Eleanor Finch
On the final night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Vice President Kamala Harris made history by becoming the first Black woman and the first person of South Asian descent to accept the Democratic nomination for president. Harris' speech closed out the four-day event, which featured appearances and speeches from prominent figures such as former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and basketball coach Steve Kerr. The convention was livestreamed on various platforms, allowing people across the country to witness this historic moment.
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What You'll Learn
Kamala Harris's speech at the DNC
On the final night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC), Vice President Kamala Harris gave a headline speech as she accepted her party's nomination for president. Harris is the first Black woman and the first person of South Asian descent to accept the Democratic nomination for president.
Harris's speech closed out the four-day convention, which included appearances and speeches from prominent figures such as former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, former first lady Michelle Obama, and basketball coach Steve Kerr. The event was livestreamed on various platforms, including USA TODAY's YouTube channel and the Democratic National Convention website.
In her speech, Harris made history as the first Black woman and the first person of South Asian descent to accept a major party's nomination for president. If elected in November, she would become the first female president in US history. Harris's personal story, career as a prosecutor, and political journey were highlighted throughout the convention, with speakers describing her as a "joyful warrior" and a staunch defender of personal freedoms and democracy.
Harris's niece, Meena Harris, her stepdaughter, Ella Emhoff, and her goddaughter, Helena Hudlin, also joined the lineup of speakers for the final night. Other notable speakers included Reverend Al Sharpton, a prominent civil rights activist, former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan.
During her acceptance speech, Harris emphasised the inclusive nature of her campaign, stating, "I know I am the one standing on this stage, but I am not the lead character in this story. You are, all of you." She encouraged voters to engage with their loved ones and emphasised the power of individual voters in shaping the outcome of the election. Harris also acknowledged the historic nature of her nomination, recognising her mother's journey as an immigrant from India and the opportunities it afforded her and her sister, Maya Harris.
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Harris's VP pick, Walz
On August 6, 2024, Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for President of the United States, chose Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota as her running mate for Vice President. Harris and Walz were certified as the Democratic Party's official nominees by Democratic National Committee secretary Jason Rae.
Harris's VP pick came after a whirlwind selection process, which was notably shorter than usual. Harris's campaign aides worked double-time, planning everything from battleground state tours to new campaign logos and social media plans.
Tim Walz is Minnesota's 41st Governor, first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska, in 1964. After graduating from high school, he joined the Army National Guard and worked in a factory. He graduated from Chadron State College in Nebraska and then moved to Minnesota in 1996. Walz worked as a high school social studies teacher and football coach before entering politics. He was elected to the US House of Representatives for Minnesota's 1st congressional district in 2006, defeating six-term Republican incumbent Gil Gutknecht. Walz was re-elected to the House five times and served until 2019. During his time in Congress, he focused on job creation and economic issues, particularly those important to southern Minnesota, such as supporting small businesses and agricultural interests. As Governor, Walz has achieved several notable accomplishments, including providing universal free school meals, protecting reproductive freedom, strengthening voting rights, and expanding paid leave for workers.
On the final day of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Harris delivered her keynote address in Chicago, formally accepting the nomination to be the Democratic Party's presidential candidate.
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Harris's family at the DNC
On the fourth and final night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC), Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic Party's nomination for president, becoming the first Black woman or first person of South Asian descent to do so. Harris's speech blended biography with warnings about electing former President Donald Trump again. She urged Americans to reject political division and chart what she called a "new way forward". Harris's niece, Meena Harris, her stepdaughter, Ella Emhoff, and her goddaughter, Helena Hudlin, were also present at the convention.
Harris's husband, Doug Emhoff, could make history as America's first gentleman spouse. Emhoff, 59, is already the first second gentleman of the US and the first Jewish spouse of a US president or vice president. He has led the Biden administration's efforts against antisemitism. Emhoff spoke at the DNC on Tuesday, delivering a light-hearted speech about how he started dating his future wife. Harris's stepson, Cole Emhoff, has also been defending Harris against sexist comments about the vice president not having any biological children. He has been posting photos to Instagram showing her at the DNC each day.
Harris's mother, Shyamala, was a biomedical scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. She worked to isolate progesterone receptor genes to advance studies in breast biology and oncology. Harris's father, Donald Harris, married Shyamala in 1963, a year after they met while she was a Ph.D. student. Harris's mother died of colon cancer in 2009 at the age of 70. Harris's sister, Maya Harris, addressed the virtual convention in 2020 and predicted that her sister would one day run for president. Harris's niece, Alexander Hudlin, and her nephews, Jasper and Arden Emhoff, also spoke on stage during the third day of the convention.
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Other speakers at the DNC
Several notable figures spoke at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) ahead of Kamala Harris' highly anticipated acceptance speech. These included Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. The "Tennessee Three", comprising Tennessee state lawmakers Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, and Gloria Johnson, also addressed the convention.
Other speakers included Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge, and Senators Alex Padilla, Bob Casey, Tammy Baldwin, Elizabeth Warren, and Mark Kelly. Representatives Katherine Clark, Lucy McBath, Joe Neguse, Elissa Slotkin, Colin Allred, and Ruben Gallego were also among the speakers. Former Representatives and content creators were also part of the lineup.
The third night of the DNC, dubbed "a fight for our freedoms," featured headliners such as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Kamala Harris' running mate, and former President Bill Clinton. Other notable speakers included poet Amanda Gorman, musician Maren Morris, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Talk show legend Oprah Winfrey also made an appearance, urging voters to choose joy by electing Harris.
The DNC's final night, themed "For Our Future," showcased a diverse range of speakers and performers. Reverend Al Sharpton, a prominent civil rights activist and Baptist minister, took the podium. Former Republican congressman and outspoken Trump opponent Adam Kinzinger was also among the speakers. The convention concluded with Harris' historic acceptance speech, as she became the first Black woman and the first person of South Asian descent to be nominated for president by a major party.
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Where to watch the DNC
The 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) was held in Chicago from 19-22 August. The event was live-streamed on the Democratic Party's official YouTube channel, as well as on TikTok, Instagram, and the party's website. Major networks such as ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and PBS also offered extensive nightly coverage.
For those in the US, PBS provided live coverage of the DNC beginning at 8 pm ET each night. ABC News carried one hour of the convention from 10-11 pm ET on Monday and Tuesday, and then carried two hours on Wednesday and Thursday from 9-11 pm ET. CBS News covered the convention in its primetime slots between Monday and Thursday from 8-11 pm ET. Fox News aired a nightly special called "Fox News Democracy 2024: The Democratic National Convention" from Monday through Thursday from 10-11 pm ET. CNN aired live coverage every night from 8 pm until midnight ET. C-SPAN offered continuous coverage starting at 5:30/4:30 pm ET on Monday and 6/5 pm ET on Tuesday through Thursday. MSNBC kicked off its coverage on Sunday, 19 August, streaming the DNC on YouTube and providing additional coverage on its website and app.
The DNC was also available to watch on Prime Video, supported on web browsers and more than 650 connected devices via the Prime Video app, including games consoles (PlayStation and Xbox), set-top boxes, and media players (such as Google Chromecast, Roku, and Apple TV), smart TVs, Blu-ray players, and tablets and mobile phones running iOS or Android.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Kamala Harris is at the DNC tonight.
It is the fourth and final day of the DNC.
Other speakers at the DNC tonight include:
- Tim Walz
- Meena Harris
- Ella Emhoff
- Helena Hudlin
- Maya Harris
- Eva Longoria
- Gretchen Whitmer
- Adam Kinzinger
- Roy Cooper
The DNC is being livestreamed on the Democratic National Convention website, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and USA TODAY's YouTube channel.
