On the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last night, the party ushered in a new candidate – and a new era. The convention was electrified by the Democratic Party’s newfound hope for electoral success with Kamala Harris as their nominee and reverence for President Joe Biden’s decision to step down.
In his keynote speech, Biden took to the stage teary-eyed as the crowd chanted, “Thank you, Joe!” While effectively saying farewell to his career in politics, Biden highlighted the triumphs of his presidency and offered a full-throated endorsement of Harris as his replacement.
He touted his success in rallying NATO to take on Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the war in Ukraine, lowering prescription prices, and canceling student loan debt. He also focused on legislative achievements, like the bipartisan infrastructure and CHIPS bills, which are key to many down-ballot Democrats’ campaigns. Biden was never more fired up than when speaking about Donald Trump, portraying the former president as an existential threat to the country.
Biden explained that his devotion to his nation fueled his decision to pass the baton to Harris. “I love this job,” he told the crowd, “but I love my country more.”
Introduction time. Harris has been on the national stage for years, but Democrats are still using the convention to boost her profile for voters who haven’t followed her career closely. Childhood friends described how her protective instincts drove her to become a prosecutor, a profession they argued made her the perfect opponent to take on Trump, who is facing multiple criminal indictments. Harris made two surprise appearances on stage as well last night, ensuring her presence was felt even if the crowd was gathered to hear Biden say goodbye.
The Democrats also had to prove they were unified behind Harris and sent out a long list of party heavyweights – moderates and progressives alike – to sing her praises. Women of all ages and backgrounds nodded to Harris’ historic opportunity to become the first woman and second Black president. Hillary Clinton called on Democrats to help Harris break the glass ceiling she couldn’t against Trump in 2016. “On the other side of that glass ceiling,” Clinton said, “is Kamala Harris raising her hand and taking the oath of office as our 47th president of the United States.”
Democratic platform unveiled. The event revealed the cornerstones of Harris’ campaign. Reproductive rights were center stage, an issue that has motivated Democrats to go to the polls since Roe v. Wade was overturned and is on the ballot in more than a half-dozen states.
Three women shared emotional stories about being denied care in states with abortion restrictions, and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who won his race in a red state in part by defending abortion rights, warned that a second Trump term would further imperil abortion access.
There was also a focus on the issues facing the middle and working classes, like affordable childcare, high housing costs, and debt. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the party’s most prominent progressives, was met with a thunder of applause when she embraced Harris as a champion for these issues, describing her as a “woman who fights every single day to lift working people out from under the boots of greed trampling on our way of life.” Shawn Fain, the president of the powerful United Automobile Workers union, also gave a speech endorsing Harris.
The attacks on Trump were frequent. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland recounted the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, and Rep. Robert Garcia of California said that during the COVID pandemic, Trump had “peddled conspiracy theories across the country.”
Trump, meanwhile, posted on Truth Social, accusing the Democrats of “a vicious coup,” pointing to the fact the party’s platform wasn’t updated after Biden stepped back from the race. That said, Democrats did not break any rules in making the switch.
But swapping Harris for Biden has reinvigorated Democrats. So far, the convention has served as a pep rally for the party’s future. The energy in Chicago is reminiscent of the Republican National Convention, which took place just five weeks ago when the GOP was flying high off of Trump surviving an assassination attempt, his strong debate performance, and his lead over Biden in the polls.
The tables have turned quickly for Democrats, but Harris must still prove she can sustain her momentum — and a lot can change between now and November.
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Protesters incensed over US support for Israel amid the war in Gaza gathered in Chicago’s Union Park on Monday as the Democratic National Convention kicked off just blocks away in the United Center. They accused the Biden administration of enabling “genocide” in the enclave by continuing to provide Israel with arms amid a devastating war that’s killed over 40,000 Palestinians.
The protesters carried signs that said both Democrats and Republicans have “blood on their hands” and called for an end to US aid to Israel. Some sold t-shirts with pro-Palestinian slogans for $25, pledging to donate the money toward relief in Gaza.
“It’s incredibly important that we get a cease-fire, at the very least,” protester Jousef Shkoukani, 29, told GZERO Media.
“For Palestinians, it’s incredibly important that people start to recognize that we’re not just numbers and that we’re dying in large quantities based on Israel’s indiscriminate bombing,” added Shkoukani, a Chicagoan whose father immigrated to the US from Palestine.
Shkoukani, one of thousands who protested on Monday, said that he previously knocked on doors for President Joe Biden but now identifies as an independent. He said the Democratic Party has “talked the talk but never walked the walk with respect to its policies on Middle Eastern affairs,” adding that what the protesters are looking for from Vice President Kamala Harris and Democrats is “a commitment to a permanent cease-fire if elected.”
Chicago has been bracing for major protests surrounding the DNC for months amid the continued fighting in Gaza, particularly after divisive demonstrations at US college campuses earlier this year. There’s a heavy, palpable police presence in the city. And while Monday’s protests were largely peaceful, a small group of demonstrators broke through a barrier near the convention, and several were reportedly detained by police.
Though the mood inside the United Center was far more celebratory, the war was also an inescapable topic. Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York praised Harris’ support for a cease-fire in Gaza in her remarks to the convention and was met with loud applause. Later on, Biden said his administration was working around the clock to bring the hostages home from Gaza and secure a cease-fire to end the war. He went on to say that the protesters out on the streets of Chicago had “a point,” adding that “a lot of innocent people are being killed, on both sides.” But most of the prominent Democrats who took to the convention stage largely used their time to tout Harris’ qualifications for president while blasting former President Donald Trump as a convicted felon and danger to democracy.
More Gaza-related protests are planned for this week, and the beginnings of an encampment could be spotted in Union Park — next to a sign that read “PIG FREE ZONE.” We’ll be watching to see how the demonstrations play out, and whether they influence the tone and direction of the convention in the days ahead.