Harris to local leaders: stay committed in 'important year'

In rare public remarks since election, Harris urges local Black leaders to stay committed in 'important year'

By Maddie Gannon Washington, D.C.

PUBLISHED 6:21 PM ET Dec. 05, 2024 PUBLISHED 6:21 PM EST Dec. 05, 2024

WASHINGTON – Delivering rare public remarks since her election loss to President-elect Donald Trump last month, Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday stopped by an annual conference of more than 300 Black state legislators, policymakers and community leaders from around the country to encourage them to stay committed to their work in what she said would be an “important year.”

What You Need To Know

Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday stopped by an annual conference of more than 300 Black state legislators, policymakers and community leaders from around the country to encourage them to stay committed to their work in what she said would be an “important year"

It marked a rare public appearance for the vice president after her loss to President-elect Donald Trump

Other post-campaign appearances by Harris include visiting a local Washington nonprofit on Thanksgiving day to help prepare meals, speaking briefly to staff at the White House and addressing donors to her campaign in a video call last week, only a snippet of which was shared publicly by the Democratic National Committee

The vice president and her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff are set to join Biden on Thursday evening for the lighting of the national Christmas tree

“It is going to be an important year next year and I know that’s part of what the conference has been about, to think about how we are going to use the limited resources we have to serve the greatest number of people and to lift folks up,” Harris told those gathered at the National Black Caucus of State Legislators annual legislative conference.

“Our work is so important and as you reflect on this past year, let us remember, we have impact in every way,” she continued, before telling local leaders to “stay committed to that.”

Harris’ brief speech at the Washington hotel where the conference was taking place on Thursday featured several of her often-used lines on the campaign trail this cycle, including telling those gathered that “hard work is good work” and that the “true measure” of a leaders’ strength is about who they lift up, not who they beat down.

“It is about lifting up all people, recognizing everyone's right to opportunity to dignity to freedom,” Harris said, echoing key themes of her White House run.

“We are up for the moment, to see it through and get it done and yes, we will do it with joy in our hearts and with our commitment to the fight,” she said.

Thursday’s stop marked Harris’ first speech-style public remarks since she formally conceded the 2024 election to Trump last month. Aside from visiting a local Washington nonprofit on Thanksgiving day to help prepare meals, speaking briefly to staff at the White House and addressing donors to her campaign in a video call last week, only a snippet of which was shared publicly by the Democratic National Committee, the vice president has stayed out of the spotlight.

Her and President Joe Biden are still in office until Jan. 20, 2025. The vice president and her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff are set to join Biden on Thursday evening for the lighting of the national Christmas tree.