Vice President Kamala Harris officially presided over the certification process confirming her loss to Republican President-elect Donald Trump in the 2024 election, as part of her responsibilities as the leader of the Senate.
This formal certification, required by federal law, took place during a joint session of Congress.
In a video message, Harris described her duty as a “sacred obligation” to ensure a peaceful transfer of power, emphasizing the importance of accepting election results as a cornerstone of democracy.
After the electoral votes from all 50 states are read and counted, she will officially declare the election’s winner.
“As we have seen, our democracy can be fragile,” she said. “And it is up to each of us to stand up for our most cherished principles.”
“A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results,” she said. “That principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny.”
