Live updates: Vice President Kamala Harris delivers concession speech

4:38 p.m.

Harris wrapped up her 13-minute speech: “May that work guide us, even in the face of setbacks, toward the extraordinary promise of the United States of America. I thank you all, may God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America. I thank you all.”

4:37 p.m.

Harris implored the crowd not to despair.

“There’s an adage an historian once called a ’law of history.’ True of every society across the ages, the adage is: ’Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.’ I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time, but for the benefit of us all I hope that is not the case. But here’s the thing, America, if it is, let us fill the sky with the light of a brilliant, brilliant billion of stars, the light of optimism, of faith of truth, and service.”

4:35 p.m.

Her voice cracking at times, Harris said she will continue to fight for freedom and dignity that all people deserve, and that it will take hard work.

“Hard work is good work. Hard work can be joyful work. And the fight for our country is always worth it,” she declared to applause. “To the young people who are watching, it is OK to feel sad and disappointed. But please know that it is gonna be OK. … Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn’t mean we won’t win. The important thing is don’t ever give up. Don’t ever give up, don’t ever stop trying to make the world a better place. You have power, you have power, and don’t you ever listen when anyone tells you something is impossible because it has never been done before. You have the capacity to do extraordinary good in the world.”

4:31 p.m.

“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign. The fight for freedom, opportunity, fairness and the dignity of our people. … The ideals that reflect America at our best. That is a fight I will never give up. I will never give up the fight for a future where Americans can pursue their dreams, ambitions and aspirations. Where the women of America have the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies, and not having the government tell them what to do. We will never give up the fight to protect our schools and our streets from gun violence. And America, we will never give up the fight for our democracy, for the rule of law, for equal justice, and for the sacred idea that everyone of us no matter who we are or where we start out has certain fundamental rights and freedoms that must be respected and upheld. And we will continue to wage this fight in the voting booth, in the courts, and in the public square. We will also wage it in quieter ways: in how we live our lives and in treating each other with kindness and respect. By looking at the face of a stranger, and seeing a neighbor.”

4:28 p.m.

Harris told the crowd she was proud of how she ran her campaign, united by enthusiasm and love for the country.

“I know folks are feeling and experiencing a range of emotions right now. I get it. We must accept the results of the election. Earlier today I spoke with President-Elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory. I also told him that we will help him and his team on his transition and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power. A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results. That principle as much as any other distinguishes democracy from monarchy from tyranny, and anyone who seeks the public’s trust must honor it. We owe loyalty not to a president or a party, but to the Constitution of the United States. And loyalty to our conscience and to our god.

4:25 p.m.

“My heart is full today. Full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me. Full of love for our country. And full of resolve. 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 as long as we never give up, and as long as we keep fighting.”

Harris then thanks her family, her staff, President and Mrs. Biden, and Tim Walz and his wife.

4:24 p.m.

Harris is announced and arrives to cheers from the crowd. She smiled, clapped, and waved to the crowd, wearing a black suit as she came to the podium.

4:23 p.m.

The crowd began cheering as the anticipation of Harris’ arrival grew, and staffers shuffled out.

4:20 p.m.

Among the large crowd of supporters on hand to hear Harris speak include many Howard University students. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was also seen in the crowd.

Upbeat music has been playing over the loud speakers, including Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls)” and The Isley Brothers’ classic hit “Shout.”

Harris is expected to address the crowd any moment.

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Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver remarks at Howard University about her election loss Wednesday afternoon and is expected to concede to former President Donald Trump.

Earlier in the day, Ms. Harris called President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on his election victory, according to a senior campaign aide. She told Mr. Trump to be a “president for all Americans,” the aide said, and emphasized the need for a peaceful transfer ofr power.

Harris didn’t appear at her watch party at her alma mater as it neared 1 a.m. Eastern time Wednesday, prompting her campaign chief to tell supporters to head home.