Kamala Harris’ party empties after campaign says she won’t be speaking tonight

WASHINGTON — As polling places across the country began to close Tuesday night, thousands of supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris gathered at Howard University in Washington.

But as the clock passed 11 p.m. ET and forecasters began predicting a Donald Trump victory, some Harris supporters at her party in Washington, D.C., headed home.

Those still there after midnight left the premises after a campaign official announced that Harris would not be speaking at her party.

Cedric Richmond, Harris’ campaign co-chair, said Harris will continue to monitor the votes coming in and will return to Howard University tomorrow to address the nation.

While some at the party remained hopeful that Harris could still win, others were less optimistic. But no one expected that the final result would be received this evening.

“I’m excited—not necessarily nervous,” Paul Sadler said as he and Lane Eskridge walked away. “I’m still hopeful,” Eskridge added.

“It’s still possible (for Harris),” Sadler said. “There is still time. There are still many more votes to come from key battleground states.”

Another man, who gave his name as Ben, described his mood as “tired, exhausted, a little upset” upon leaving. “But I still feel like Kamala can win.”

Others agreed. “It’s getting a little gloomy,” said Malcolm Magee, a Washington resident, as he headed home. “A little unsettling is the best description.”

Kelsey Moss, heading out with Magee, noted that she had work that morning. “I’m concerned but optimistic,” she said. “We’ll be back tomorrow.”

Moss said she was going home to sleep; Magee said he would turn on the TV to watch the results when he arrived. “I’ll probably have a little cocktail,” he said. “I don’t think I’ll get a good night’s sleep.”

At Harris’s party, the crowd was initially excited.

Cell phone service was spotty early at night, and the huge screens around the Yard only occasionally turned on CNN to offer breaking news.

Instead, the crowd danced and sang. A live DJ provided music and Howard’s performing arts clubs performed. “Personally, I think it will be an overwhelming vote and we will get the result (tonight),” said Kerry Wilson, who voted in Maryland last week.

Harris is not expected to appear until late in the evening, when she will either declare victory, concede or—as President Joe Biden did in 2020 when the race was too close to call—remind voters: “It’s not over yet.” until every vote has been taken.” counts.”

In the final hours before polls closed across the country, Harris spent the day speaking to voters on the radio. She appeared on radio shows from Philadelphia and Raleigh to Phoenix and Las Vegas, most recently urging voters to go to the polls.

“I will be throughout the day — today, all day — talking to people and reminding them to get out and vote,” Harris said on the “Big K Morning Show” in Pittsburgh Tuesday morning.

By Tuesday afternoon, Harris’ campaign said she had also made appearances on Power 99 in Philadelphia, the “Big Tigger Morning Show” in Atlanta and Foxy 107.2 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Later that day, she attended concerts at the battlefields of Arizona, Nevada and Wisconsin.

During a radio appearance in Pittsburgh, Harris said she would have dinner with her family – a “tradition,” she said – before heading to Howard University in Washington, where her campaign is holding a party tonight.

Due to the proximity of polling stations, no results were expected on election night. Polls showed minimal differences in several battleground states. Nate Silver’s election forecast ran 80,000 simulations in the early hours of Election Day; Harris won 50.015% of the time. Poll aggregator FiveThirtyEight shows Trump leading in three swing states, Harris leading in two and tied in two – and the difference is within 2 percentage points in any of them.

More than 78 million Americans voted before Election Day, and 35% of them were Republicans. — noting the significant increase in GOP early voting compared to past cycles.

On Tuesday afternoon, Harris’ supporters expressed confidence that she would top the polls. “I feel good,” said Mark Gilbert, former U.S. ambassador and Harris donor. “Early state reports will give us a lot of information. “I believe (Harris) is winning most, if not all, swing states and outperforming everyone else.”

In Howard, where some patrons began lining up early Tuesday morning, metal fencing surrounds the perimeter and there is a significant police presence on site. Classes at the university were held remotely on Monday; on Tuesday all classes were cancelled.

By Tuesday evening, as the campus’s central courtyard filled with campaign supporters, volunteers and staff, visitors expressed hope for Harris’ chances.

“Obviously we’re all worried and nervous, but we’re very happy for her,” said James Thompson, a Washington resident. “Let’s just say we hope Vice President Harris becomes the next President of the United States.”

Kayla Hill-Jones, a Howard Law School graduate, said Harris’ rise to the top of the Democratic ticket has brought “new energy” to the party.

“To be honest, when Biden was running, I wasn’t as excited or as energized to support the Democratic Party,” Hill-Jones said. “To see the change and to see her truly being more like herself, even in the realm of politics, I think that’s very inspiring.”