CHICAGO — Thousands of Democrats will converge on the Windy City Monday for the start of the Democratic National Convention, which comes less than a month after President Biden ended his re-election bid and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place on the Democratic ticket.
The 81-year-old president’s stunning exit from the race on July 21 led to speculation that the 2024 DNC would be contested for the first time in decades, but the party has largely rallied around Harris, 59, and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, 60.
The Democratic National Committee staved off any potential convention drama earlier this month when party bosses moved forward with a plan to have delegates virtually nominate Harris as the party’s nominee for president. No Democrats challenged her for the spot.
With her sights on the Oval Office, Harris has sought to distinguish herself from Biden in areas where he is unpopular – the economy and illegal immigration – while tying herself to some of the president’s achievements and even backing one of former President Donald Trump’s signature policy goals – eliminating taxes on tipped wages.
Harris has also disavowed several far-left policies she embraced during her failed 2020 presidential primary campaign, including support for Medicare for All and banning fracking, and she has eschewed any major on-the-record media interviews since entering the race.
Whether it’s the strategy or simply the new blood, the momentum in the 2024 race appears to have shifted with Harris’ entrance.
Polls, particularly in key battleground states, have tightened, and Harris’ campaign shattered fundraising records with a stunning $310 million haul across its committees in the month of July – more than double the $138.7 million in contributions Trump’s team touted last month.
Democratic leaders, politicians and celebrities will no doubt hope to build on the enthusiasm for their new candidate at the DNC.
The Post has a team of reporters and photographers on the ground in Chicago to bring you the news as it happens.
What is the Democratic National Convention?
Every four years the two major parties hold conventions to officially crown their presidential nominees, approve a new platform, and take care of other business.
Typically it functions as a formality and is intended to help mobilize the party’s voters.
In this case, Harris is technically already the Democratic Party nominee. Democrats held a virtual roll call earlier this month to give her that designation in order to avoid any ballot access snarls — namely Ohio’s Aug. 7 deadline to get onto the ballot.
There will still be a ceremonial nomination of Harris and Walz in which they will formally accept the party nod to be the presidential and vice-presidential standard bearer, respectively.
Democrats haven’t held an in-person convention of this scale since 2016 due to the pandemic. Republicans held theirs from July 15–18 in Milwaukee, Wis.
Well, over 50,000 visitors and 5,000 delegates are expected to partake in the event.
Where will the DNC take place?
The Democratic convention will be held in Chicago, a deep-blue city in a deep-blue state.
Official proceedings, including speeches and performances, will take place at the United Center — a 23,500-seat arena that is home to the NBA’s Chicago Bulls and the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks.
The DNC will also host “DemPalooza” — trainings, panels, and other programming — at the McCormick Place Convention Center, near Lake Michigan, throughout the four days of the gathering.
The DNC says “DemPalooza” will also feature a vendor and allied partner expo, where attendees will be able to buy merchandise, purchase food, watch performances from local artists, listen to podcast tapings and “make friendship bracelets” or” get “Kamala Harris’ manicure.”
More than 100 ancillary events and parties will take place at various hotels, bars, and event spaces around Chicago.
Since the 1860s, Chicago has hosted at least 10 Democratic conventions and 14 Republican ones.
Where can you watch the DNC?
All major news networks including Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, NBC and NewsNation, as well as C-SPAN will broadcast the convention sessions. If you don’t have cable, you can stream the channel of your choice with a live TV streaming service like DIRECTV Stream, which offers a five-day free trial.
The Democratic Party’s official website will also offer convention live streams, which can also be found on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
What time is the DNC?
There are various events happening over the course of four days.
Monday, Aug. 19
Timing: Programming will happen from 6:30-11 p.m. ET.
Theme: “For the People.” Day 1 of the convention will pay tribute to President Biden’s legacy and tout the Harris-Walz campaigns’ efforts to help working people.
Expected speakers:
- President Biden
- Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul
Tuesday, Aug. 20
Timing: Programming will happen from 7-11 p.m. ET.
Theme: “A bold vision for America’s future.” Day 2 of the convention will focus on the sharp contrast between Harris’ and Trump’s respective visions for the country.
Expected speakers:
- Former President Barack Obama
- Former first lady Michelle Obama
Wednesday, Aug. 21
Timing: Programming will happen from 7-11 p.m. ET.
Expected speakers:
Theme: “A fight for our freedoms.” Democrats have been eager to cast themselves as the defenders of freedom and will focus heavily on that messaging on Wednesday.
- Former President Bill Clinton
- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz
Thursday, Aug. 22
Timing: Programming will happen from 7-11 p.m. ET.
Theme: “For our future.” On the final day of the convention, Democrats will seek to present a forward-looking message.
Expected speakers:
- Vice President Kamala Harris
Will there be protests at the DNC?
About 100,000 far-left, anti-Israel protesters will be descending on Chicago this week.
At least seven large rallies and marches are set to take place during the convention, organizers said.
Unpermitted rallies are also expected.
Several downtown Chicago businesses have boarded up windows and doors ahead of the convention over fears of looting and vandalism related to the demonstrations.
Who will be in town for the DNC?
The DNC had not released a list of speakers or a full schedule for the main program as of press time, but Harris, Walz, and Biden are among Democratic leaders, everyday Americans and performers expected to speak at the convention.
The DNC has confirmed that a number of politicians, labor union bosses and special interest group leaders will be in Chicago for the convention, addressing caucus and council meetings taking place before the evening programming. It’s likely that several of those individuals will appear on stage at the United Center at some point.
Those leaders include:
- Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey
- New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
- Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders
- Maryland Gov. Wes Moore
- Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey
- New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
- Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.)
- Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.)
- Tucson, Ariz., Mayor Regina Romero
- Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson
- Maryland Democratic Senate Candidate Angela Alsobrooks
- Reproductive Freedom for All President Mini Timmaraju
- American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten
- United Farm Workers President Teresa Romero
The Democratic Governors Association will also host a panel during the convention moderated by “Veep” and “Seinfeld” star Julia Louis-Dreyfus that will include all eight Democratic women governors.
Those state executives include:
- Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs
- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
- Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly
- Maine Gov. Janet Mills
- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul
- Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek
- Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey
- New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
Other key politicos include:
- Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson
- Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)
- Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker
- New York City Mayor Eric Adams
- Jason Carter, son of former President Jimmy Carter
- Former first lady Michelle Obama
- Second gentleman Doug Emhoff
- Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (per CNN)
- Jason Carter, grandson of former President Jimmy Carter
- Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.)
- Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
Late-night comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are also expected to take their shows to the Windy City during the convention and they already have key Democrats lined up as guests.
Who WON’T speak at the DNC?
Vulnerable Senate Democrats Jon Tester of Montana, Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Sherrod Brown of Ohio will skip the convention to campaign in their states instead, according to multiple reports.
Tester, who reportedly did not cast a vote for Harris in Montana’s virtual roll call vote and has not endorsed the former California senator for president, is in the tight race with Republican entrepreneur and former Navy SEAL.
Rosen and Brown have both endorsed the vice president but like Tester are in hotly-contested races. In Nevada, Rosen will face Republican Retired Army Capt. Sam Brown. In Ohio, Brown is up against Republican businessman Bernie Moreno.
The results of those three races could determine control of the Senate next year, which is currently led by Democrats by a 1 vote margin, 51-49.
Where will Trump be during all of this?
Just like the Democrats did during the Republican National Convention last month, Trump and the GOP are planning a slate of counterprogramming events this week.
Trump and his running mate, JD Vance will swing through battleground states across the country and the campaign is dispatching surrogates to Chicago to speak with reporters and provide a rebuttal.
