‘I think it's over’: Democrats Lose Hope as Trump Extends Lead in Key States
Certain members of Harris’ campaign started preparing for the possibility of defeat.
TroibNews 
Democrats are facing a familiar nightmare once again.
As Election Day turned into Wednesday, members of the party began to grapple with the possibility of a situation reminiscent of 2016. The Associated Press had already declared two key battleground states—North Carolina and Georgia—in favor of Donald Trump, who was outperforming his 2020 margins in numerous regions. In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris was struggling to achieve Joe Biden’s previous performance across various areas, including light-blue counties that had swung toward Democrats in 2020 and deep-red areas where Trump continued to expand his leads.
As Harris’s path to the White House grew increasingly narrow, the anxiety permeating the Democratic ranks shifted into shock, despair, and, for some, a reluctant acceptance of an impending defeat.
"Trump will win every swing state, with the possible exception of Michigan,” said one anonymous Democratic pollster who spoke candidly. “I think it's over."
While some members of Harris's campaign remained hopeful that the uncounted ballots would break in her favor, others were preparing for the prospect of loss. Shortly before 1 a.m., former Rep. Cedric Richmond, co-chair of Harris's campaign, took the stage at her alma mater, Howard University, to effectively signal the end of what many had envisioned as a victory celebration.
“We still have votes to count, we still have states that have not been called yet,” Richmond announced. “We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken.”
However, he informed the dejected audience, “you won’t hear from the vice president tonight,” adding, “You will hear from her tomorrow.”
This shift in tone marked a departure from earlier in the campaign when Harris’s campaign manager, Jen O’Malley Dillon, had sent a memo to staffers trying to calm their fears.
“We have known all along that our clearest path to 270 electoral votes lies through the Blue Wall states. And we feel good about what we’re seeing,” O’Malley Dillon wrote in a memo, as per a copy obtained by PMG.
Yet, confidence was dwindling among Democrats about Harris’s ability to uphold the party’s stronghold.
“I could see how she could come back in one of the three Blue Wall states,” remarked a high-ranking Pennsylvania Democratic official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “But all three? I just don’t see how. I will be elated to be proven wrong.”
Warning signs for Harris had started to materialize even before most states began reporting results. Exit polls indicated that Trump was making gains among Black men in North Carolina and Georgia, both of which the Republican reclaimed from Democrats later that evening.
Harris also did not perform as well nationally with Hispanic and young voters compared to Biden’s results in 2020, exit polls revealed. Even in traditionally deep-blue areas, Trump improved his standing significantly, particularly in New York City, his former home.
“It feels more like 2016 than 2020,” stated Rep. Jared Huffman, a Democrat from California.
“That’s what’s troubling,” he added. “Those of us that had hoped for a resounding repatriation of Trump, we’re left to hope for a nail biter through the Blue Wall.”
Not every Democrat seemed hopeless.
“Everybody fucking relax,” urged Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, calling her fellow Democrats to maintain their composure. “There’s still a ton of votes to get through.”
Yet, elsewhere, the atmosphere darkened with each passing moment. Before the crowd at Harris’s campaign party began to disperse, a clip of Beyoncé’s “Freedom,” which the vice president had used as her entrance song at various events, elicited groans. Attempts to initiate “Kamala” chants faltered.
Reflecting on the early days of Harris's campaign, one Democratic operative pondered, “Is it brat to lose an election?”
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
As Election Day turned into Wednesday, members of the party began to grapple with the possibility of a situation reminiscent of 2016. The Associated Press had already declared two key battleground states—North Carolina and Georgia—in favor of Donald Trump, who was outperforming his 2020 margins in numerous regions. In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris was struggling to achieve Joe Biden’s previous performance across various areas, including light-blue counties that had swung toward Democrats in 2020 and deep-red areas where Trump continued to expand his leads.
As Harris’s path to the White House grew increasingly narrow, the anxiety permeating the Democratic ranks shifted into shock, despair, and, for some, a reluctant acceptance of an impending defeat.
"Trump will win every swing state, with the possible exception of Michigan,” said one anonymous Democratic pollster who spoke candidly. “I think it's over."
While some members of Harris's campaign remained hopeful that the uncounted ballots would break in her favor, others were preparing for the prospect of loss. Shortly before 1 a.m., former Rep. Cedric Richmond, co-chair of Harris's campaign, took the stage at her alma mater, Howard University, to effectively signal the end of what many had envisioned as a victory celebration.
“We still have votes to count, we still have states that have not been called yet,” Richmond announced. “We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken.”
However, he informed the dejected audience, “you won’t hear from the vice president tonight,” adding, “You will hear from her tomorrow.”
This shift in tone marked a departure from earlier in the campaign when Harris’s campaign manager, Jen O’Malley Dillon, had sent a memo to staffers trying to calm their fears.
“We have known all along that our clearest path to 270 electoral votes lies through the Blue Wall states. And we feel good about what we’re seeing,” O’Malley Dillon wrote in a memo, as per a copy obtained by PMG.
Yet, confidence was dwindling among Democrats about Harris’s ability to uphold the party’s stronghold.
“I could see how she could come back in one of the three Blue Wall states,” remarked a high-ranking Pennsylvania Democratic official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “But all three? I just don’t see how. I will be elated to be proven wrong.”
Warning signs for Harris had started to materialize even before most states began reporting results. Exit polls indicated that Trump was making gains among Black men in North Carolina and Georgia, both of which the Republican reclaimed from Democrats later that evening.
Harris also did not perform as well nationally with Hispanic and young voters compared to Biden’s results in 2020, exit polls revealed. Even in traditionally deep-blue areas, Trump improved his standing significantly, particularly in New York City, his former home.
“It feels more like 2016 than 2020,” stated Rep. Jared Huffman, a Democrat from California.
“That’s what’s troubling,” he added. “Those of us that had hoped for a resounding repatriation of Trump, we’re left to hope for a nail biter through the Blue Wall.”
Not every Democrat seemed hopeless.
“Everybody fucking relax,” urged Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, calling her fellow Democrats to maintain their composure. “There’s still a ton of votes to get through.”
Yet, elsewhere, the atmosphere darkened with each passing moment. Before the crowd at Harris’s campaign party began to disperse, a clip of Beyoncé’s “Freedom,” which the vice president had used as her entrance song at various events, elicited groans. Attempts to initiate “Kamala” chants faltered.
Reflecting on the early days of Harris's campaign, one Democratic operative pondered, “Is it brat to lose an election?”
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
