Fact check: Did Kamala Harris win the election?

1. Summary of the results

The evidence conclusively shows that Kamala Harris did not win the 2024 presidential election. Donald Trump secured victory through the Electoral College system despite Harris winning the popular vote with 77,168,458 votes (49.9%) compared to Trump's 74,749,891 votes (48.3%) ^[1]. Harris officially presided over and announced Trump's Electoral College victory in Congress, fulfilling her constitutional duties ^[2]. She also called Trump to congratulate him and prepared a concession speech ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements need to be considered:

• Trump's victory marked the first Republican to lead nationally since George W. Bush in 2004 ^[3]
• The victory was secured through key battleground states including Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Wisconsin ^[3]
• Joe Biden had dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Harris prior to the election ^[4]
• There were some concerns raised about election integrity and voting machine updates, though these did not produce any evidence that would change the outcome ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

Several sources of potential misinformation have emerged:

• Various conspiracy theories about Harris's eligibility and background have been circulating ^[6]
• Some conspiracy theorists continue to claim Harris might still become president, despite no evidence supporting such claims ^[7]
• The distinction between popular vote and Electoral College victory is crucial - while Harris won more total votes, the Electoral College system determined the final outcome ^[1]

Those who benefit from promoting election-related conspiracy theories include:

• Political activists and media outlets seeking engagement through controversial content
• Social media influencers and conspiracy theory promoters gaining followers and attention
• Political operatives attempting to delegitimize the electoral process

The facts show that while Harris won the popular vote, she lost the Electoral College and has publicly acknowledged this outcome through her concession and official duties.