By Rachel Monroe | November 6, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a nail-biting election that kept the nation on edge into the early hours of Wednesday morning, Vice President Kamala Harris emerged victorious over former President Donald Trump, securing her place in history as the 47th President of the United States — and the first woman, as well as the first person of South Asian and African American descent, to hold the office.
The final results came down to a handful of battleground states, with Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia tipping the balance after an intense vote count. Harris clinched the presidency with 270 electoral votes to Trump’s 268, marking one of the narrowest electoral margins in modern American history.
As crowds gathered in cities across the country, from Atlanta to Oakland, Harris addressed the nation just before midnight in a powerful and deeply personal speech from the rooftop of the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington.
“To every little girl watching tonight — especially the daughters of immigrants, the daughters of struggle, and the daughters of hope — know this: You are powerful, your voice matters, and your dreams are valid,” Harris declared to thunderous applause and a sea of waving flags.
Flanked by her husband Doug Emhoff, President Joe Biden, and First Lady Jill Biden, Harris paid tribute to generations of women and civil rights leaders who paved the way. “I stand on their shoulders. And now, together, we walk into a new era.”
The emotional victory follows a bruising campaign season marked by sharp ideological divides, debates over democracy and the rule of law, and a record-breaking turnout driven by young voters and suburban women. Despite concerns over inflation and global instability, the Harris campaign managed to mobilize a broad coalition, including independents, progressives, and moderates disillusioned by Trump’s polarizing rhetoric.
In a brief concession speech, Trump acknowledged the results, saying, “While I do not agree with what happened tonight, the American people have spoken. We’ll see what the future holds.” He did not confirm whether he would attend the inauguration.
The streets of Washington filled with celebrations well into the early hours, with fireworks lighting up the sky above the National Mall. Social media lit up with hashtags like #MadamPresident and #SheWon, as women across the country posted photos of themselves in suffragette white, tears in their eyes.
Political analysts say Harris’s win represents a significant cultural turning point. “This is a generational shift,” said Dr. Maya Rodriguez, professor of political science at Howard University. “This wasn’t just an election; it was a symbolic break from centuries of exclusion. It’s going to redefine how young Americans — especially young women — see leadership.”
President-elect Harris is expected to begin announcing her transition team in the coming days, with early speculation pointing to a Cabinet that reflects her inclusive campaign ethos.
As America wakes to a new chapter, the message of the night could not be clearer: the glass ceiling has shattered, and the echoes of history will resonate for generations to come.