that the result of the election is “not the one we [les démocrates] wanted nor the one we voted for.” And continued: “My heart is heavy. The lights of America will remain as bright as ever, as long as we fight. We must accept the result of this election.”
7:54 p.m. – Kamala Harris called Donald Trump and conceded defeat
Kamala Harris, who has not yet spoken publicly about her defeat, “called President-elect Trump to congratulate him on winning the 2024 presidential election,” a senior official said early in the evening, French time. advisor, who specifies that the Democrat also “discussed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans” with Donald Trump.
18:54 – Some Democrats accuse Joe Biden of being responsible for Kamala Harris’ defeat
“Biden is largely responsible [de cette défaite]”, declared a senior official from Kamala Harris’ campaign on CNN. And he is not the only one to think so. Some Democrats criticize him for running for these elections. By making this choice, he forced Kamala Harris to lead a blitzkrieg campaign which did not help her emerge from her shadow. Moreover, the party never had the opportunity to organize primaries, the name of the vice-president was theirs. imposed: “It was the Biden campaign, but with Kamala Harris at the head of the poster,” concludes the senior official.
6:11 p.m. – Kamala Harris will speak at 10 p.m.
The American vice-president will finally speak around 10 p.m. at Howard University. According to information from CNN, she is expected to ask her supporters to accept the election results. In 2020, Donald Trump’s accusations of fraud led to numerous excesses within the country. An escalation that the vice-president is undoubtedly seeking to avoid by giving this speech. Still according to CNN, she tried, unsuccessfully, to contact Donald Trump to have a conversation before the start of his speech.
16:51 – Who voted for Kamala Harris?
The BBC made a survey among American voters to classify according to gender, age, level of education and ethnic origin, the percentages of vote in favor of Kamala Harris or Donald Trump. First of all, the study reveals that 54% of men vote for Donald Trump, compared to 44% of women. Conversely, 54% of women prefer to vote for Kamala Harris, compared to 44% of men. In 2020, 57% of women voted for Joe Biden, figures rather similar to those of the vice-president given the possible margin of error.
Among white people, Donald Trump is in the lead with 55% of voters, compared to 43% for Kamala Harris. The latter can still count on the support of the African-American population, behind it at 86%. As for his Hispanic and Latin American voters, they reach 53%, compared to 45% for Donald Trump.
The gap widens when we look at the level of education of voters: Kamala Harris brings together 57% of graduates, compared to Donald Trump stuck at 41%. These figures underline the relevance of the Republican campaign proposed by the billionaire: by encouraging men usually disinterested in politics to vote for him, he enlarged his circle of voters.
15:17 – In New York, Kamala Harris achieves the worst scores in more than 30 years
With its 29 voters, New York State is considered a stronghold for the Democratic Party. But this year, Kamala Harris’s results are rather disappointing: with 96% of the ballots counted, she received 55.4% of the votes, compared to 44.6% for Donald Trump according to the Associated Press. A mixed victory for the vice-president who achieved the worst scores ever recorded by the Democratic Party for more than thirty years.
1:12 p.m. – Kamala Harris receives significantly fewer votes than Donald Trump
One of the strongest figures of this American presidential election is that of the so-called popular vote, that is to say the number of votes counted so far. At 1:00 p.m. French time, Kamala Harris received 66.2 million votes, Donald Trump 71.1 million votes, a difference of almost 5 million votes. This is considerable. No polling institute had Donald Trump ahead of Kamala Harris in the popular vote than Donald Trump, let alone by such a margin.
12:29 – Hope for Kamala Harris in Arizona?
Will Kamala Harris succeed in winning a Swing State? It could well be that Donald Trump will be a hit in these pivotal states of the election. The last uncertainty concerns Arizona, a state in which “only” 60% of the votes have been counted, which gives the Democrat a chance. However, it is indeed the Republican who is currently in the lead with 51.9% of the votes against 47.2% for the vice-president, according to estimates fromAssociated Press.
11:46 – The latest numbers in Maine
Democrat Kamala Harris has a good chance of winning in Maine, however, this state only grants 2 additional electors, insufficient to worry Donald Trump to whom the role of president is now promised. In Maine, 72% of the ballots have been counted and the Democrat is credited with 53.1% compared to 44.3% for Donald Trump.
11:44 – A historic rout in the Swing states
According to the statement ofAssociated PressDonald Trump has already won the election in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, already three swing states out of the 7 recorded in the United States. But the debacle could be even more important for the competing camp, the Democrats. In Michigan, on 79% of the votes, he reached 52.5% of the votes against 45.8% for Kamala Harris. Arizona also gives a certain advantage to the Republican (50.5% against 48.6%) with 52% of the votes counted. In Wisconsin, on 92% of the votes counted, Trump is once again ahead with a total of 51.2% against 47.3% for the Democrat. Finally, Nevada also offers Trump the advantage with 51.6% against 46.7% with 81% of the votes counted.
11:25 – Kamala Harris is scheduled to speak this Wednesday evening
Kamala Harris will not speak before Wednesday morning in the United States, as announced by her advisor after the first results in the key states of this American election, at 7 a.m. this morning (French time). Walled in silence, the Democratic candidate should first take the time to absorb this crushing defeat, after a campaign in which she has always been in the race. The vice-president is expected to speak on Wednesday morning (local time), and therefore in the evening, this Wednesday in France.
11:12 – Harris in trouble in Wisconsin, 94% of votes counted
In great difficulty in the Swing states, Kamala Harris may well not win a single one. In Wisconsin, a state in which she was still in the game a few days ago, Donald Trump seems to have widened a gap too large for the Democratic camp to hope to win. With 94% of votes taken into account, Kamala Harris is credited with 47.5% of the votes against 51% for Trump. The results in Wisconsin could officially seal Donald Trump’s victory by surpassing the 270 voters.
10:35 – Harris closes the gap in Michigan
Election officials in Wayne County, Michigan reported 200,000 additional votes shortly after 4 a.m., but the update did not specify who would ultimately win the state. The reason: Harris won this update, allowing her to narrow Trump’s lead in Michigan. Be careful, the Republican is still in the lead with new ballots to count. For now, Trump is credited with 51% of the vote in Michigan, compared to 47% for Harris. 88% of the ballots were counted.
07:55 – Harris narrowly wins Hispanic vote
According to exit polls relayed by Reuters, Donald Trump won 45% of the vote of Hispanic voters nationally, just behind Harris (53%). A victory certainly for the Democratic candidate with this community, but her Republican competitor nevertheless recorded an increase of 13 points compared to the 2020 presidential election despite his outrageous remarks in the home stretch of the vote.