After months of campaigning for Kamala Harris, former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama released a statement Wednesday acknowledging Harris' loss in the 2024 presidential election."This is obviously not the outcome we had hoped for, given our profound disagreements with the Republican ticket on a whole host of issues," the Obamas wrote in a statement posted to social media. "But living in a democracy is about recognizing that our point of view won't always win out, and being willing to accept the peaceful transfer of power." Here's our statement on the results of the 2024 presidential election: pic.twitter.com/lDkNVQDvMn— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 6, 2024 The Obamas both delivered headlining speeches in their hometown of Chicago during the Democratic National Convention in August.At the convention, the former first lady delivered a message of hope to a packed United Center.“A familiar feeling that’s been buried too deep for far too long. You know what I’m talking about: It’s the contagious power of hope,” she said in August. “The anticipation, the exhilaration of once again being on the cusp of a brighter day. The chance to vanquish the demons of fear, division and hate that have consumed us.” Related Immigrant advocates and Illinois legislators process Trump’s election – plan for resistance During his convention speech, the former Democratic president slammed Republican nominee Donald Trump’s “weird obsession with crowd sizes,” holding his hands a short distance apart and drawing huge laughs.Harris conceded to a crowd of supporters at Howard University in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday before the Obamas released their statement. They echoed her call to Democrats to continue their fight."In a county as big and diverse as ours, we won't always see eye-to-eye on everything," the Obamas said. "But progress requires us to extend good faith and grace — even to people with whom we deeply disagree. That's how we've come this far, and it's how we'll keep building a country that is more fair and more just, more equal and more free."Gov. JB Pritzker says Illinois is an ‘ally’ for vulnerable communitiesIllinois Gov. JB Pritzker also reacted to the election results following Harris' concession Wednesday. The governor has been a fierce opponent of Trump and a staunch supporter of reproductive rights."This morning our most vulnerable communities woke up to new uncertainty about their future, scared their rights will no longer be protected and unsure whether this nation stands with them," Pritzker wrote in a post on social media. pic.twitter.com/8rBCiQL2TO— JB Pritzker (@JBPritzker) November 6, 2024 "To women whose healthcare is under even greater threat, to our Black, Brown and AAPI communities, our LGBTQ friends and their families, immigrants and first-generation Americans, our most vulnerable Americans and those with disabilities, to all who have been made to feel unsafe and unwelcome by the Trump campaign and its allies — know that Illinois is your ally. You will always be welcome here," the governor wrote.Pritzker also spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August, blasting the "stupidity" of the former Republican president ."Donald Trump thinks we should trust him on the economy because he claims to be very rich,” Pritzker said in August. “Take it from an actual billionaire, Trump is rich in only one thing: stupidity.”Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson vows to keep Chicago ‘open and welcoming to all’Chicago, a Democratic stronghold, voted overwhelmingly for Harris's presidential bid. Mayor Brandon Johnson chimed in after it was clear the vice president fell short, vowing he "will not bend, who will not break when it comes to protecting our city.""We will work relentlessly to ensure Chicago remains Chicago. That Chicago remains open and welcoming to all, and our city remains a place where we live our values and refuse to bend the knee to dark forces that want to turn back the clock on our country's progress," he wrote in a statement. "That Chicago remains the world class city we all know and love."Johnson strongly backed Harris during her bid for the presidency. He welcomed the Democratic convention to the city in August, taking the stage in the United Center and building his national profile.