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This is an adapted excerpt from MSNBC's special coverage of the 2024 election on Wednesday.
There will be a lot of time spent on how and why Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris and what this will mean for the country over the next four years and beyond. But in this moment, it’s also important to remember that our democracy is not built around one person or one job.
I have every confidence that pro-democracy forces in this country will continue to stand up and make their voices heard. That’s what we saw after 2016 as well. Some will be governors. Some will be institutions and organizations, standing up for rights, and standing up for women’s bodily autonomy, and standing up for our climate. And some will be citizens. Many of you sitting at home right now digesting this news — some of them will be you.
I wish I had better news for my daughter this election. I wish I could have called her and told her that the first woman president has been elected. I wish that. I won’t be able to do that. What I can do, what I can tell my daughter, what I will tell my daughter, is that our roles as American citizens have never been more important than they are right now.
I can tell her that there are still lots of forces out there — forces for good in this country — and that they are going to be getting to work.
Follow MSNBC’s live blog for the latest updates and expert analysis on the 2024 election.