WASHINGTON —
The Democratic National Convention (DNC) kicks off next Monday in Chicago with an agenda that seeks to reinforce the party’s message with Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, just over two months before the general elections in the US.
This is an event that occurs every four years and where the party officially selects its presidential and vice presidential candidates. Officials expect that some 50,000 people will travel to Chicago for the convention, which will begin on August 19 and run through the 22nd.
Attendees include some 20,000 members of the media, along with 5,500 delegates traveling from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories. Delegates are party leaders and elected officials chosen to represent the will of their state or territory.
DNC events will be split between the United Center arena, where official business and the highly anticipated speeches will take place, and the nearby McCormick Place convention center, which will host meetings and conferences.
About 500 police officers were called in from other Illinois cities to reinforce security for the convention, with duties such as directing traffic and manning checkpoints.
In addition, an economic injection of $150 million is expected to the Chicago area.
A symbolic vote
On August 5, Democratic delegates officially selected Harris as the party’s presidential nominee following a virtual vote that spanned five days.
Harris received nearly 4,600 votes, or 99% of the participating delegates.
DNC officials first indicated in May that they would hold a virtual vote to overcome a potential hurdle in getting the Democratic nominee on the ballot in Ohio. That state’s deadline to register general election hopefuls was Aug. 1, two weeks before the convention.
The main order of business at any national party convention is the official selection of the presidential and vice presidential candidates, and the candidates giving speeches accepting their nominations.
Normally, the voting process for the nominee is done publicly, with a live roll call vote in which state delegations cast their ballots from the convention floor. However, because this year’s pre-convention selection process was held behind closed doors, the DNC says the convention will feature a ceremonial roll call vote, which will mimic the traditional style.
Harris will deliver an acceptance speech on the final day of the convention. Her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, is expected to precede her on Thursday.
Why Chicago?
In announcing Chicago as the DNC site, Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison said it was a “tough” decision but ultimately the city’s business connections and ready readiness to handle thousands of visitors helped it win over other bidders.
According to committee officials, Chicago received support from “a broad range of Midwestern Democrats representing the diversity of the party.” Officials said the city was selected “at the conclusion of a rigorous host selection process,” led by the DNC’s Director of Convention Planning.
This is the 26th convention that Chicago has hosted, and many of them are considered some of the most memorable and consequential in American history.
The first convention held in Chicago was in 1860, when the Republicans chose Abraham Lincoln as their presidential candidate, who eventually won the election that November.
In 1952, both the Democratic and Republican Conventions were held in Chicago, marking the first time the events were televised live.
Later, in 1968 during the Democratic Convention, the city witnessed a series of demonstrations that ended in violence between local police and thousands of people protesting the US role in the Vietnam War.
During the 2024 convention, organizations and activists have begun to call for demonstrations near the United Center, where the event will be held, to demand a ceasefire in Gaza. The conflict has become a highly important issue in international politics during this election day.
Protests in Chicago are expected to be larger and more dispersed than in Milwaukee, where The largest event attracted approximately 1,000 attendees downtown and there were few arrests. Chicago police have changed their mass arrest policy, while the Cook County Circuit Court said it is making adjustments, such as opening an additional facility in case of mass arrests.
Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channels YouTube, WhatsApp and the newsletter. Activate notifications and follow us on Facebook, X e Instagram.
