Harris certifies Trump as winner, marking a very different Jan. 6

Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times on Jan 6, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

WASHINGTON — On a day replete with political symbolism for both parties, Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday officially acknowledged President-elect Donald Trump as the winner of the 2024 election, certifying the electoral college votes.

While the certification of votes served as a ceremonial completion to the turbulent 2024 election, the day also marked a momentous anniversary of the violent mob that stormed the Capitol four years ago, when Trump supporters attempted to disrupt the count.

Those scarring events were not far from lawmakers' minds, as many released statements ahead of time commemorating the dark day. But the president-elect was ready to cast a more jubilant tone on his Truth Social page early Monday, calling it "A BIG MOMENT IN HISTORY. MAGA!"

While Trump was absent for the ceremonial handing over, his onetime opponent from California kept the proceedings civil and businesslike. Harris strode purposefully into the House chambers in a plum-colored suit, leading the senators to a joint session of Congress.

She stood stoically at the dais, crossing her hands or passing along manila envelopes with the electoral college vote certificates, as the drone of each state's official vote count was read — including those from states who voted for her. Ironically, the senators submitted each count to her with the honorific "Madam President," as Harris served in her capacity as president of the Senate.

After just 30 minutes, Harris concluded the tally: "Donald J. Trump from the state of Florida has received 312 votes," she said, as the House erupted into applause. She smiled widely and, after a moment, hammered her gavel to call the chamber to order. Then, she announced her own results: "Kamala D. Harris from the state of California has received 226 votes."

Again, the chamber burst into cheers as her Democratic colleagues gave Harris a standing ovation. Once again, the vice president smiled and, after a moment, hammered the gavel for order.

Harris, who lost her bid for the presidency just two months ago, posted a video earlier Monday asserting that she would fulfill her duty under the Constitution to preside over the certification. Harris joins a small club of vice presidents who lost their bids for president and were required to certify the results — among them Al Gore and Richard Nixon.

"The peaceful transfer of power is one of the most fundamental principles of American democracy," Harris said. "As we have seen, our democracy can be fragile. And it is up to, then, each one of us to stand up for our most cherished principles, and to make sure that in America, our government always remains of the people, by the people and for the people."

What was once a perfunctory duty of Congress — certifying the electoral college votes from all states — became an international debacle in 2021, when people upset about Trump's reelection defeat in 2020 forced their way into the Capitol to disrupt the process.

"Thanks to the resilience of our institutions and the bravery of U.S. Capitol Police officers who risked their lives, this assault on our democracy failed. Yet, attacks on the right to vote and the very foundation of our democracy persist," said Democratic California Sen. Alex Padilla in a statement.

The riot, which unfolded on live television, immediately drew bipartisan condemnation. House leaders convened a committee to investigate the Jan. 6 rioters and law enforcement from across the country cracked down, leading to hundreds of convictions. But dueling political narratives quickly took hold.

By the time of the 2024 election, Trump had characterized Jan. 6, 2021, as "a day of love" and promised to pardon many of the rioters. Family members and supporters of those arrested after Jan. 6 frequently attended Trump's campaign events.

Democrats used the Jan. 6 attacks as evidence of a fragile democracy at risk of toppling under a second Trump administration. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris frequently portrayed Trump as a danger to democracy — though Republicans threw the insult back, alleging that Democrats stole the 2020 election. Democrats, who clearly lost in November, hammered a familiar line Monday: We are not sore losers.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) marked a somber message in a statement Monday morning: "History will always remember the attempted insurrection and we will never allow the violence that unfolded in plain sight to be whitewashed."

Several deep layers of security surrounded the Capitol buildings Monday morning, but the campus was mostly quiet as a snowstorm blanketed Washington, D.C., in white. Police presence was ramped up throughout the capital city.