Although the virtual vote at the end of August had already proclaimed that Kamala Harris will be the Democratic Party candidate for the November presidential elections, the 50 delegates representing the US states at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago have formalized in a symbolic vote the candidacy of the current vice president of Joe Biden, whom she replaces after his withdrawal and whom she supported in an emotional farewell speech delivered on the first day of the conclave.
Kamala Harris, who made history by becoming the first woman of African-American and Indian descent to be the candidate of one of the country’s two major parties, has accepted the Democratic Party nomination more than 300 kilometers away from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Harris and her campaign partner, Tim Walz, learned the result of the Democratic delegate vote when they participated in a campaign event in the city of Milwaukee, in the state of Wisconsin, from where they addressed the entire nation.
“It’s an honor to be your nominee,” Harris told the crowd in Milwaukee. “This is a people-powered campaign, and together we will chart a new path forward. A future of freedom, optimism and faith. So to all of you in Chicago, and to all of America, thank you.” Her emotional speech was interrupted several times by applause and cheers from the audience, who greeted her with a standing ovation to the tune of Beyoncé’s Freedom, which has become a campaign anthem.
Harris had already received the official nomination in early August, after obtaining the majority of the votes of the 4,500 delegates in a virtual vote. However, the Chicago convention has served to stage the party’s unanimous support for her candidacy, especially after Joe Biden’s decision not to run for a second term and leaving Harris as the strongest option to face the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, in the elections on November 5.
The Chicago vote took place in a festive atmosphere, with a light show and a DJ who animated each of the interventions with a song that, more or less, made some reference to the state they represented. Some even had the presence of celebrities to announce their results, such as film director Spike Lee and actor Wendell Pierce. The California delegation, led by Governor Gavin Newsom, was in charge of sealing the nomination with their votes. “Kamala Harris has always done the right thing and has defended the rights of minors, minorities, immigrants and LGBTIQ people,” Newsom said during his speech.
A rally in Milwaukee full of energy and tension
While the Democratic convention was underway in Chicago, Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, were participating in a campaign rally in Milwaukee. The event started with a standing ovation, but the appearance of a pro-Palestinian protester with a sign reading “genocidal” led to the event being briefly interrupted, until security teams removed the individual.
With everything reset, both Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have reaffirmed in their speeches their commitment to work to create a better future for all Americans. “This is a campaign of the people, for the people,” declared the Democratic candidate, highlighting the importance of participation in the upcoming elections.
The Obamas, protagonists of the second day
Meanwhile, the Democratic National Convention is eagerly awaiting the speeches of former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, who in their speeches on Tuesday are tasked with reinforcing the message of unity that the Democratic Party wants to convey from Chicago, in addition to endorsing Kamala Harris as the best option to face Donald Trump in November.
However, the central moment of the convention will take place on Thursday, when Harris delivers her formal acceptance speech. This event will be key to consolidating her leadership in the Democratic Party and mobilizing voters in the final stretch of the campaign. Harris’s nomination represents not only a historic milestone for her profile, but also a significant challenge in a deeply polarized political context.
The vice president will face not only Trump, but also internal expectations and challenges within her own party. The unity demonstrated at the convention will be tested in the coming weeks, as the campaign enters its most intense phase. Meanwhile, Harris continues to tour the country, bringing her message of hope and renewal to every corner of the United States, in an attempt to connect with all sectors of society.
