Vice President Kamala Harris is set to preside over the certification of her defeat to Donald Trump on Monday, marking a solemn moment in U.S. history four years after Trump tried to halt the same process to overturn his own loss.
In a video message, Harris called her role a “sacred obligation” and emphasized the importance of protecting democracy.
“As we have seen, our democracy can be fragile,” she said. “It is up to each of us to stand up for our most cherished principles.”
Today, I will perform my constitutional duty as Vice President to certify the results of the 2024 election. This duty is a sacred obligation — one I will uphold guided by love of country, loyalty to our Constitution, and unwavering faith in the American people. pic.twitter.com/w21HzdNxGs
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) January 6, 2025
Harris joins a select group of vice presidents who have overseen the certification of their own election defeats, a ceremonial but constitutionally significant duty. Richard Nixon did so in 1961 after losing to John F. Kennedy, and Al Gore followed in 2001 after the Supreme Court decided the contested 2000 election in favor of George W. Bush, according to a report by AP.
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However, no vice president has presided over the certification of a victory for a candidate who previously refused to concede an election. Trump’s return to the White House comes after he spread false claims of voter fraud in 2020 and incited the January 6 attack on the Capitol, where his supporters violently interrupted the certification of Joe Biden’s victory.
Harris was at the Democratic National Committee headquarters during the attack and was evacuated after a pipe bomb was discovered nearby. Throughout her campaign, she frequently invoked the events of January 6, describing Trump as a “petty tyrant” and a “wannabe dictator.”
After conceding the election, Harris reiterated her commitment to democracy in her speech:
“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 or tyranny.”
Unlike the turmoil of 2021, Monday’s certification is expected to proceed without disruption. Trump’s transition team spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, assured a smooth transfer of power, saying, “President Trump will deliver on his promise to serve ALL Americans and unify the country through success.”
Trump’s refusal to concede in 2020 and his efforts to overturn the results, including pressuring then-Vice President Mike Pence to disqualify electoral votes, remain a dark chapter. Pence refused, saying he had no authority to overturn the election, and rioters stormed the Capitol in response.
“I had no right to overturn the election,” Pence said later. “His reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol, and I know history will hold Donald Trump accountable.”
Trump faced legal scrutiny for his actions, including federal charges for attempting to subvert the election. However, the case was dropped after his 2024 victory, as Department of Justice policy prohibits prosecuting a sitting president. A separate case in Georgia remains entangled in controversy over the lead prosecutor’s personal connections.
The last vice president to oversee certification of their defeat, Al Gore, famously handled the 2000 election results with grace despite objections from some Democrats. After dismissing procedural challenges, Gore concluded the session by wishing the new president and vice president success, earning a standing ovation from lawmakers.
