The 11 must-see lines from Kamala Harris' concession speech
And, scene.
On Wednesday afternoon, shortly after she called Donald Trump to concede the 2024 election, Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage at Howard University to address her supporters.
It was, almost certainly, Harris’ last speech as a national candidate. It seems very unlikely she will be in the mix in 2028 given her defeat at the hands of President-elect Donald Trump (although far stranger things have happened!)
Given the enormity of the speech, I decided to go through the transcript of Harris’ speech line by line. The stuff you need to see is below.
I have spent hundreds of hours going through the words of our politicians — especially Trump and Harris — over the last two years. I’ve done it because I think the best way to know what someone will do if they get elected is to listen to what they SAY.
I remain more convinced of that than ever — especially as Donald Trump prepares to retake the presidency in January. So I am more committed than ever to continue this forensic accounting of the words our future president (and other prominent politicians) say over the coming moths and years.
As far as I can tell, I am the only journalist doing this work. It’s hard. It’s painstaking. But it’s also critically important.
This post — like all of my content during these final 3 weeks of the campaign — is FREE. But, after Friday, posts like this one will go back behind the paywall. If you believe in what I am doing and want to support my efforts as an independent and nonpartisan journalist, I hope you will consider becoming a paid subscriber. It’s $6 a month or $60 for the entire year.
To the lines!
“Look, I am so proud of the race we ran and the way we ran it -- and the way we ran it”
I have my issues with how she ran the race — especially the slowness to break from Joe Biden — but given the challenges of launching a presidential campaign from a standing stop in late July, I think it was a very solid effort.
“And we did it with the knowledge that we all have so much more in common than what separates us.”
I believe this deeply. And I think Harris does too. But I suspect we two might be in the minority.
“Now, I know folks are feeling and experiencing a range of emotions right now. I get it. But we must accept the results of this election. Earlier today, I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory.”
It’s worth noting here that Donald Trump never conceded the 2020 election or called Joe Biden to congratulate him. And that had Trump lost on Tuesday, he would have never conceded or called Harris to congratulate her. Just saying…
“A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results. That principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny. And anyone who seeks the public trust must honor it.”
Yes, this is absolutely a purposeful shot at Trump. Just in case you were wondering.
“At the same time, in our nation, we owe loyalty not to a President or a party but to the Constitution of the United States. And loyalty to our conscience and to our God. My allegiance to all three is why I am here to say while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign.”
This is a good set of lines. And a good way to frame a loss (the fight continues etc.). I do think, however, that Harris is going to have a hard time convincing Democrats over the next four years that she is the right voice to lead the fight against Trump and his party.
“I will never give up the fight for a future where Americans can pursue their dreams, ambitions, and aspirations, where the women of America have the freedom to make decisions about their own body and not have their government telling them what to do.”
Worth noting: There were measures to loosen abortion restrictions on the ballot in 10 states on Tuesday. Those measures passed in 7 (including conservative strongholds like Missouri). And the Florida amendment got 57% support but needed 60% support to pass.
“On the campaign, I would often say when we fight, we win. But here's the thing -- here's the thing -- sometimes, the fight takes a while. That doesn't mean we won't win. That doesn't mean we won't win.”
This giving off strong the-arc-of-the-moral-universe-bends-toward-justice vibes.
“The important thing is don't ever give up. Don't ever give up, don't ever stop trying to make the world a better place.”
This line reminded me of one of the greatest speeches ever given — albeit in a totally different context: A dying Jim Valvano at the ESPY Awards in 1993.
“This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves.”
Good line.
“And I'll close with this -- there is an adage an historian once called a law of history true of every society across the ages. The adage is only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.”
Another adage: It’s always darkest before it goes totally black. (Thing I learned today: That quote is attributed to Mao Zedong. Do with that what you will.)
“But here's the thing -- America, if it is, let us fill the sky with the light of a brilliant, brilliant billion of stars ... the light -- the light of optimism, of faith, of truth, and service.”
If this is the last thing Kamala Harris says of significant import on the national stage — and it might well be — it’s a very nice grace note to go out on.
In sad hindsight, I realize now that I was naïvely optimistic. In a country where there are masses of people that absolutely believe it is their right to decide what a woman chooses to do with their own body, why did I ever believe that the same people would allow a woman to be the leader of our country? 
Vice-president Harris said, "we all have so much more in common than what separates us.” Chris says, "I believe this deeply." I don't. For me the biggest issues boil down to values, decency and morality. And I just cannot respect Trump voters for these very reasons. To vote for Trump is to say values, decency and morality just don't matter. But, as I have said, they are the biggest issues to me. If that is the proverbial looking-down-my-nose at Trump voters, then I accept that I am guilty as charged.