Thousands were on hand at the Washington, D.C. university, hoping to cheer the election of the first Black woman to the presidency, but early returns roiled those plans.

Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign did not admit defeat even as Donald Trump took the stage to declare victory in the presidential election early Wednesday. Harris planned to address supporters and the nation Wednesday at Howard University in Washington, D.C., the site of her planned election night party.

Thousands were on hand at the Yard, a large open space on the Washington, D.C. university's campus, hoping to cheer the election of the first Black woman to the presidency.

This is the first time in modern history that a presidential election watch party will be on a college campus. The school is closed and classes canceled Tuesday to encourage students to vote.

They came with the hope of seeing history: a victory for Kamala Harris, making her the first Black woman to be president of the United States."She will be the next President of the United States.