Democrats kicked off their convention in Chicago on Monday, starting with a heartfelt send-off for President Joe Biden. The night, which ran significantly behind schedule, ended with Biden passing the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris.
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Biden reflected on his choice of Harris as his running mate in 2020, calling it “the best decision I made my whole career.”
“She’ll be a president our children can look up to. She’ll be a president respected by world leaders, because she already is. She’d be a president we can all be proud of. And she’d be a historic president who puts her stamp on America’s future,” Biden said.
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This symbolic hand-off marked a significant shift for the Democratic Party. Just a month ago, there were deep divisions within the party as pressure mounted on Biden to step aside. But on Monday night, the party stood united behind Harris and firmly against her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump.
Throughout the evening, Democrats focused their criticism on the GOP nominee, particularly on issues like abortion rights. They highlighted Trump’s legal troubles and questioned his character, arguing that his policies favor the wealthy, while Harris’s would better serve working people.
“A vote is a kind of prayer for the world we desire for ourselves and our children, and our prayers are stronger when we pray together,” said Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock, who also serves as a pastor at the Atlanta church where Martin Luther King Jr. once preached.
The party also emphasized Harris's potential to make history as the first woman to win the presidency. Hillary Clinton, reflecting on her own experience, expressed her support for Harris, saying she wanted her grandchildren to know she stood by Harris when the "glass ceiling" finally shattered.
“This is when we break through,” Clinton said. “The future is here.”
Here are six key takeaways from the first night of the Democratic National Convention:
1. Biden’s Farewell
A month ago, many were calling for Biden to step down, but on Monday night in Chicago, the mood was one of gratitude. The convention celebrated Biden’s decades of public service, his personal kindness, and, though somewhat reluctantly, his decision to pass the baton to Harris.
Biden delivered a passionate speech in support of Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, while also taking aim at Trump and highlighting his administration’s legislative successes. He reminisced about the challenges the nation faced in 2020, from the global pandemic to the racial reckoning, and expressed pride in the progress made over the past four years.
“Because of you – and I’m not exaggerating – because of you, we’ve had one of the most extraordinary four years of progress ever, period,” Biden said. “When I say we, I mean Kamala and me.”
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Despite some stumbles in his speech, the audience remained supportive, cheering him on. The frustrations of the spring and summer, following his debate with Trump that many saw as campaign-ending, seemed to have dissipated. Democrats were once again embracing “Joe being Joe.”
“I love my job,” Biden said, “but I love my country more.” This was perhaps the closest he came to explaining why he chose to step aside.
2. Clinton: ‘The Future Is Here’
Eight years after making history as the first woman to be a major party’s presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton returned to the convention, urging Americans to finally break the “glass ceiling.”
Clinton reminded the audience of the progress made since 2016 and encouraged them to keep their eyes on the future. She invoked the legacies of trailblazers like Shirley Chisholm and Geraldine Ferraro and expressed her belief that Harris is on the verge of making history.
“When a barrier falls for one of us, it falls – it falls and clears the way for all of us,” Clinton said. “This is our time, America. This is when we stand up. This is when we break through. The future is here. It’s in our grasp. Let’s go win it.”
3. Clinton Takes Aim at Trump
While Clinton’s speech was primarily a positive endorsement of Harris, she couldn’t resist taking a few jabs at her 2016 rival, Donald Trump. She pointed out that Trump is now the first presidential candidate to run with 34 felony convictions, drawing chants of “Lock him up!” from the crowd, a reversal of the “Lock her up” chants directed at Clinton in 2016.
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Clinton also addressed Trump’s attacks on Harris, noting how familiar they felt from her own experience. She urged Democrats to stay focused and not get distracted by conspiracy theories.
4. A Strong Stand on Abortion Rights
One of the most emotional moments of the night came as Democrats condemned Trump for appointing conservative Supreme Court justices, which led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Speakers shared personal stories to highlight the importance of reproductive rights.
Amanda Å»urawski, a Texas woman who faced life-threatening pregnancy complications but was denied an abortion, urged Americans to vote as if lives depend on it, “because they do.”
These stories underscored how crucial the issue of abortion rights has become for Democrats, especially since the reversal of Roe v. Wade two years ago.
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5. Gaza Conflict Downplayed
One of the more divisive issues among Democrats – the ongoing conflict in Gaza – received minimal attention on Monday night. While anti-war protesters made their presence known outside the convention, and activists held a panel on the issue earlier in the day, the conflict was largely absent from the prime-time speeches.
Biden addressed the situation briefly, expressing sympathy for all those affected by the violence. However, the party chose not to emphasize this issue, likely due to its divisive nature and limited electoral upside.
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6. Spotlight on Project 2025
Michigan state Senator Mallory McMorrow took the stage with a large prop – a book containing the conservative Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” agenda. The massive book symbolized the Democrats’ eagerness to link Trump to the controversial project, which they view as a blueprint for a second Trump term.
Although Trump has distanced himself from Project 2025, Democrats argue that it represents his true agenda. McMorrow highlighted sections of the plan that would give the White House more control over nonpolitical government jobs and allow Trump to wield unprecedented power.
“That is not how it works in America,” McMorrow said. “That’s how it works in dictatorships.”
She concluded by promising to return on Tuesday with more details on what the Project 2025 agenda would mean for Americans’ everyday lives.
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