Upon entering the Senate chamber on Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris made a simple yet powerful statement about presiding over the certification of the 2024 election: “Democracy prevails.” Shortly after, she led Congress in endorsing the electoral vote, confirming Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

With hands clasped and a focused gaze, Harris watched as four senators read the electoral totals from each state. She smiled widely when the vote count confirmed Trump as the next president and received a standing ovation from her party when her vote total was announced.

Harris’ message on this Jan. 6 echoed the campaign trail sentiments of both her and President Joe Biden, advocating for “freedom” and democracy while condemning the violent riot by Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2021. Unlike the chaos of four years ago, this event was orderly and took only 30 minutes.

The American electorate ultimately chose Trump, who secured 312 electoral votes to Harris’ 226, won the popular vote, and swept battleground states, dismantling the Democrats’ “blue wall.” In contrast to Trump’s refusal to accept the 2020 election outcome, Harris conceded her loss and offered comforting words to her supporters the day after the election. “The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for, but hear me when I say … the light of America’s promise will always burn bright,” she said.