WASHINGTON, DC, USA — Vice President Kamala Harris will preside over a joint session of Congress on Monday, January 6, 2025, to certify Donald Trump’s presidential election victory, marking the culmination of the 2024 election cycle.
The event, falling on the anniversary of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, has drawn attention as Harris prepares to certify her own electoral defeat.
In a pre-recorded video message to the press, Harris described her role as a “sacred obligation,” pledging to uphold democratic norms and ensure a peaceful transfer of power.
“Guided by love of country, loyalty to our Constitution, and my unwavering faith in the American people,” Harris said, “I will perform my constitutional duty as vice president of the United States to certify the results of the 2024 election.”
A Focus on Democracy
The vice president has accepted the 2024 results and expressed her commitment to a peaceful transition.
A senior aide emphasised Harris’ determination to separate politics from her constitutional role.
“She feels that it’s important to uphold the standards and pillars of our democracy and make sure that people know that she doesn’t only support democracy when it is in her favour,” the aide said.
Harris has used the moment to reaffirm the importance of the vice president’s role as “solely ministerial,” underscoring the responsibility of elected leaders and citizens alike to preserve democratic institutions.
“She was very intentional that she didn’t want anything about this day to be about politics or her being the nominee,” the aide added.
“We took the execution of this duty for granted until it became a violent day in history.”
Reflecting on the Past
The significance of Harris’ role is underscored by the events of January 6, 2021, when pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s victory.
Harris, then vice president-elect, was evacuated from the Democratic National Committee headquarters after a pipe bomb was discovered nearby.
Four years later, the Capitol is braced for a more subdued session, with no large-scale Democratic protests planned despite the bitterly cold weather and snow forecasted for Monday.
Harris aims to use the occasion to reiterate democratic norms and ensure a peaceful certification process.
Looking Ahead
Despite her loss to Trump, Harris has signalled her intention to remain active in public life after leaving office.
Aides close to the vice president have suggested she may set up an organisation to advocate for issues she championed during her campaign, including voting rights and criminal justice reform.
“She’s still in a stage where she’s not made any decisions about exactly what remaining in the fight will look like, but she just overall resolves to remain in the fight,” said a former Harris aide.
Speculation about Harris’ future includes potential runs for governor of California in 2026 or a presidential bid in 2028.
For now, she is expected to return to her home state of California, where she will consider her next steps.
Harris has also used her platform to encourage her allies and staff to focus on their accomplishments rather than her electoral defeat.
“We’re not going to have any pity parties,” she told family members and supporters during recent holiday gatherings.
“We have a lot to be proud of in the way that we waged the campaign.”
A “Fragile” Democracy
In her video message, Harris reflected on the importance of defending democratic institutions.
“As we have seen, our democracy can be fragile,” she said. “And it is up to each of us to stand up for our most cherished principles.”
Her remarks encapsulate the gravity of her task on Monday, as she presides over a joint session of Congress, ensuring the peaceful transfer of power in a moment that underscores both the resilience and challenges of American democracy.
