WASHINGTON (TNND) — Vice President Kamala Harris did not speak to supporters at her alma mater in Washington
D.C. on election night as planned as a victory for Republican challenger Donald Trump became imminent.
Harris campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond briefly addressed the crowd at Howard University early Wednesday to let them know she would not be speaking.
It has not been made clear when Harris will make a speech.
Richmond thanked those who attended and for “believing in the promise of America.”
“We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken,” Richmond said. “So you won’t hear from the vice president tonight, but you will hear from her tomorrow. She will be back here tomorrow to address not only the H.U. family, not only to address her supporters but to address the nation.”
Videos circulated online of the crowd slowly leaving the university as Trump became closer to 270 electoral votes and was eventually declared the winner.
Earlier in the night,Republicans gained control of the Senate with pickups in West Virginia and Ohio while successfully defending seats the party already held.
Donald Trump spoke to voters at the Palm Beach County Convention Center as planned and thanked the American people for electing him for a second time while vowing to usher in a new golden age for the United States.
“Every citizen, I will fight for you, your family and your future. Every single day I will be fighting for you, and with every breath in my body. I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America.”
He also called on the country to unite in the wake of his approaching victory.
“I’m asking every citizen all across our land. It’s time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us. It’s time to unite,” Trump said. “And we’re going to try. We have to try. It’s going to happen. Success will bring us together.”
Wisconsin was the state that pushed Trump over the 270 electoral vote threshold to secure a second, nonconsecutive term in the White House. He is the first president since Grover Cleveland became the 22nd and 24th president in 1885 and 1893.