Kamala Harris certifies her loss to Donald Trump

Entering the Senate chamber Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris issued a simple statement when asked by NBC News about presiding over the certification of the 2024 election: “Democracy prevails.”

Minutes later, Harris conducted and directed Congress’s collective approval of the election vote, which she lost, confirming Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

Hands folded in front of her, Harris looked ahead clearly and attentively as four senators took turns reading the election totals from each state.

She broke into a broad smile both when the vote total reached a threshold to declare Trump the next president and when she received a standing ovation from her party when her vote total was read.

Harris’ message from Jan. 6 was one that both she and her predecessor on the campaign trail, President Joe Biden, conveyed time and time again to voters. They advocated “freedom” and democracy, avoiding the events of the violent riot by Trump supporters on January 6, 2021, which saw an unprecedented attack on the nation’s Capitol.

Missing on this day compared to four years earlier were gallows and a noose built outside the Capitol grounds. Or rallying in support of hanging the vice president for not rejecting the will of the people and the true outcome of the election. Instead, the event played out the way it was supposed to unfold, pro forma, taking almost 30 minutes.

Ultimately, American voters rejected Harris and ushered in Trump and his promises to blow up the status quo. Trump claimed 312 electoral votes to Harris’ 226, winning the popular vote and sweeping battleground states, including toppling Democrats’ so-called “blue wall” of states typically necessary for their party’s victory.

In contrast to Trump’s refusal to accept the 2020 result, Harris conceded his loss and tried to offer words of comfort to his supporters a day after the election.

“The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for, but hear me when I say … the light of America’s promise will always burn bright,” Harris said.