Young people who may have scoffed at President Joe Biden are back on board with Vice President Kamala Harris on top of the ticket, according to Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.)
In a press gathering at the Democratic National Convention, Duckworth said young Americans are “super energizing” the Harris presidential campaign and down-ballot Democratic candidates.
She said millennials and members of Generation Z from Illinois are “jumping on board” organized groups to work in support of Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s (D-Wis.) reelection campaign in nearby Wisconsin.
CHICAGO—Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, made an appearance at the Asian-American Indian-Pacific Caucus meeting where he received a cheerful ovation and afterward was surrounded by attendees looking to get a selfie with him.
The gathering is one of many caucus meetings at the McCormick Center, where the convention daytime activities are happening.
Walz had a message for AAPI caucus members: Campaign intensely for the Democratic ticket that features Vice President Kamala Harris at the top.
Michigan delegate Andrea Pierce told The Epoch Times that if Vice President Kamala Harris wants the votes of the people she represents, she needs to close down the Line 5 pipeline.
“I represent Native Americans,” she said. “I’m chair of the Anishinaabek Caucus, and our biggest issue is Line 5.”
“We need a presidential order to shut it down completely,” she added. “So that’s a big issue for me and for 12 tribes in Michigan. If she wants our vote, they’re going to have to shut down Line 5.”
President Joe Biden, who was just a month ago expected to secure his re-nomination at this week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, will instead deliver a speech to pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris.
Originally set to take the stage as the party’s nominee for a second term, Biden will now address the convention only on its opening night, endorsing Harris as the Democratic nominee and emphasizing the importance of the November election.
Biden is scheduled to give the keynote address at the convention at 9:50 p.m. CT. Other key speakers Monday include First Lady Jill Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Chicago ahead of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago on Aug. 18, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times
A mile or two west of the Democratic National Convention, the streets of the Fulton Market District were eerily quiet on Monday morning.
Delegates wait for credentials near the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 19, 2024. Nathan Worcester/The Epoch Times
The district is usually a busy neighborhood, especially on a weekday. It’s home to many restaurants, bars, and corporate offices, including the headquarters of McDonald’s (located on the site once occupied by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Studios). The word on the street is that many workers were told they could stay home to avoid the blocked streets, increased law enforcement presence, and anticipated protests.
Harris-Walz campaign surrogate Cedric Richmond addresses reporters at the McCormick Center in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 19, 2024. Jackson Richman/The Epoch Times
Ahead of the first night of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), officials from the Harris–Walz campaign and the DNC provided a preview of what to expect during tonight’s speeches at the United Center, the home of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks.
The officials focused on tonight’s main speaker: President Joe Biden, who dropped his re-election campaign last month, the first incumbent president to do so since Lyndon Johnson in 1968.
Officials said that the evening will be a celebration of the president, who is slated as the final speaker.
Here’s to Expect From the DNC
Starting Monday, Democrats will hold their long-anticipated national convention during which the party will outline to voters their vision for the future and is expected to rally behind their presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.
Earlier this month, Harris and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, were formally nominated via virtual roll call—a departure from tradition where the formal nomination occurs at the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
The vice president and governor will give speeches delivered on the final two nights of the event.
This is set to be a very different convention than voters expected at the beginning of the election cycle, when President Joe Biden led the ticket for Democrats.
However, a pressure campaign forced Biden out of the candidacy after an underwhelming debate performance shock up the political landscape.
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Since Harris took over the ticket, Democrats have enjoyed a boost in polling. Still, the stakes are high for Harris and the Democrats, who will need to put on a united front after months of division within the party.
Former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), were nominated at the Republican National Convention last month.
Here’s what to expect during the second major party convention of the year.
When and Where
The DNC will be held from Monday, Aug. 19, to Thursday, Aug. 22, in Chicago.
Democrats have a long history of holding their conventions in the windy city—this will be the 12th time since 1864 that the convention has been hosted there.
The last DNC to be held in Chicago was in 1996, when President Bill Clinton was easily re-nominated by his party.
The main event this year is being held at the United Center, a convention center that doubles as the home stadium for the Chicago Bulls basketball team and the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team.
Around 50,000 attendees are expected, including the party’s approximately 5,000 delegates. Like most major political events, it won’t be open to the public.
However, it will stream on a variety of platforms, according to the party.
In addition to the normal media coverage of the event each night, voters will also be able to watch the convention online, courtesy of C-Span.
The event will also be streamed in its entirety via Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube using the vertical style popularized by those apps.
Additional delegate-only events that are not streamed to the public will be hosted at the nearby McCormick Center.
Speakers
The convention will feature speeches from an array of Democrat notables.
Biden will be among the first speakers.
As is tradition at these events, neither Walz nor Harris are expected to speak until the final two days: Walz is likely to speak on the second to last day of the convention, and Harris on the final night.
Speaker are expected to appear according to this schedule:
- President Joe Biden
- Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
- Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker
Aug. 20:
- Former President Barack Obama
Aug. 21:
- Former President Bill Clinton
- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz
Aug. 22:
- Vice President Kamala Harris
Time and Day TBD:
- Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson
- Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)
- Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.)
- Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.)
Platform
During the convention, Democrats will also formally adopt their party’s draft platform.
It also details Democrats’ position on an array of issues.
It reiterates Democrats’ demands for a federal codification of Roe v. Wade—unsurprising as abortion is one of Democrats’ strongest polling issues.
Economically, there’s not much in the platform that’s especially new: it calls for the federal minimum wage to be raised to $15 an hour by 2026, policies to increase the affordability of childcare and healthcare, and making the Child Tax Credit permanent.
Additionally, the platform repeats Democrats’ long-held demands for higher taxation of very wealthy individuals and corporations.
The draft platform also calls for securing the southern border while providing a “pathway to citizenship” for the millions of illegal immigrants in the country.
However, this platform, released in early July, hasn’t been updated since Biden dropped out.
Now, hours before the convention kicks off, it still lists Biden as the party’s candidate.
As is usually the case at major party conventions, the platform will be discussed, debated, amended, and formally ratified during the convention.
Protests
While Democrats seek to project an image of unity, there’s one factor that’s outside of the party’s control: expected protests from interest groups on the left.
Namely, protestors are expected to move full steam ahead with protests originally planned against Biden.
The event already has the highest possible federal security classification.
By Joseph Lord
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz would be formally nominated at the convention. Both were nominated earlier in August in a virtual roll call. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
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