The second night of the Democratic National Convention featured a festive display of unity behind Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz, ahead of speeches by former President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama and second gentleman Doug Emhoff.
Delegates held a lengthy ceremonial roll call vote to reaffirm Harris and Walz’ nomination, which they formally secured in a virtual vote several weeks ago. The star-studded celebration in Chicago’s United Center featured each state’s delegation voicing their support for the ticket in a precisely orchestrated, energetic procession featuring state-specific music.
The roll call vote came ahead of the headliners of the night: the Obamas. Twenty years ago this summer, Barack Obama delivered the keynote address at the 2004 DNC in Boston, a rousing speech that rocketed him to nationwide fame and, four years later, the party’s presidential nomination. On Tuesday, he will make the case for Harris, who was an early supporter of his insurgent 2008 bid.
The night session will also feature a speech from Sen. Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont who ran for the presidency himself in 2016 and 2020. Prominent Republican critics of former President Donald Trump got their turn on stage, including Stephanie Grisham, Trump’s former White House press secretary who said she is voting for Harris.
The convention kicked off Monday with an address from President Biden, who stepped aside to make way for Harris last month. The former president delivered an enthusiastic and emotional speech endorsing Harris as his successor, vowing to be the “best volunteer” for her campaign.
Follow along with the latest from the DNC below:
Schumer says Democrats could expand Senate majority with Harris atop the ticket
With Harris atop the ticket, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer predicted Democrats would keep their Senate majority and may even expand it.
He said Harris represents “a brighter, a fairer, a freer future” while Trump represents “American carnage.”
“But she can’t do it alone,” Schumer said, “She needs a Democratic majority in the Senate.”
He praised the Democratic candidates running in Nevada, Montana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin and other states, adding that “more than half of our candidates are candidates of color.”
“We’re making the Senate look like America,” the New York senator said.
He closed his speech talking about antisemitism.
“As the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in American history, I want my grandkids and all grandkids to never, never face discrimination because of who they are,” he said. “Donald Trump, this is a guy who peddles antisemitic stereotypes. He even invited a white supremacist to Mar-a-Lago. And unfortunately, his prejudice goes in all directions. He fuels Islamophobia.”
Ceremonial roll call reaffirms Harris as Democratic presidential nominee
Harris’ nomination for president was made official on Aug. 6 after the party’s virtual roll call concluded. But on Tuesday, each state delegation took part in a celebratory roll call to announce their votes for Harris at the convention, a raucous affair that energized the crowd.
Sen. Chris Coons, a close ally of Mr. Biden’s, and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, both of Delaware, kicked off the roll call announcing their state’s support for the vice president.
A DJ on stage introduced each state’s delegation with a corresponding song — Jay Z’s “Empire State of Mind” for New York, an Eminem track for Michigan and so on. The rapper Lil Jon, an Atlanta native, made a surprise appearance when it was Georgia’s turn, pumping up the crowd with an appropriately edited rendition of “Turn Down for What,” with the chorus changed to “turn out for what.”
Other celebrities also appeared with their state delegations, including director Spike Lee with New York, actor Wendell Pierce with Louisiana and Sean Astin, who played “Rudy,” alongside Indiana delegates.
The ceremonial roll call ended with the delegations from Minnesota, where Walz is governor, and California, where Harris is from and the state she represented in the Senate.
Minnesota’s two senators, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced their respective delegations’ votes for Harris. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared alongside Newsom.
“I’m thrilled to reaffirm Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for president of the United States,” Jason Rae, secretary of the Democratic National Committee, announced at the end of the roll call.
Harris then appeared via video as she took the stage for a campaign rally in Milwaukee.
“The delegates at the Democratic National Convention, well, they just completed their roll call, and they have nominated Coach Walz and me to be the next vice president and president of the United States,” she said. “I thank everyone there and here for believing in what we can do together. We are so honored to be your nominees.”
Stephanie Grisham, ex-Trump press secretary, condemns former boss
Stephanie Grisham, a former Trump White House press secretary and top aide to Melania Trump, said she’s encouraging voters to support Harris over Trump because “I love my country more than my party.”
“I wasn’t just a Trump supporter. I was a true believer. I was one of his closest advisers. The Trump family became my family,” she said. “I saw him when the cameras were off. Behind closed doors, Trump mocks his supporters. He calls them basement dwellers.”
She condemned Trump, saying he has no morals or truth.
“He used to tell me, ‘It doesn’t matter what you say, Stephanie, say it enough and people will believe you,'” she said.
Grisham resigned after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. In her speech, she said she asked the first lady whether she could post about there being no place for lawlessness or violence. The first lady, according to Grisham, said no.
Project 2025 returns on convention’s second night
Democrats continued to tie Trump to Project 2025, a policy guide for the next Republican presidential administration put together by the Heritage Foundation. Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta brought the 900-page policy guide with him on stage and said Republicans are trying to “shove this down our throats.”
“It is a radical plan to drag us backwards, bankrupt the middle class and raise prices on working families like yours and mine,” he said, focusing on the economic plans included in the initiative.
Michigan state Rep. Mallory McMorrow spoke about the presidential transition project on the first night of the convention as part of Democrats’ efforts to warn Americans of what would be in store if Trump is elected to a second term.
The former president, though, has distanced himself from the effort.
Grandsons of Jimmy Carter and JFK kick off Night 2
Jason Carter, the grandson of former President Jimmy Carter, said his grandfather, who is about to turn 100, wished he could be at the convention.
He said his grandfather, who has been in hospice care, is “holding on” to vote for Harris in November.
“Kamala Harris carries my grandfather’s legacy,” he said. “She knows what is right, and she fights for it. She understands that leadership is about service, not selfishness, that you can show strength and demonstrate decency and that you can get a whole lot more done with a smile than with a scowl.”
Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, recalled his grandfather inspiring “a new generation to ask what they could do for our country.”
“His call to action is now ours to answer,” he said. “Because, once again, the torch has been passed to a new generation, to a leader who shares my grandfather’s energy, vision and optimism for our future. That leader is Vice President Kamala Harris.”
Emhoff to tell convention Harris is “ready to lead”
Emhoff, Harris’ husband, is poised to address the convention on its second night and will tell the crowd of assembled delegates and Democratic luminaries that Harris is a “happy warrior” who is prepared to lead the country.
“Now that the country needs her, she’s showing you what we already know: she’s ready to lead, she brings both joy and toughness to this task, and she will be a great president who we will all be proud of,” Emhoff will say, according to excerpts of his remarks released by the Democratic National Convention Committee.
Emhoff, the first person to hold the role of second gentleman, will also praise Harris’ passion and toughness, saying it will benefit the nation.
“America, in this election, you have to decide who to trust with your family’s future,” he will say, according to the remarks. “I trusted Kamala with our family’s future. It was the best decision I ever made.”
How to watch the DNC
CBS News 24/7 has coverage of the convention throughout the night and is streaming the major keynote speeches. Watch live on your mobile or streaming device.
A live feed of all of the speeches can be found here.
CBS television stations will have coverage beginning at 10 p.m. ET. Find your local CBS station here.
Who’s speaking at the DNC tonight?
Here’s the full list of speakers for Tuesday night at the DNC:
- Jaime Harrison, chairman of the Democratic National Committee
- Mitch Landrieu, DNC Night 2 co-chair and committee co-chair
- Jason Carter, former President Jimmy Carter’s grandson
- Jack Schlossberg, President John F. Kennedy’s grandson
- Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta
- Kyle Sweetser, former Trump voter
- Stephanie Grisham, Trump’s former White House press secretary
- Nabela Noor, content creator
- Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan
- Kenneth Stribling, retired Teamster
- Ceremonial roll call
- Ana Navarro
- Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer
- Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont
- Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois
- Ken Chenault, business executive
- Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico
- Angela Alsobrooks, Democratic Senate candidate from Maryland
- John Giles, mayor of Mesa, Arizona
- Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois
- Douglas Emhoff, second gentleman
- Michelle Obama, former first lady
- Barack Obama, former president