Second Gen. Doug Emhoff was seen holding back tears as a devastated Kamala Harris conceded election defeat to Donald Trump.
The 60-year-old was hugged by his daughter Ella as his wife said: “To my beloved Doug and our family, I love you very much.”
Her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, patted his heart and also appeared to hold back tears as the sitting vice president thanked him and his family.
Emhoff then gave Walz a pat on the back as the crowd gathered at her alma mater Howard University in Washington DC cheered them on.
The emotional Walz at one point bowed his head deeply as Harris spoke and clasped his hands together.
The Second Gentleman, seen here alongside his son and daughter Cole and Ella and Governor Walz, wipes away a tear as his wife speaks
The 60-year-old was hugged by his daughter Ella as a somber-looking Governor Walz bowed his head
Harris thanked President Joe Biden, her family, her staff and her supporters. She also expressed pride in her campaign
Harris told her dozens of tearful supporters gathered at the school that “this is not what we wanted,” and took the stage 12 hours after officials called the race.
She pledged to help with the peaceful transition of power, even as she said she would continue her fight after Trump’s dominant victory.
By Wednesday afternoon, the former president had captured five of the seven swing states and was on the verge of passing the 300-vote mark in the Electoral College.
“While I concede this election, I will not concede to the strife this campaign has fueled,” she said.
Her voice trembled at times as she addressed a huge crowd of supporters of her alma mater.
‘My heart is full today. Full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me. Full of love for our country and full of determination,” she said in her first appearance since voters rejected her vision for America.
“The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for, but hear me when I say, hear me when I say: the light of America’s promise will always burn bright,” she said. .
Harris thanked President Joe Biden, her family, her staff and her supporters. She also expressed pride in her campaign.
“Look, I’m so proud of the race we ran. And the way we executed it,” she said.
‘Now I know that people are feeling and experiencing a range of emotions right now. I get it. But we must accept the results of this election,” she said.
Harris’ running mate Tim Walz and his wife Gwen are seen here Wednesday night conceding the election
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“Earlier today I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory.
“I also told him that we will assist him and his team in their transition and that we will achieve a peaceful transfer of power.” She said she would respect the results.
Harris campaign staffers stood to the side of the stage as she spoke and exchanged hugs, including Jen O’Malley Dillon, David Plouffe and Brian Fallon.
Despite a DJ playing party music including Beyonce and other hits, the atmosphere at the event was grim. Supporters cried. Many hugs were exchanged.
Before her speech, Harris called Trump to congratulate him, urge a peaceful transition of power and encourage him to be a president for all Americans.
President Joe Biden then called Trump and invited him to the White House, just as Michigan was called — the fifth swing state to go in the Republican’s favor.
Trump is the first president in more than 130 years, and only the second in history, to win a non-consecutive second term
Throughout the night, the campaign rolled out data points that could mean surprisingly good news for Harris: higher-than-expected turnout in Philadelphia, votes yet to be counted in Detroit.
But ultimately, Harris did not improve on President Joe Biden’s performance against Trump four years ago.
Democrats had counted on retaining the trio of states – Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania – to give Harris the White House. Biden won them in 2020.
But Trump won them instead, giving him 292 electoral votes to Harris’ 224. It takes 270 to become president.
Harris is now on track to do worse than Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. She could even be on track to have the worst showing of any Democrat in the Electoral College since the 1988 election.
Trump is the first president in more than 130 years, and only the second in history, to win a non-consecutive second term.