The former school teacher and football coach is expected to accept the Democratic nomination as the party makes the case that Americans’ fundamental freedoms are at risk if former President Donald Trump returns to the White House.
Outside the convention, protests heated up, spilling out into the streets for the second straight night with demonstrators burning flags and clashing with police outside the Israeli Consulate about 2 miles from the United Center, where the convention is taking place.
Walz will headline Wednesday as it is tradition for the vice presidential pick to give their acceptance speech.
Harris’ running mate went from a little-known Midwest governor to the top of the Democratic ticket within weeks.
Walz wasn’t widely known outside of Minnesota before Harris chose him to join her on the ticket. But they clicked when the vice president interviewed him, and she was impressed by his record as a governor and congressman — and the splash he made on TV.
As a precursor to Walz’s vice presidential nomination acceptance speech, former President Bill Clinton is expected to address the economy under President Joe Biden.
Along with Clinton, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are also expected to address the convention.
The DNC’s theme for Wednesday is “A fight for our freedoms,” a message that has become the centerpiece of Harris’ campaign as the Democrat has sought to paint a second Trump presidency as a threat to Americans’ ability to make choices about their own lives.
The focus, according to organizers, will be highlighting Walz as a “champion for America’s working families and a staunch defender of those same fundamental freedoms.” And on the other side, Democrats said they will focus on Trump’s efforts to “strip our rights away” when he was president and what he could do if he gets another four years.
Reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ issues and racial equity are expected to be some of the policy areas that Democrats are trying to distinguish themselves on with Republicans.
Just one month after Biden dropped out of the presidential race and Harris took his place as the nominee, the Democratic presidential hopeful continues to lead her Republican opponent in the polls.
According to the latest national polling average from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ , Harris leads Trump 49.4% to 46.4%.
Harris became the official nominee of the Democratic Party on Aug. 2 following a virtual roll call in which she secured enough delegates to get the nomination.
However, a symbolic roll call in which delegates from each state pledged their support for the Democratic nominee turned the convention into a party atmosphere Tuesday. A DJ played a mix of state-specific songs — and Atlanta native Lil Jon ran out during Georgia’s turn to his hit song with DJ Snake, “Turn Down for What,” to the delight of the thousands inside the cavernous United Center.
Protests on the second night of the DNC ended in arrests after pro-Palestinian demonstrators clashed with police during a rally that began outside the Israeli Consulate about 2 miles from the United Center.
The interaction between protesters and police was intense at times, with demonstrators burning the U.S. and Israeli flags outside the consulate, spilling out onto the surrounding streets and forcing a road closure.
Chicago police initially said at least 22 people were arrested during Tuesday evening’s demonstrations. A spokesperson told NewsNation that the final count will likely be higher. However, the Chicago chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, which provided legal observers for Tuesday’s protests, confirmed that at least 72 people were arrested.
The Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine will hold another protest around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Another is planned for Thursday, the last day of the DNC.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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