Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, a loyal Kamala Harris supporter who many suggested might have been up for an appointment in her administration if she had won the presidential race, waited until after Harris’ concession speech Wednesday to speak out on her defeat.

“Last night was last night,” Woodfin said on X Wednesday afternoon. “If you’re like me, you’re feeling the collective shock of the outcome.”

The stunning outcome included Donald Trump not only winning the Electoral College vote, but also probably the popular vote, making him president-elect and set to take office for another term on Jan. 20.

“But let’s not talk about last night,” Woodfin said. “Let’s talk about today. We are our ancestors’ wildest dreams – the descendants of activists and changemakers. Defiance is in our DNA and we refuse to be victims of circumstance. When laws were unjust, we marched. When institutions were set up against us, we tore them down. When our opps literally spit on our faces, we stood tall, ten toes down, and watched them fold.”

Woodfin referenced Birmingham’s history as a cradle of the civil rights movement as a source of continuing strength.

“We have shown the world time and time again how to rewrite our destiny,” Woodfin said. “Those election results were a reminder that our families, our education, our rights and freedoms must not be taken for granted. And we won’t. Last night was not the end. Today is the beginning. And tomorrow is when real change comes.”

Woodfin preached continued optimism.

“Hope and optimism is still the order of the day,” Woodfin said. “Let’s keep working to make the future better and brighter for our next generation.”