“We Have to Be Ready for Anything”: Kamala Harris Eyes Howard University as Potential Election Night Headquarters

Vice President Kamala Harris is considering multiple venues for her election night headquarters on November 5, with her alma mater, Howard University, emerging as a top contender, according to a recent report by NBC News. With just two weeks left before Election Day, the Harris-Walz campaign is finalizing preparations for what is shaping up to be one of the closest elections in history.

NBC News revealed that, aside from Howard University, other venues in Washington, D.C., including the convention center, are being weighed as potential locations for Harris’ election night base. The decision on where Harris will spend the evening is part of a broader strategy that the campaign is carefully planning for the critical days following Election Day.

Preparing for Election Night and Beyond

The Harris-Walz campaign is not only preparing for election night but also strategizing for the days that follow as the country waits for the results to be finalized. Sources familiar with the campaign’s plans suggest that Harris’ public speeches and appearances during that period will depend largely on how Election Day unfolds.

“Precisely what Harris says publicly and the backdrop for her remarks would depend on how Election Day and the rest of the week unfolds,” a source told NBC News. “Bottom line: We have to be ready for anything.”

Given the unpredictability of the race, the campaign is focusing on a range of scenarios, including the possibility of legal challenges or premature claims of victory from former President Donald Trump, as occurred in 2020.

Bracing for Potential Legal Battles

The Harris campaign is also preparing for the possibility of legal challenges that could arise in the days after the election. According to NBC News, the team is especially concerned about Trump potentially declaring victory before the results are fully in, as he did during the 2020 election.

“Harris aides are also bracing for the possibility that Trump could lose but then seek to overturn the results through the courts,” the report stated. This time around, Harris, who had a “front-row seat to how the process played out” in 2020, is taking steps to ensure the campaign is ready to handle any such situation.

In the 2020 election, President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris waited four days after Election Day to deliver their victory speeches in Wilmington, Delaware, despite Trump’s ongoing claims that he had won the election. The Harris-Walz campaign appears to be adopting a similar approach in preparing for any potential delays or disruptions in the days following the 2024 election.

Election Night at Howard University?

Howard University, where Harris earned her undergraduate degree, holds symbolic significance for the vice president. Using the historically Black university as her election night headquarters would send a powerful message, aligning with her long-standing connection to the institution and her efforts to mobilize minority voters.

However, as NBC News reports, other venues are still under consideration, and no final decision has been made. Regardless of the venue, Harris’ presence and speeches on election night will be closely watched, particularly as the campaign navigates the tense political climate and prepares for any legal challenges that may arise.

With the election just around the corner, the Harris-Walz team is preparing for an unpredictable outcome, and their strategy reflects the uncertainty that looms over this highly anticipated race. As one source put it, the campaign knows they must “be ready for anything,” including a potential repeat of the contentious post-election period seen in 2020.