Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
CBS Denver
The 2024 Democratic National Convention starts today. Here's what to know.
By Caitlin Yilek,
7 days ago
Final preparations being made for DNC in Chicago 01:41
Washington — Vice President Kamala Harris is riding a wave of voter enthusiasm into the Democratic National Convention that has transformed the race against former President Donald Trump three months before the election.
The four-day convention in Chicago begins Monday, about a month after President Biden ended his reelection campaign as a growing number of Democrats questioned the octogenarian's ability to handle the duties of commander in chief for another four years.
The convention begins Monday and runs through Thursday.
Keynote speeches and programming begin at 6:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. CT) on Monday. Evening programming begins at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) Tuesday through Thursday.
Each night's festivities are expected to end around 11 p.m. ET, or 10 p.m. CT.
Where is the Democratic National Convention?
This year's convention is in Chicago, a Democratic stronghold that last hosted the nominating convention in 1996, when then-President Bill Clinton was running for reelection. Events will be held at two venues — the United Center, which will host speeches and other events in the evening, and McCormick Place, which will host official party business and meetings during the day.
Chicago is not in a battleground state, but the city is about an hour's driving distance Wisconsin and Michigan — two battlegrounds that are likely pivotal to Democrats' ability to win the White House in November. Wisconsin and Michigan, both considered "blue wall" states, have historically supported Democrats but went for former President Donald Trump in the 2016 election before Mr. Biden took them back in 2020.
Nearby Minnesota, though not considered a battleground state, was seen as being competitive for Republicans this year, before Harris named Walz as her running mate.
When Democrats announced Chicago as the host city, they noted the region played a crucial role in Mr. Biden's 2020 victory.
"The Midwest reflects America," DNC chairman Jaime Harrison said last year.
What's happening at the convention?
More than 4,000 delegates will convene in Chicago to recognize Harris as the Democratic nominee and approve the party's platform.
Typically, the convention includes a roll call vote to formally nominate presidential and vice presidential candidates. But Harris officially cemented her status leading the presidential ticket earlier this month when she earned a majority of delegates in a virtual roll call . The vote was held in early August in order to avoid potential issues with ballot access in Ohio. A ceremonial roll call is still expected to take place at the convention.
What's the speaker schedule for the 2024 DNC?
The official schedule has not yet been released. However, Democratic National Convention officials have confirmed that President Biden and first lady Jill Biden will speak Monday. The theme on Monday will be "For the People," and the speakers will pay tribute to Mr. Biden, DNC officials said.
A speech planned for Tuesday by former President Barack Obama will have the theme "A Bold Vision For the Future." A source familiar with the planning tells CBS News former first lady Michelle Obama will address the convention before him, though it won't be considered an introduction as such.
On Wednesday, which will be titled "A Fight For Freedom," former President Bill Clinton and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi of California will speak, according to a source familiar with the schedule. A spokesman for Rep. Tom Suozzi confirmed the New York congressman, who flipped a red seat to blue in a special election earlier year, is also in the lineup.
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries will also speak this week, DNC officials said.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will address the convention Monday, while Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker will speak Tuesday.
Walz is expected to take the stage Wednesday to officially accept the vice presidential nomination. Harris will formally accept the presidential nomination during her speech Thursday in a night dedicated "For the Future."
Anita Dunn, a former senior adviser to Mr. Biden who left the White House last month to join the main super PAC supporting Harris, previewed the vice president's speech in an interview with "CBS Mornings" ahead of the convention's start.
"What you can expect to hear from the vice president this week is going to be a message about moving this country forward, about an opportunity economy, where everybody in the country feels they can get ahead, where corporations are held accountable, where people know that they have an even shot with the rest of the world," she said. "And what you can hear is about moving forward, not moving back."
Dunn said Democrats will seek to draw clear distinctions between their party and Trump and the GOP.
"You're also going to hear about opportunity and excitement and moving forward," she said.
It mentions Trump dozens of times, seeking to draw a sharp contrast between Democrats' priorities and the positions of the former president and " Project 2025 ," a conservative blueprint for the next Republican president.
The Democrats' platform proposes raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, making the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit permanent, making child care affordable and lowering health care costs.
It also proposes a minimum income tax for billionaires, raising the corporate tax rate, banning "junk fees" and ramping up clean energy projects.
On reproductive rights, the platform says Democrats are committed to passing legislation to codify abortion protections, strengthening access to contraception and protecting access to IVF and FDA-approved medication abortion.
Democrats also want to expunge federal marijuana-only convictions, strengthen democracy, secure the border and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
The platform also mentions support for "a negotiated two-state solution that ensures Israel's future as a Jewish and democratic state with recognized borders and upholds the right of Palestinians to live in freedom and security in a viable state of their own."
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Comments / 0