Vice President Kamala Harris officially conceded the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump in a speech Wednesday afternoon. Below are his full remarks at his alma mater, Howard University in Washington, D.C.

So let me say this, my heart is full today. My heart is full today. I am full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me, and I am filled with patriotism and determination.

The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, it is not what we fought for, it is not what we voted for, but hear me when I say, hear me when I say, the light of America’s promise will always burn bright as long as we never give it away. As long as we continue to stand up and fight.

To dear Doug and our family, I love you so much. President Biden and Dr. Thank you for your faith and support in Biden. To Governor Walz and the Walz family, I know that your service to our nation will continue. And I thank my incredible team, the volunteers, poll workers, and local election officials who gave so much of themselves. Thank you all.

Look, I’m so proud of the race we ran, the way we ran, the way we ran. Throughout the one hundred and seven days of this campaign, we were committed to building community and building coalitions. To bring together people from all walks of life and backgrounds with enthusiasm, joy and love of country in our fight for America’s future. And we did this knowing that we all have much more in common than what divides us.

I now know that people are feeling and experiencing a variety of emotions right now. I understand But we need to accept the results of this election. I spoke with President-elect Trump earlier today and congratulated him on his victory. I also told him that we would assist him and his team in the transition process and ensure a peaceful transfer of power.

A fundamental tenet of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results. This principle, like many others, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny, and it must be respected by all who wish to gain the trust of the people.

At the same time, as a nation, we owe allegiance not to a president or a party, but to the Constitution of the United States and to our conscience and our God. My commitment to all three is why I am here to say that while I accept this election, I do not accept the fight that fueled this campaign. The fight for freedom, opportunity, justice and dignity of all people. A fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation, the ideals that best reflect America. This is a fight I will never give up.

I will never give up the fight for a future where Americans can pursue their dreams, passions, and aspirations. A place where women in America have the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies and not have their governments tell them what to do.

We will never give up the fight to protect our schools and streets from gun violence. And America, we will never give up our fight for our democracy, for the rule of law, for equal justice, and for the sacred idea that each of us, no matter who we are, no matter where we start, is entitled to certain fundamental rights. These are freedoms that must be respected and supported.

And we will continue to wage this struggle at the ballot box, in the courts and in the squares. And we will continue this with quieter methods. How we live our lives by treating each other with kindness and respect. By looking into the face of a stranger and seeing a neighbor. Always using our power to lift people up. To fight for the dignity that all people deserve. The fight for our freedom requires hard work, but as I always say, we like to work hard. Working hard is good work, working hard can be enjoyable work, and the fight we put in for our country is always worth it. It’s always worth it.

It’s normal for young people watching to feel upset and disappointed, but please know that this will get better. I often say this in the campaign: When we fight, we win. But here’s the thing. Here’s the thing. Sometimes the struggle takes a while. This doesn’t mean we can’t win. This doesn’t mean we can’t win.

The important thing is to never give up. Never give up, never stop trying to make the world a better place. You have power. You have power and never listen when someone tells you something is impossible because it hasn’t been done before. You have the capacity to do extraordinary good in the world and therefore to everyone who watches: Do not despair.

This is not the time to raise our hands. Now is the time to roll up your sleeves. This is a time to organize, take action, and commit for freedom, justice, and the future we know we can build together.

Look, most of you know that I started out as a prosecutor, and throughout my career I’ve seen people go through the worst times of their lives. People who have suffered great harm and great suffering, but still find within themselves the strength, courage and determination to take a stand, to take a stand, to fight for justice, to fight for themselves, to fight for others. So let their courage be our inspiration. May their determination be entrusted to us.

And I’ll close with that. There is a proverb that a historian calls the law of history that is valid for every society throughout the ages. The saying is; You can only see the stars when it’s dark enough. I know many people think we are entering a dark period, but for the benefit of us all, I hope that is not the case.

But here’s the thing. If America is what it is, let’s fill the sky with the light of billions of bright, shining stars. The light of optimism, faith, truth and service. And may this work guide us even in the face of setbacks to the extraordinary promises of the United States.

Thank you all. God bless you and God bless the United States of America. Thank you all.

Here’s the latest voting demographic breakdown from exit polls conducted by NBC News in conjunction with other news organizations across the country.