Jimmy Williams
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, plans to spend election night at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she earned her undergraduate degree. According to sources familiar with the plans, Harris’ campaign is preparing for the event to take place in the Quad, though the precise location on campus may change.
Harris’ decision to spend election night at Howard underscores her connection to the historically Black university, which she has called “The Mecca” in reference to its influence on generations of Black leaders. In a recent letter published in The Hilltop, Howard’s student newspaper, Harris shared memories of her time at the university, saying, “I recognize my time at Howard shaped me into the person I am today. At Howard, we learn that we have the capacity to be great and also that we have the responsibility to work hard to live up to that potential each day.”
While she has returned to Howard periodically since taking office, it is a rare location for campaign events. Hosting her election night event at Howard underscores her commitment to the institution’s role in shaping her political identity and values.
Harris, who pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha—the country’s first historically Black sorority—at Howard in 1986, has frequently cited her college years as foundational to her activism and career. The university, a beacon of historically Black education and leadership, also aligns with Harris’ ongoing focus on issues of racial justice and opportunity.
Across the political aisle, former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, plans to host his election night event in West Palm Beach, Florida, at a convention center near his resort property. His campaign has not yet disclosed specifics on his evening plans.
The news of Harris’ election night headquarters at Howard arrived on the same day she gave a speech on the Ellipse near the White House, where she encouraged Americans to “turn the page” on her rival. Trump himself addressed supporters at the Ellipse shortly before the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot—a parallel Harris’ campaign may be subtly underscoring in its choice of location and message.
For Howard University, hosting Harris on such a consequential night underscores its role as a cultural and political center for the Black community, serving as a backdrop for what could be a historic election outcome.