Election 2024 recap: 'We accept the results,' Harris concedes
Editor's note: This page reflects the news of 2024 election results for Wednesday, Nov. 6. For the latest updates on Donald Trump's election victory and remaining House races, read USA TODAY's live coverage for Thursday, Nov. 7.
Vice President Kamala Harris conceded her defeat in an address supporters Wednesday afternoon at Howard University, her alma mater in Washington, D.C.
"When we lose an election, we accept the results," Harris told the crowd, drawing an implicit contrast to former President Donald Trump, who refused to commit to accepting the election's outcome.
Harris called Trump earlier on Wednesday, conceding the historic election after a hard-fought race for the right to lead the nation. She discussed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans with Trump, according to a senior Harris aide.
Foes of Trump, meanwhile, promised to provide his administration no honeymoon. Hours after Trump's victory, advocacy groups were setting their sights on the president-elect, who will take office Jan. 20.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which fought many controversial Trump policies during his first administration, said Wednesday that it already has a battle plan and would take action "the minute he takes the oath of office."
Kris Brown, president of the gun-safety group Brady, called Trump's election "troubling" but pledged to continue the fight to prevent gun violence: "Even though we won’t have a friend in the White House, Brady isn’t giving up an inch."
Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous called Trump's first term a "disaster for climate progress" and pledged to "challenge Trump’s dangerous proposals in court (and) keep the pressure on banks and big corporations to clean up their act."
Those advocacy groups will be facing a president whose party could emerge with majorities in the the House and Senate. GOP candidates picked up several pivotal Senate seats, including in West Virginia and Ohio, to seize control of the Senate. Results were still coming in for dozens of tightly contested House seats, but Speaker Mike Johnson issued a statement saying the "latest data and trends indicate that when all the votes are tabulated, Republicans will have held our majority."
Keep up with the USA TODAY Network's live coverage of the presidential election and downballot fights.
Biden congratulates Trump, invites him to White House
President Joe Biden on Wednesday called President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on his election victory and invited him to a meeting at the White House during the presidential transition period – an invitation which Trump did not extend to him just four years ago.
Biden’s outreach to Trump isn’t necessarily unusual – outgoing presidents traditionally meet with their successors before the formal inauguration. But it comes after Trump refused to extend a similar invitation to Biden during the 2020 presidential election. Trump also promoted fraudulent claims that the election was stolen and skipped Biden’s inauguration.
“President Biden expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together," the White House said in a statement about the phone call.
Trump Campaign Spokesperson Steven Cheung confirmed the call, saying in a statement that “President Trump looks forward to the meeting, which will take place shortly, and very much appreciated the call.”
The White House has yet to be set a date for Trump and Biden’s encounter. Biden plans to address the country on Thursday to discuss the presidential transition efforts.
– Karissa Waddick
Trump, Zelenskyy speak for first time after election with Ukraine's future in doubt
WASHINGTON ? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday he spoke with President-elect Donald Trump and congratulated him on his decisive election win as the Ukrainian leader seeks continued U.S. support for his country's war against Russia.
Zelenskyy, in a post on X, said he had an "excellent call" with Trump and "congratulated him on his historic landslide victory," adding that "his tremendous campaign made this result possible."
"I praised his family and team for their great work," Zelenskyy said. "We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation. Strong and unwavering U.S. leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace."
The Biden administration has pumped billions of dollars in military support into Ukraine two and a half years after Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of the neighboring country. But future U.S. aid for Ukraine is in doubt after the election of Trump, who has a history of flattering statements about Putin and would not say during a September presidential debate whether he wants Ukraine to win the war.
-Joey Garrison
Pelosi: 'We all pray for America's success'
Former House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., issued a statement Wednesday acknowledging Trump's victory and committing to a peaceful transfer of power.
"We all pray for America's success under the next Administration," she said. "The peaceful transfer of power is the cornerstone of our democracy. After every election, we all have a responsibility to come together and find common ground."
- Riley Beggin
Bernie Sanders blames Democrats for their losses
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-V.T., blasted the Democratic Party for its presidential and Senate election losses on Tuesday night, arguing that it had moved away from its roots supporting America’s middle and lower class.
“It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them,” said Sanders, the most prominent progressive lawmaker in Congress. He mentioned concerns about access to healthcare, automation eliminating blue-collar jobs and the war in Israel.
The strong rebuke comes after Sanders endorsed President Joe Biden, and then Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s nominee earlier this year. When Harris unveiled her economic plan earlier this year, Sanders said he was “impressed,” and called it “an excellent start.”
Sanders did not mention either Harris or Biden in his statement, instead targeting it at the party’s infrastructure.
“Will the big money interests and well-paid consultants who control the Democratic Party learn any real lessons from this disastrous campaign?” Sanders questioned. “Do they have any ideas as to how we can take on the increasingly powerful Oligarchy which has so much economic and political power? Probably not.”
– Karissa Waddick
Harris: 'When we lose an election, we accept the results'
Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday conceded the 2024 election, promising a peaceful transfer of power.
“The outcome is not what we hoped for, worked for or voted for, but the light of America's promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting,” Harris said during a concession speech at Howard University, her alma mater, in Washington, D.C. "The fight for our country is always worth it."
"I am so proud of the campaign we ran," Harris told the crowd, to enthusiastic applause.
Harris called on young people to continue to fight to make the “world a better place” while vowing to continue her fight for the freedoms she laid out during her campaign, including abortion rights and gun control.
“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign,” she said. “We will continue to wage this fight in the voting booth, in the courts and in the public square, and we will also wage it in quieter ways, in how we live our lives, by treating one another with kindness and respect."
"Do not despair," she added. "This is a time to mobilize."
When Harris said the country may be entering a dark period, a smattering of attendees responded, "We are."
Trump was announced the winner of the 2024 presidential election in the early hours of Wednesday morning, sweeping many of the key swing states and widening his support among young men, Black men and Hispanic voters to prevail.
As attendees filtered out, younger Harris supporters and staffers shed tears as her time as a candidate came to a close.
— Rebecca Morin and Francesca Chambers
Biden invited Trump to White House in phone call
President Joe Biden called Trump earlier in the day to congratulate the former president on his victory in the 2024 presidential race.
He also invited Trump to meet with him in the White House. The staff will coordinate a specific date in the near future, the White House said.
In a stunning political comeback, the former president won all seven battleground states on the road to 270 electoral votes, capturing a decisive victory against Harris.
The vice president will be delivering remarks at Howard University at 4 p.m., the White House said. Harris also called Trump to congratulate him, according to a senior Harris aide.
-Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy and Sudiksha Kochi
Top Harris adviser says VP faced ‘deep hole’ in race against Trump
Harris campaign senior adviser David Plouffe called the vice president’s loss to Donald Trump “devastating" and pointed to a “deep hole” Harris faced after she replaced Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee.
“It was a privilege to spend the last 100 days with Kamala Harris,” Plouffe said in a post on X, commending the “amazing staff” led by campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon “who left it on the field for their country.”
“We dug out of a deep hole but not enough. A devastating loss. Thanks for being in the arena, all of you,” Plouffe said.
Plouffe, who worked as President Barack Obama’s campaign manager in 2008, was among a group of former Obama staffers tapped for top campaign leadership positions after Harris secured the Democratic nomination. Harris mounted a condensed 108-day campaign that ultimately fell well short of victory.
-Joey Garrison
George W. Bush congratulates Trump
Former President George W. Bush congratulated Donald Trump and JD Vance on their win and thanked Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for their service to the country in a statement Wednesday morning.
“The strong turnout in this election is a sign of the health of our republic and the strength of our democratic institutions,” Bush said. “We join our fellow citizens in praying for the success of our new leaders at all levels of government.
The former Republican president did not endorse either Trump or Harris in the election. His daughter, Barbara Bush, knocked doors for the Harris campaign in Pennsylvania and his vice president, Dick Cheney, endorsed the Democratic candidate.
– Karissa Waddick
Who will serve in a second Trump administration?
President-elect Donald Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in Tuesday’s election marked the end of a long, divisive campaign that will see the Republican return to the White House just four years after voters ejected him from the job.
With the campaign behind him, Trump can now turn his attention to putting together a cabinet and a staff to carry out his agenda.
A familiar cast of characters – some of whom had jobs in his first administration – stand ready to serve. Others ? like the many who officials from his first administration who subsequently questioned his fitness for office ? not so much.
Here’s a look at who’s in and who isn't.
-Michael Collins
What is Project 2025 that outlines extreme positions?
The controversial conservative playbook Project 2025, a highly criticized "presidential transition project" created by the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, could draw intense interest when the Trump administration takes power in January. Harris attempted to tie the former president to the 900-page document that outlines extreme policy positions, such as limiting abortion access and mass deportation, that project supporters hope Trump will implement.
Trump has repeatedly distanced himself from the project, claiming in a July Truth Social post to "know nothing about Project 2025" despite many of the project's creators having close ties to the previous Trump administration.
? Cybele Mayes-Osterman and Sam Woodward
When will Kamala Harris speak to supporters?
Harris will address supporters at Howard University in Washington, tentatively at 4 p.m. ET, a source familiar with the plans confirmed. She is expected to formally concede the race.
Harris had been set to publicly address her followers at an election night party at Howard, her alma mater, but the vice president stayed at her residence as her path to victory narrowed. Trump secured the 270 electoral votes needed to become the next president after he was projected the winner of Wisconsin around 5:40 a.m. ET.
Speaker Johnson: Border, inflation issues helped keep House in GOP hands
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Wednesday that the narrowly divided House appears set to remain in Republican control, which he credited to widespread support for secure borders and reducing inflation. The House will participate in a unified GOP government with the Senate and White House after victories in critical swing districts in Michigan and Pennsylvania, Johnson said.
“The latest data and trends indicate that when all the votes are tabulated, Republicans will have held our majority, even though we faced a map with 18 Biden-won seats,” Johnson said in a statement. “I look forward to working with President Trump and a Republican Senate to deliver as speaker of the House on the mandate entrusted to us by the American people."
RFK Jr. says he wants to clear out FDA departments
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Wednesday that he plans to clear out "entire departments" at the Food and Drug Administration if he has the capacity to do so in the next Trump administration.
"I can get the corruption out of the agencies," Kennedy said in an interview with MSNBC. "That's what I've been doing for 40 years. I've sued all those agencies. I have a Ph.D. in corporate corruption."
The president-elect thanked Kennedy, who suspended his independent presidential campaign to endorse Trump, during his victory speech. Last week, Kennedy said Trump "promised" him control of U.S. health agencies, but a member of the Trump transition team refuted that.
"He's going to help make America healthy again," Trump said about Kennedy early Wednesday morning. "He wants to do some things, and we're gonna let him go to it."
? Rachel Barber
Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos congratulates Trump
Jeff Bezos, the billionaire founder of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post, congratulated president-elect Trump on his victory over Harris on Wednesday.
“Big congratulations to our 45th and now 47th President on an extraordinary political comeback and decisive victory. No nation has bigger opportunities” Bezos wrote in a post on X Wednesday morning. “Wishing @realDonaldTrump all success in leading and uniting the America we all love.”
The good wishes come a week after Bezos defended the Post’s decision not to issue an endorsement of either presidential candidate – a move that broke with decades of tradition and led to resignations of multiple members of the editorial board as well as the cancellation of over 200,000 digital subscriptions, NPR reported. The editorial board had intended to endorse Harris before Bezos made the decision to nix presidential endorsements, according to the Post.
In an opinion article, Bezos defended the move, arguing it would help restore public trust by ending a practice he says creates a “perception of non-independence” and bias.
? Chris Cann
Mitch McConnell congratulates Trump, grateful filibuster is 'secure'
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell congratulated Trump on his victory in the presidential race on Wednesday, telling reporters at the Capitol that he commended the former president for “running a sharper operation this time.”
McConnell, who’s been the minority leader of the Senate since 2021 and will be stepping down from his leadership role this month, also said that he “had really hoped I'd be able to hand over to my successor, the majority.”
"Based on the fact that we haven't got all the results, and we certainly already know we're going to be in the majority, we're hopeful that that might actually grow some," he said.
One of the most gratifying parts of Republicans having Senate control, McConnell said, is that the filibuster “will stand.”
“There won’t be any new states admitted to give a partisan advantage to the other side, and we’ll quit beating up the Supreme Court every time we don’t like a decision they make,” he said. So I think this shifting to a Republican Senate majority helps control the guardrails to keep people who want to change the rules in order to achieve something they think is worthwhile, not successful. And so I think the filibuster is very secure.”
? Sudiksha Kochi
Netanyahu, Zelenskyy speak with Trump
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had a "warm and cordial" conversation with President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday and was among the first world leaders to speak with him after his election victory. Netanyahu said they spoke about Israel's security and "the Iranian threat."
Trump has long been close to Netanyahu and in his first term was widely viewed as one of the most pro-Israel U.S. presidents of modern times. Trump broke with years of U.S. policy when he moved the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which Palestinians also claim as their future capital. It's not immediately clear how Trump will deal the war in Gaza.
Dozens of leaders and U.S. allies released statements expressing well wishes and congratulations after Trump won the election. Among them was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country is trying to determine whether Trump's White House will cut back on U.S. military aid for Ukraine or nudge it toward a peace deal with Russia.
"I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs," Zelenskyy said. "This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer."
? Kim Hjelmgaard
Historic comeback for Trump, a once and future president
Four years ago, Trump by most measures was a political pariah. Now he’s a president in waiting. Rising from the ashes after a bonfire of scandal fueled by four criminal prosecutions, two impeachments and a failed insurrection, Trump swept aside dire warnings that he could bring American democracy to an end and instead used the democratic system as the ultimate vindication.
Now he will become the second president in history ? the first since Grover Cleveland more than century ago ? to serve nonconsecutive terms.
A politician rejected by voters in 2020 and abandoned by many in his party after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, Trump is poised to again become the most powerful man in the world. The convicted felon is now the incoming commander in chief.
Weeks of polling had showed the candidates competing in a razor-close election, but in the end Trump won over enough pivotal states with his focus on inflation and immigration. Harris won much of the West Coast and Northeast and Trump clinched victories in the South. But Trump also picked up North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, pushing him over the threshold of 270 electoral votes to win the race. Read more here on how Trump's historic comeback happened.
? Zac Anderson
What happens with Donald Trump's criminal cases?
The election victory will delay and possibly wipe out Trump’s four pending criminal cases, according to legal experts. Trump has made clear he would derail the efforts of Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith in his two federal cases. And action in two state cases in New York and Georgia are likely to be postponed until he is done serving in the White House.
“I think we are in uncharted territory,” said Alexander Reinert, a Cardozo School of Law professor, said of the state cases.
Trump has said he could fire Smith or pardon himself. “It’s so easy ? I would fire him within two seconds,” Trump told radio host Hugh Hewitt on Oct. 24.
What the election results mean for you: Sign up for USA TODAY's On Politics newsletter for updates and exclusive analysis.
ACLU ready to challenge Trump’s `mass deportation’ plan
The American Civil Liberties Union, which fought many of Donald Trump’s controversial policies during his first administration, said Wednesday that it already has a plan for Trump’s next term. The ACLU was the first group in 2017 to challenge Trump’s ban on travel from predominantly Muslim countries, one of 434 legal actions it took against the first Trump administration.
This time, Executive Director Anthony D. Romero said the ACLU is ready to fight Trump’s vow to seek retribution against his enemies, to launch a “mass deportation” of at least 11 million immigrants living in the United States without authorization and other promises.
“We are ready to take action the minute Trump takes the oath of office,” Romero said in a statement. “When President-elect Trump targets immigrants, dissidents and his political opponents we will challenge him in the courts, in state legislatures and in the streets.”
Vance, mom all smiles after victory
Vice president-elect JD Vance thanked supporters after he and Trump claimed victory early Wednesday morning. And his mother, Beverly Aikins, returned to Facebook on Wednesday to celebrate her son's win. Aikins took a break from social media in July after seeing "vitriol and hate" toward her son, including from critics in Vance's hometown of Middletown, where she still lives.
"Too big to rig," she wrote. "Popular vote by more than five million. Two hundred seventy seven electoral votes and still counting. Trump Vance 2024."
? Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer
Bomb threats linked to Russia did not alter election, official says
Bomb threats believed to be emanating from Russia interrupted voting Tuesday across numerous battleground states, but a top U.S. cybersecurity official said they didn’t have a material impact on the election or voters’ ability to cast their ballots. Jen Easterly, the director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said in a midnight press briefing that Tuesday's election did see some "minor" disruptive activities, including polling station evacuations and delays.
Easterly and other officials said the hoax bomb threats were sent to at least four states and were all deemed to be "non-credible."
“The point is this did not impact the ability of voters to cast their ballots or for their votes to be counted as cast,” Easterly said, commending the election officials on the ground in the states. “Ultimately they were able to demonstrate extensive resilience based on their preparations for it. … Overall I would call this a good news story for democracy.”
Eight states vote to prohibit noncitizen voting
Eight states approved constitutional amendments or ballot initiatives Tuesday to prohibit noncitizens from voting, a key Republican priority even though state and federal laws already prohibit it and despite studies showing it almost never happens. All the states adopted the measures by 2-1 margins or better. The constitutional amendments typically approved a very simple change of phrasing about citizens voting to add “only” citizens may vote.
North Carolina and Wisconsin were key swing states that each adopted constitutional amendments. Other states were Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma and South Carolina.
“It is illegal for non-citizens to vote in our elections,” Michael Whatley, co-chairman of the Republican National Committee, said when filing lawsuits against states to prevent noncitizen voting. “Yet time and again, we have seen Democrat officials oppose basic safeguards and dismantle election integrity provisions, intentionally opening the door to non-citizen voting in our elections.”
Studies by the Brennan Center for Justice and the libertarian Cato Institute have found noncitizen voting is essentially nonexistent. A Georgia audit of voter rolls this year found 20 noncitizens among 8.2 million registered voters.
Center for American Women and Politics: `Progress is not inevitable’
Harris’ candidacy demonstrated much of the advantages women have when they run for office, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. She was a formidable fundraiser. She connected with voters on issues important to her and to them. Her identify gave her a unique perspective on overlooked issues, the research center said in a statement Wednesday.
But the race also exemplified research that shows obstacles female candidates face, primarily unequal expectations. That’s particularly true for women of color, the center said. While women have held nearly every political office in America, they still hold fewer than a third of all political seats at every level of office – and still haven’t reached the highest office in the land.
“Progress is not inevitable,” the center said. “We have made great strides, yes, but there are many steps left on the path to parity.”
Can Trump run again in 2028?
Trump has run for president three times, winning the office in 2016 and now in 2024. So, can he run again in 2028? The 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits one person from serving more than two terms as president.
All presidents served no more than two terms until Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was elected president four times from 1932 to 1944. In 1947, two years after Roosevelt's death, a push began in the House of Representative to limit presidents to two terms. After some revisions by the Senate, the proposed amendment was approved and sent out to states, It was rtified on Feb. 27, 1951.
? Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer
From pariah to president: From pariah to president: Donald Trump rises from the ashes to reclaim the White House
How Kamala Harris lost the election
An appearance on ABC's "The View" last month provided a friendly forum for Harris to introduce herself to Americans unfamiliar with her story. But Harris struggled to explain what she would do differently than President Joe Biden. “Not a thing that comes to mind,” the incumbent vice president told the hosts.
Following Trump’s victory over Harris, that television moment underscored a fatal flaw of Harris’ campaign that doomed her election bid – an inability to separate herself from an unpopular president whose approval ratings have hovered around 40% for most of his four years in the White House. Read more details on why her pitch as a "new generation of leadership" failed to win over the nation.
? Joey Garrison
Has Harris conceded? What to know after Trump won the White House
What key states did Trump win on Election Day?
Trump won the first swing state called on election night, North Carolina. He also notched victories in Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The former president also picked up Republican strongholds across the country on Tuesday, from Texas to Montana and South Carolina. He won a few states that used to be swing states but have trended further to the right in recent years, including Ohio and Florida.
How Kamala Harris lost the election: The fatal flaws in a doomed election bid
What states did Harris win on Election Day?
Harris picked up Democratic strongholds across the country, from California to New York and Illinois. She also easily notched several New England states such as Vermont and Massachusetts, as well as the nation's capital, Washington, D.C.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Election 2024 recap: Harris concedes the election