Vice President Kamala Harris released a video Monday morning, reaffirming her commitment to fulfilling her Constitutional responsibility by certifying the results of the 2024 election.
“I will perform my Constitutional duty as vice president of the United States to certify the results of the 2024 election,” Harris stated.
“This is a sacred obligation, one I will uphold with love for my country, loyalty to the Constitution, and unwavering faith in the American people.”
Harris will play a prominent role as Congress certifies President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, despite the personal and political challenge of seeing him defeat her own candidacy.
A Symbolic Moment in a Historic Election
For Harris, the certification of Trump’s win marks a pivotal moment.
After replacing President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee in late July, Harris saw Trump secure victories in all seven swing states, cementing his win.
This event serves as a significant personal and political milestone.
“The peaceful transfer of power is one of the most fundamental principles of American democracy,” Harris emphasized in her video.
“It is what distinguishes our government from monarchy and tyranny.”
Referencing the January 6th Capitol attack, now marking its fourth anniversary, Harris reminded viewers of the vulnerability of democracy and the collective responsibility to protect its values.
“As we have seen, our democracy can be fragile,” she noted.
“It’s up to each one of us to stand for our cherished principles and ensure that our government remains for the people, by the people.”
A Historical Duty for Vice Presidents
Harris is not the first vice president to oversee the certification of an election loss.
This responsibility has been part of the vice president’s role throughout history.
In 2000, Democratic Vice President Al Gore found himself in a similar position after the contentious election, where he lost to George W. Bush, despite winning the popular vote.
Richard Nixon also presided over the certification of his 1960 loss to John F. Kennedy, and Hubert Humphrey skipped the session in 1968 after his defeat to Nixon, opting to attend a funeral instead.
These historical moments show that certifying the results is a part of the vice presidency, regardless of the outcome.
Other vice presidents who faced election losses, like Mike Pence in 2020, also had to perform this duty.
Pence famously rejected Donald Trump’s request to overturn election results during the certification process, a decision that alienated him from Trump’s circle.
Similarly, in 1992, Dan Quayle had to oversee the session after President George H.W. Bush’s re-election defeat, and Walter Mondale did the same when President Jimmy Carter lost in 1980.
A Heartwarming Interaction with a Young Supporter
During Senate swearing-in ceremonies last Friday, a heartwarming exchange took place when Michael, the young son of Senator Ruben Gallego, told Harris that he wished she had won the 2024 election.
With a warm smile, Harris responded, “You know what, sweetheart? Don’t worry about it, because there’s still so much work to do.”
She then asked him if he understood the meaning of “defeated,” reassuring him, “Are we defeated? Nope. We’re not defeated.”
Harris’ confident reply left a lasting message of hope and determination, encouraging resilience and the belief that setbacks are just part of the journey.