Kamala Harris lost the 2024 presidential election. Her performance in the Electoral College was worse than Hillary Clinton’s. She lost the popular vote, which was fueled by a collapse in support in deep blue states like New York and New Jersey. The margin in the three core swing states—WI, MI, and PA (and GA as well)—was very narrow. That narrow margin made the loss a bit more bearable for some and that much more painful for others—but narrow losses are still losses.
Still, I am immensely proud of Vice President Harris and the incredible campaign she ran. This election was unprecedented, and her 100-day sprint to the finish line was admirable and deeply impressive. Built on joy and freedom, her campaign brought many people, including me, from a place of deep pessimism and despair and into one of hope. Hers was the first campaign that I and several others I know ever volunteered for, and we have every reason to be proud of our efforts.
There will be endless speculation about what caused the results—if it was her past progressive statements, her hard pivot to the center, or if it was simply down to the anti-incumbent wave we’ve seen around the world. But, before the post-mortems, Harris deserves a chance to be proud of herself and the history she made- as well as the hope it brought along.
There’s a strong argument that Kamala HQ, Harris’s social media identity, has revolutionized campaign PR. Its repeated digs at Trump and 24/7 spins drove numerous clips to virality, undoubtedly contributing to her dramatic reversal from being the least popular VP in modern history to enjoying a positive approval.
Harris was able to appeal to young voters by navigating the social media landscape in a way that prior candidates hadn’t been capable of. Harris didn’t force “viral” moments but instead relied on grassroots fans who took awkward moments and turned them into endearing memes, making her more relatable to voters, particularly younger ones.
Amy Hernandez, a junior at ABAC, said, “As someone who believes in women’s rights, I truly felt like she understands the hardships of being a woman, especially a woman of color at that.”
“When she spoke about her family, about the economy, and about immigration,” she continued, “it truly felt like she cared about us and wanted to listen and help. She knows what tariffs are, she knows who asylum seekers are, she knows policies, and she knows their consequences.”
Bryan Guerra, a senior who supported Harris, said, “The way she carried herself, she felt like a president. Trump’s character was so immature, and her level of professionalism versus his was such a massive gap.”
Harris delivered her concession speech at Howard University, her alma mater, with her characteristic poise and dignity.
“The fight for our country is always worth it. It is always worth it,” she told the post-election crowd. “To the young people who are watching, it is okay to feel sad and disappointed. But please know it’s going to be okay.”
She ended her speech with an old adage popular among historians, stating that it’s only when it’s dark enough that you can you see the stars.
“Let us fill the sky with the light of a brilliant, brilliant billion of stars,” she said, before she once again thanked her supporters and walked off the stage.
It’s not fully clear where Democrats will go from here, but the post-loss autopsy will likely reveal painful truths about what needs to be done to win future elections. DNC Chair Jaimie Harrison is stepping down, paving the way for a new leader to take charge and implement changes.
While Republicans won a trifecta, their House majority has decreased from its already slim majority, effectively stonewalling the most controversial parts of Trump’s agenda. Â
By virtue of their loss to Trump, Democrats are set up for a good year in the 2026 midterms, which typically swing harshly against the incumbent.
For her part, Harris may not be through yet, with rumors circulating of a potential run for governor of CA, which would most certainly be hers if she wants to continue the fight like she promised in her concession speech.
Democrats have a strong bench of talent, from GA’s own Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock to Governors Gretchen Whitmer, Josh Shapiro, and Gavin Newsom. This is not the first election we’ve lost, and it will not be the last. We will be okay.
While many of us are heartbroken, scared, and devastated, it’s important to remember what Harris has reminded us throughout the campaign: “Hard work is good work.”
No matter what, there will always be reason for joy, and where there is humanity, there will always be hope. It will take work, but it always has, and the American people have always stepped up to the plate.
Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of John F. Kennedy, posted a poem by Robert Frost after Harris lost. The poem, called “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening,” ends with four lines that I’ve kept with me the past week: “The woods are lovely, dark and deep/but I have promises to keep/and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.” We made a promise to America—to always fight for it and to never give up. Now, it’s time to keep it. We have many, many miles to go before we sleep.