Democrats hoped Harris would rescue them. On Wednesday, she will publicly reckon with her loss

WASHINGTON (AP) — Once viewed arsenic a imaginable savior for nan Democratic Party aft Joe Biden ‘s reelection run stalled, Kamala Harris and her supporters are reckoning pinch a profound rejection by American voters successful this year’s statesmanlike election.

She trailed successful every battleground state to Donald Trump, a man she described arsenic an existential threat to nan country’s foundational institutions. And Trump appeared connected way to triumph nan celebrated ballot for nan first clip successful his 3 campaigns for nan White House — moreover aft 2 impeachments, felony convictions and his effort to overturn his erstwhile predetermination loss.

Harris planned to present a concession reside Wednesday astatine 4 p.m., her agency announced. She’ll speak astatine Howard University, her alma mater successful Washington, wherever her supporters watched returns Tuesday nighttime earlier being sent location aft midnight arsenic Trump pulled up successful battleground states. Her run did not disclose immoderate plans to speak to Trump.

In a bitter footnote for Harris, arsenic nan sitting vice president she is expected to oversee Congress’ ceremonial certification of nan election.

Democratic statesmanlike nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, left, speaks pinch Ike Irby, elder advisor to nan vice president, and Kirsten Allen, communications head to nan vice president, soon earlier taking nan shape for Harris’ last run rally, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, successful Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

It’s nan aforesaid domiciled that Mike Pence played 4 years ago, erstwhile Trump directed his supporters to march connected nan U.S. Capitol. Although critics said the convulsive insurrection crystallized Trump’s threat to American democracy, that yet did not dissuade voters from electing him again.

Harris became nan Democratic campaigner aft Biden, who was already struggling to person voters that he could service arsenic president until he was 86 years old, stumbled severely successful his June 27 statement pinch Trump.

He dropped retired of nan race connected July 21 and endorsed his vice president, who swiftly unified nan Democratic Party astir her candidacy.

It was a singular twist of destiny for Harris. Four years earlier, her ain statesmanlike run flamed retired and revealed nan governmental limitations of personification erstwhile dubbed “the female Barack Obama.” Even though Biden chose Harris arsenic his moving mate, she languished successful nan domiciled aft taking agency arsenic nan first woman, Black personification aliases personification of South Asian descent to service arsenic vice president.

Some Democrats started penning her disconnected erstwhile they pondered nan party’s early aft Biden. But Harris recovered caller intent aft the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade successful 2022, and she became nan White House’s starring advocator for abortion rights.

Harris besides made a much concerted effort to web pinch section politicians, business leaders and taste figures, forging connections that could service her down nan road.

The infinitesimal arrived sooner than she anticipated, and she was catapulted into nan statesmanlike title pinch Biden’s departure only a period earlier nan Democratic National Convention.

Harris instantly reset nan position of nan contest pinch Trump. She was 18 years younger and a erstwhile courtroom charismatic going up against nan first awesome statesmanlike campaigner convicted of crimes. Her candidacy energized Democrats who feared they were destined for conclusion pinch Biden astatine nan apical of nan ticket.

But she besides faced steep likelihood from nan beginning. She inherited Biden’s governmental cognition pinch conscionable 107 days until nan extremity of nan election, and she faced a restless electorate that was eager for change.

Although Harris sounded “a caller measurement forward,” she struggled to meaningfully differentiate herself from nan unpopular sitting president. In addition, she had constricted clip to present herself to skeptical voters, who ne'er formed a ballot for her successful a statesmanlike primary.

Democrats now look nan imaginable of picking up nan pieces during a 2nd Trump presidency, and it’s unclear what domiciled Harris will play successful her party’s future.