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The Democratic National Convention is currently unfolding in Chicago, with a mere 70-something (depending on when you’re reading this) days until Election Day. Democratic politicians, delegates, and enthusiastic observers have gathered in the city to shore up their party’s platform and supporting the presidential run of Vice President and 2024 Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
Below, find everything you need to know about the upcoming political event, as well as highlights from each day.
When is the DNC?
The DNC kicked off on Monday, August 19 and runs through Thursday, August 22.
Where is the DNC being held?
The events at this year’s DNC will be split between the United Center and McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. (Chicagoans, beware of street closures.) There are a number of third-party events and other goings-on held around the city.
Who’s scheduled to speak at the DNC?
Something of an all-star political lineup has assembled for the 2024 DNC. On Monday, Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Joe Biden kicked off the proceedings. Former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are scheduled to speak on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively; Democratic vice presidential nominee and Minnesota governor Tim Walz will also speak on Wednesday, with Harris closing out the show with her nomination acceptance speech on Thursday. Additionally, former president Jimmy Carters’s grandson Jason Carter will represent his nearly 100-year-old grandfather at the convention. (Our very own Jack Schlossberg addressed the convention on Tuesday evening.)
How many delegates will be attending the DNC?
Harris ended up receiving 99% of the votes of the delegates originally pledged to Biden after his exit from the race, with 4,567 delegates casting their vote for her in total. If you need a further breakdown of what, exactly, a delegate is, look no further than this Crooked Media explainer: “A delegate is a person (a real live person!) who will vote to nominate a candidate at the Democratic National Convention.” There will be a total of 4,750 delegates at the DNC, with 771 of them designated as “superdelegates” (i.e., party insiders who might include anyone from Barack Obama to Democratic senators and House members) who are not pledged to any specific candidate and get to support whomever they want after the first round of voting.
Are there protests being planned for the DNC?
There’s a long history of political protest and activism surrounding the Democratic National Convention, and this year appears to be following tradition. A March on the DNC took place on Monday to protest Democratic support for Israel, mass incarceration and deportation, and a host of other hot-button issues. (Protest groups had previously accused the city of Chicago of blocking their ability to put up stages or platforms or use sound equipment during the convention.)
What have I missed?
Day 1
- President Joe Biden closed out the first night by recounting his term, his political career, and looking ahead. Biden praised his VP, and declared that he was more excited about the country’s future than he was when he was first elected to the Senate.
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and First Lady Jill Biden all took to the stage to endorse Harris, and remind the audience of the issues at stake during the next election.
- Harris made a surprise appearance herself, to the surprise of everyone—including her husband and running-mate.
Day 2
- The ceremonial roll-call, which reaffirmed Harris as the nominee, proved a star-studded event. Eva Longoria, Sean Astin, Wendell Pierce, and Spike Lee all took turns on the mic on behalf of their home states, as did Lil’ Jon—who performed a surprise (DNC-friendly) rendition of “Turn Down for What” and “Get Low.”
- Emceeing us through the roll-call was DJ Cassidy, who brought his expert bar mitzvah-hype man energy to the DNC stage. Cassidy is no stranger to spinning for the Dems: he regularly hit the decks for former President Obama and Vice President Harris.
Is Taylor Swift coming to the convention?
Well, her London tour wraps up a few days before, so we can hope.
