A night of celebration turned to one of grief for scores of Democrats gathered at Howard University on Tuesday evening to support Vice President Kamala Harris at an election night watch party.
Harris was scheduled to address her supporters at the institution where she graduated in 1986 with a degree in political science and economics.
However, the resounding victory of Republican candidate Donald Trump gradually dampened the mood, and an announcement that Harris would no longer be speaking prompted attendees to leave the university promptly.
Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.
With a win in Wisconsin, Trump cleared the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency.
The crowd, which had begun the evening with music, dancing, and high hopes, left in tears and a sombre state as results continued to show Trump leading the race, marking a historic comeback to the White House.
Harris-Walz campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond informed the crowd just after midnight that the vice president would address them on Wednesday instead.
Trump’s victory places him back in the nation’s highest office four years after his loss in the 2020 election. He returns following two presidential impeachments, a criminal conviction, and numerous other charges.
