Harris calls Trump to concede defeat, discusses need for peaceful transfer of power

Kamala Harris called President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday to concede the election and congratulate him on his victory, according to a senior adviser to the vice president.

The aide, who declines to be identified discussing a private conversation, says Harris talked about the need for a peaceful transfer of power.

Harris, once viewed as a potential savior for the Democratic Party after Joe Biden’s reelection campaign stalled, is reckoning with a profound rejection by American voters in this year’s presidential election.

She trailed in every battleground state to Donald Trump, a man she described as an existential danger to the country’s foundational institutions. And Trump appeared on track to win the popular vote for the first time in his three campaigns for the White House — even after two impeachments, felony convictions and his attempt to overturn his previous election loss.

Harris planns to deliver a concession speech Wednesday at 4 p.m., her office announces. She’ll speak at Howard University, her alma mater in Washington, where her supporters watched returns Tuesday night before being sent home after midnight as Trump pulled ahead in battleground states.

In a bitter footnote for Harris, as the sitting vice president she is expected to oversee Congress’ ceremonial certification of the election.