Chicago, IL — Kamala Harris made history by accepting the Democratic nomination for President of the United States on the final night of the Democratic National Convention (DNC). As the first non-white woman—daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants—to be nominated by a major party for the presidency, Harris continues her trailblazing career, following her role as the first female Vice President of the United States.
The 2024 Democratic National Convention
Held from August 19 to August 22 at the United Center, the DNC came at a pivotal moment in the political race. Harris’s candidacy has been atypical and outside traditional timelines, emerging after Joe Biden decided to withdraw his candidacy on July 21 and endorse her. With nearly two months remaining until the 2024 Presidential Election, Harris faces the critical task of gaining the trust of American voters.
The convention served as a key event for party unification, rallying members, celebrities, and supporters while capturing the attention of a deeply divided nation. In her highly anticipated acceptance speech, Harris outlined her agenda on key issues such as economic inequality, international conflicts, the border crisis, climate change, gun policy, and reproductive rights for women. She aimed to sway undecided voters among the millions who tuned into the DNC and to build confidence in her vision for the nation’s future. Resilience, innovation, and equity were emphasized throughout the event as core values that would guide the country under a Harris administration.
Kamala Harris Accepts Democratic Presidential Nomination: Speech
Vice President Kamala Harris addressed some of the most pressing issues facing the nation and emphasized the importance of unity in bridging divides. She aimed to bring together a heavily polarized nation by focusing on shared values and common goals.
- Economic Inequality: Harris outlined her plans to address economic disparities and create opportunities for all Americans, aiming to empower the middle class. She criticized former President Trump, stating, “he only works for himself and his billionaire friends.”
- International Conflicts: She expressed her vision for a stronger and more strategic U.S. foreign policy, emphasizing the need to protect Israel, condemning Hamas’s actions, and calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Harris also condemned human rights violations on all sides of the conflict.
- Border Crisis: Harris addressed the need for comprehensive immigration reform and humane border policies, advocating for bipartisan solutions.
- Climate Change: She stressed the urgency of addressing climate change and investing in sustainable solutions.
- Gun Policy: Harris reaffirmed her stance on stricter gun control measures to ensure public safety.
- Healthcare and Reproductive Rights: Harris expressed concerns about the current state of healthcare in America, reaffirming her commitment to Medicare expansion and the protection of reproductive rights for women and the LGBTQ+ community.
- Vision for the Future: Harris shared her vision for a more equitable and resilient nation, promising to lead with integrity, innovation, and a focus on the needs of all Americans, highlighting support in AI and Space careers.
Harris also reflected on her upbringing, sharing personal stories of being raised by an Indian mother “with an accent” who faced discrimination as an immigrant. She spoke about growing up in a middle-class family during the Civil Rights movement and how these experiences inspired her to pursue a career in law. Harris recounted her early days as a prosecutor, where she introduced herself in court as “Kamala Harris, for the people,” reiterating her lifelong commitment to serving the public.
DNC Highlights, Key Speakers, and Performers
Following a similar format to the 2020 DNC, each evening’s program featured a celebrity host and musical performances from supporter artists, keeping the event dynamic and engaging.
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Night 1 (Monday, August 19): The convention kicked off with actor and director Tony Goldwyn as host, featuring performances by Mickey Guyton and Jason Isbell. The evening included tributes to President Joe Biden, who delivered the closing speech. Notable speakers included Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Hillary Clinton, First Lady Jill Biden, and Ashley Biden. Kamala Harris made a brief appearance to honor Biden. Other speakers included Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, U.S. Representative Maxine Waters, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
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Night 2 (Tuesday, August 20): Hosted by political strategist Ana Navarro, the second night included performances by Patti LaBelle and Common. Barack and Michelle Obama delivered closing remarks, highlighting the need to restore faith in government. The evening featured speeches from Jason Carter, grandson of former President Jimmy Carter, Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. Kamala Harris held a separate rally in Milwaukee, with some of her remarks broadcast to the convention.
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Night 3 (Wednesday, August 21): Actress Mindy Kaling hosted the third night, with performances by Stevie Wonder, John Legend, and Maren Morris. Tim Walz accepted the vice-presidential nomination with a rallying speech and football-themed pep talk. The evening’s speakers included U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and former President Bill Clinton.
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Night 4 (Thursday, August 22): Actress Kerry Washington emceed the final night, where Kamala Harris accepted the presidential nomination. The evening featured a performance by P!nk and speeches from U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, civil rights activist Al Sharpton, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and U.S. Senator Mark Kelly.
Among other notable attendees and speakers were media executive and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey; actresses Rosario Dawson and Eva Longoria; Andrew Yang, entrepreneur and former presidential candidate; former U.S. Representative and gun control advocate Gabrielle Giffords; the voting rights activist and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams; U.S. Senator from New Jersey, Cory Booker, plus many more high profile personalities.
Conclusion and Trump’s Response
Finally, Harris emphasized that the torch has now been passed to the citizens, who will determine “if it’s time for the country to move forward.” She called for unity regardless of party affiliation and vowed to work for everyone. The ceremony concluded with a hopeful Democratic Party and a cheering, diverse crowd, from young to elderly supporters, who felt addressed in her 37-minute acceptance speech. One who might have felt particularly addressed was her counterpart, Donald Trump, whom she quoted multiple times.
An outraged Trump was quick to react, posting 48 times on his social network during the closing ceremony. Some media outlets have even run detailed fact-checks on her speech. And while the press spotlight seems to be currently on Kamala Harris after the DNC, the future remains uncertain. What are your thoughts on the speech? What are your predictions for the upcoming elections? We want to hear from you! Let’s spark the debate at @theballoutmedia on X.
