
This week, tens of thousands of people are expected to travel to Chicago for the 2024 Democratic National Convention, where 5,000 delegates and alternates will gather to approve a party platform, and where Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will formally accept the party’s nominations.
Earlier this month, Harris secured enough pledged delegates to become the Democratic presidential nominee, after a whirlwind two-week campaign that she launched only after President Joe Biden announced on July 21 that he would not be seeking reelection after all. Biden instead endorsed Harris, and the party quickly coalesced around the vice president, who named Walz as her running mate on Aug. 6. Democrats certified Harris and Walz as the party’s nominees the next day.
The convention is expected to be a chance for Democrats to tout accomplishments under Biden, as well as an opportunity to celebrate Biden himself after his momentous decision to step aside and endorse Harris. Despite the candidate change at the top of the ticket, pro-Palestinian protesters have vowed to still show up to Chicago to demonstrate against the Biden administration’s handling of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
Here’s what to know about the Democratic convention:
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When is it?
The main programming for the convention is taking place from Monday, Aug. 19, through Thursday, Aug. 22.
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Where is it?
The convention is in Chicago. The main venue for it is the United Center, which has a capacity of more than 20,000 and is home to the NBA’s Chicago Bulls and the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks. Only credentialed delegates and alternates, as well as guests and members of the news media, can attend in person.
Other spaces in Chicago will also host official convention-related events for delegates and guests. Separate daytime programming that is open to the public, dubbed “DemPalooza,” will take place at the McCormick Place convention center, about five miles from the United Center.
DemPalooza will feature giveaways and a more celebratory atmosphere, with free manicures, friendship bracelet making and campaign training sessions. The McCormick Place events are free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
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Who are the speakers?
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will welcome Democrats on Monday, while Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker will speak on Tuesday.
Biden is scheduled to deliver Monday night’s keynote address. First lady Jill Biden is also scheduled to speak that night, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff is slated to speak at the convention Tuesday.
Also Tuesday, Democrats will hold what they’re calling a “roll call celebration” for Harris and Walz to mark their nominations. The move will be ceremonial because the official roll call was held virtually earlier this month to ensure that they would appear on all state ballots. On Tuesday, members of all 57 delegations will deliver remarks and cast ceremonial votes for Harris and Walz as the party’s presidential and vice-presidential nominees.
Other confirmed convention speakers include former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton; former secretary of state and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton; Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries; and former first lady Michelle Obama.
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How do I watch?
The official live stream of the convention will be at DemConvention.com, as well as on YouTube, X, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitch and Prime Video.
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When will Harris speak?
Harris is expected to speak Thursday night to formally accept the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, the day after Walz delivers his vice-presidential acceptance speech Wednesday. For those in Chicago who cannot get into the United Center to watch Harris’s nomination speech, the nonprofit GoChiLife is planning a watch party that night at Soldier Field, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The stadium, home to the Chicago Bears NFL team, can seat more than 60,000 people.
Harris’s schedule indicates that she plans to be in Chicago for all four days of the convention. She will travel to nearby Milwaukee (the city that hosted last month’s Republican National Convention) on Tuesday for a campaign event before returning to Chicago later in the day.
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Do conventions matter?
The main work of the convention is for delegates to formally nominate a presidential candidate and approve a party platform. In some rare cases, no political candidate has a majority of delegates entering the convention. That’s called a contested convention, and delegates select their party’s nominee through one or more rounds of voting. If a nominee withdraws, there would be a process known as an open convention, where a new nominee could be chosen on the fly, historically with behind-the-scenes negotiations and bargaining.
In this case, when a general election candidate such as Harris has already been determined the party’s nominee before a convention, the pageantry involved in the event may seem unnecessary. But politicos argue that while the actual work of a convention could be condensed, the multiday agenda provides major opportunities for lesser-known party members to introduce themselves to American voters and allows the party to energize its base and lay out its vision for the country.
(c) 2024, The Washington Post · Amy B Wang, Maegan Vazquez
Matzav, for shame! Here you go again bringing us news from the Washington Compost, a mouthpiece for the radical leftist marxists.
Are the Rabbonim and the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah endorsing and encouraging us to waste our time on social media platforms watching this infamous “historical event” by a bunch of anti-G-d degenrate low-lifes full of deceptive lies and proganda?
Richard Daley is the King of Chicago. Leave it all to him.
Why would anyone waste their time on the DNC convention with fake runners? They have NO CHANCE to win elections because they’re the minority. They can only “win” if they’re installed, like “Biden”, Carter, Clinton, Obama who were all installed.