Faced with a sweeping rejection by American voters, conceded the presidential election to on Wednesday and encouraged supporters to continue fighting for their vision of the country.

The Democratic vice president said the battle would continue 91裸聊视频渋n the voting booth, in the courts and in the public square.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淪ometimes the fight takes a while,91裸聊视频� she said at Howard University, her alma mater, where she had hoped to make a victory speech after the election. 91裸聊视频淭hat doesn91裸聊视频檛 mean we won91裸聊视频檛 win.91裸聊视频�

shattered hopes that she could rescue Democrats91裸聊视频� chances after President Joe Biden91裸聊视频檚 reelection effort stalled and she replaced him at the top of the ticket.

She trailed in to Trump, a Republican whom she described as an existential danger to the country91裸聊视频檚 foundational institutions. And Trump appeared on track to win the popular vote for the first time in his three campaigns for the White House 91裸聊视频� even after two impeachments, felony convictions and his attempt to overturn his previous election loss.

Despite her stark warnings about Trump, Harris reached for optimism on Wednesday.

91裸聊视频淚t is OK to feel sad and disappointed, but please know it91裸聊视频檚 going to be OK,91裸聊视频� she told supporters as some of them wiped tears from their eyes.

Biden released a statement praising Harris after her speech, saying: 91裸聊视频淪he will continue the fight with purpose, determination, and joy. She will continue to be a champion for all Americans. Above all, she will continue to be a leader our children will look up to for generations to come as she puts her stamp on America91裸聊视频檚 future.91裸聊视频�

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris91裸聊视频� running mate, was in the audience with his family. So were Reps. Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker, and Barbara Lee, both from Harris91裸聊视频� home state of California.

Before her speech, Harris called Trump to congratulate him on his victory. She told the crowd that 91裸聊视频渨e will engage in a peaceful transfer of power,91裸聊视频� an implicit reference to Trump91裸聊视频檚 unwillingness to do the same four years ago.

After Trump lost to Biden, he directed his supporters to march on the U.S. Capitol, leading to that interrupted the ceremonial certification of the election results.

Now Harris is expected to oversee the same certification process to finalize Trump91裸聊视频檚 victory as voters brush off concerns about the future of American democracy and return the former Republican president to the White House.

Biden plans to address the election results on Thursday. The White House said he spoke with Harris and Trump on Wednesday, and he invited the president-elect to meet with him soon.

David Plouffe, a top Harris adviser, said campaign staffers 91裸聊视频渓eft it all on the field for their country.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淲e dug out of a deep hole but not enough,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淎 devastating loss.91裸聊视频�

Harris became the Democratic candidate after Biden, who was already struggling to convince voters that he could serve as president until he was 86 years old, stumbled badly in his June 27 debate with Trump.

on July 21 and endorsed his vice president, who swiftly unified the Democratic Party around her candidacy.

It was a remarkable twist of fate for Harris. Four years earlier, her own presidential campaign had flamed out and revealed the political limitations of someone once dubbed Even though Biden chose Harris as his running mate, she languished in the role after taking office as the first woman, Black person or person of South Asian descent to serve as vice president.

Some Democrats started writing her off when they pondered the party91裸聊视频檚 future after Biden. But Harris found fresh purpose after in 2022, and she became the White House91裸聊视频檚 leading advocate for abortion rights.

Harris also made a more concerted effort to network with local politicians, business leaders and cultural figures, forging connections that could serve her down the road. The moment arrived sooner than she anticipated, and she was catapulted into the presidential race with Biden91裸聊视频檚 departure only a month before the Democratic National Convention.

Harris instantly with Trump. She was 18 years younger and a former courtroom prosecutor going up against the first major presidential candidate convicted of crimes. who feared they were destined for defeat with Biden at the top of the ticket.

But she also faced steep odds from the beginning. She inherited Biden91裸聊视频檚 political operation with just 107 days until the end of the election, and she faced a restless electorate that was eager for change.

Although Harris pitched 91裸聊视频渁 new way forward,91裸聊视频� she struggled from the unpopular sitting president. In addition, she had limited time to introduce herself to skeptical voters, who never cast a ballot for her in a presidential primary.

Democrats now face the prospect of picking up the pieces during a second Trump presidency, and it91裸聊视频檚 unclear what role Harris will play in her party91裸聊视频檚 future.

91裸聊视频淭he work of protecting America from the impacts of a Trump Presidency starts now,91裸聊视频� wrote Jen O91裸聊视频橫alley Dillon, Harris91裸聊视频� campaign chair, in a letter to staff. 91裸聊视频淚 know the Vice President isn91裸聊视频檛 finished in this fight, and I know the very people on this email are also going to be leaders in this collective mission.91裸聊视频�

Chris Megerian And Darlene Superville, The Associated Press