The 2024 Democratic National Convention is underway. Here's what to know.
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 began 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.
Democrats quickly united behind Harris, who named Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.
When is the 2024 Democratic National Convention?
The convention began Monday, Aug. 19, and runs through Thursday, Aug. 22.
Keynote speeches and programming were scheduled to begin at 6:15 p.m. ET, or 5:15 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. But on Monday, events began late and speeches ran long, with President Biden's keynote not wrapping up until well after midnight ET.
You can watch coverage of the convention on CBS News 24/7 on your mobile or streaming device, and on CBS stations.
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 from 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 for the entire week has not yet been released, but convention officials previewed Monday's speakers list earlier in the day.
The theme on the first day of the convention is "For the People," and the speakers will pay tribute to Mr. Biden, DNC officials said. The speakers will be:
- Minyon Moore, convention committee chair
- Jaime Harrison, chairman of the Democratic National Committee
- Brandon Johnson, mayor of Chicago
- Peggy Flanagan, the lieutenant governor of Minnesota
- Rep. Lauren Underwood of Illinois
- Rep. Robert Garcia of California
- Labor leaders Lee Saunders (AFSCME); April Verrett (SEIU); Brent Booker (LiUNA); Kenneth Cooper (IBEW); Claude Cummings Jr. (CWA); Elizabeth Shuler (AFL-CIO)
- Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow
- Gina Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce
- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul
- Shawn Fain, president of the United Automobile Workers
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York
- Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state and 2016 Democratic nominee
- Rep. James E. Clyburn of South Carolina
- Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland
- Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas
- Rep. Grace Meng of New York
- Women from states with abortion restrictions: Amanda and Josh Zurawski; Kaitlyn Joshua; and Hadley Duvall
- Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky
- Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia
- Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware
- First lady Jill Biden
- Ashley Biden
- President Biden
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. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' office said he will talk about the "popularity of a progressive economic agenda" in his speech to delegates. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker will also speak Tuesday.
On Wednesday, which will have the theme "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.
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.
What is the Democratic Party platform for 2024?
Democrats unveiled a draft of their platform in July, when Mr. Biden was still running for president.
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."