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 鈥渋n the voting booth, in the courts and in the public square.鈥�

鈥淪ometimes the fight takes a while,鈥� she said at Howard University, her alma mater, where she had hoped to make a victory speech after the election. 鈥淭hat doesn鈥檛 mean we won鈥檛 win.鈥�

shattered hopes that she could rescue Democrats鈥� chances after President Joe Biden鈥檚 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 country鈥檚 foundational institutions. And Trump appeared on track to win the popular vote for the first time in his three campaigns for the White House 鈥� 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.

鈥淚t is OK to feel sad and disappointed, but please know it鈥檚 going to be OK,鈥� she told supporters as some of them wiped tears from their eyes.

Biden released a statement praising Harris after her speech, saying: 鈥淪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 America鈥檚 future.鈥�

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

Before her speech, Harris called Trump to congratulate him on his victory. She told the crowd that 鈥渨e will engage in a peaceful transfer of power,鈥� an implicit reference to Trump鈥檚 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 Trump鈥檚 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 鈥渓eft it all on the field for their country.鈥�

鈥淲e dug out of a deep hole but not enough,鈥� he said. 鈥淎 devastating loss.鈥�

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 party鈥檚 future after Biden. But Harris found fresh purpose after in 2022, and she became the White House鈥檚 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 Biden鈥檚 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 Biden鈥檚 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 鈥渁 new way forward,鈥� 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 it鈥檚 unclear what role Harris will play in her party鈥檚 future.

鈥淭he work of protecting America from the impacts of a Trump Presidency starts now,鈥� wrote Jen O鈥橫alley Dillon, Harris鈥� campaign chair, in a letter to staff. 鈥淚 know the Vice President isn鈥檛 finished in this fight, and I know the very people on this email are also going to be leaders in this collective mission.鈥�

Chris Megerian And Darlene Superville, The Associated Press