What To Know About The Democratic National Convention: Obama, Clintons, and Biden Will Speak

 

Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz campaign on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Las Vegas, NV. 

Three presidents are expected to speak at next week’s Democratic National Convention—a relatively anti-climactic event despite a historic shakeup on the party’s ticket as the party has already nominated Vice President Kamala Harris for president, completing the formality typically reserved for the convention weeks in advance.

Key Facts

President Joe Biden will speak on the first day of the event next Monday, the White House said, one of his highest-profile appearances since leaving the Democratic ticket under pressure.

Former President Barack Obama will speak the following night, while former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will also speak at some point, The New York Times reported, citing people familiar with the schedule.

Harris will speak on the closing night Aug. 22 to accept the party’s nomination, as is customary, and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, will speak Aug. 21.

Typically, the primary focus of party conventions is for delegates to formally nominate their presidential and vice presidential candidates, but Democrats already tapped Harris as their nominee in a virtual roll call that concluded Aug.

What Time Does The Dnc Start?

The convention will run Aug. 19-22 in Chicago. The primetime events will be broadcast on all major networks; streaming services including Hulu, Paramount Plus, Peacock and Max; the DNC YouTube and X channels and various news websites.

Who Are The Other Dnc Speakers?

Jason Carter will speak on behalf of his grandfather, former President Jimmy Carter. “Central Park Five” member Yusef Salaam has also been invited to speak, Semafor reported Tuesday, citing unnamed sources, though it’s unclear if he’s accepted the invitation. Salaam was among the group of five Black and Latino teenagers wrongly convicted of raping a woman in Central Park in the 1980s. Trump, at the time, took out newspaper ads calling for the state to bring back the death penalty, alluding to the Central Park rape, but avoiding explicitly calling for the death penalty for Salaam and his co-defendants. Salaam has openly criticized Trump (who has refused to apologize for the ad) following his exoneration, tweeting “Karma” when Trump was charged with falsifying business records in Manhattan last year.

What We Don’t Know

The full speaking schedule or the keynote speaker, typically a rising star in the party.

Why Did Democrats Nominate Harris Virtually?

To avoid any complications with a newly modified Ohio law requiring nominees to be confirmed at least 90 days before the election. Ohio revised the rule, but it doesn’t take effect until Sept. 1, so some Democrats worried the party could still face GOP lawsuits to prevent Harris from appearing on the state’s ballot—which Ohio Republican officials have denied.

Why Is The Dnc In Chicago?

Because of its proximity to the “blue wall” of Midwestern states, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, that helped Biden win in 2020, the DNC said in announcing last year it chose Chicago. The city’s union connections and its stock of hotels, venues, restaurants and infrastructure were also factors.

Key Background

Democrats head into convention week at a high point for the party since Harris took over the top of the ticket for Biden, re-energizing donors, voters and elected Democrats and inching ahead of former President Donald Trump in most polls.