What To Expect at the Democratic National Convention

Exactly four weeks after Vice President Kamala Harris announced her bid for the presidency, the Democratic National Convention is kicking off in Chicago.

The Democrats don’t seem to have any more surprises in store for Chicago – or official business to conduct: Harris and running mate Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota have already been officially nominated as the Democratic Party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

Delegates in Chicago will have a much lighter load than usual. Normally, the convention would include a roll-call vote to formally select nominees, but Harris and Walz were confirmed earlier this month in a virtual roll-call vote. The main activity at this year’s convention, then, will be the confirming of the party’s platform and cheering the speeches from an all-star cast that includes a sitting president, two former presidents, and almost-president Hillary Clinton).

The Democratic platform – a document outlining goals and policy positions – was officially released to the public July 13, eight days before President Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris as his successor. Just one day before the convention, the party’s platform still names the wrong candidate for president, a relic of Biden’s abandoned reelection bid and a paradigm of the last-minute nature of the big switcheroo.

In its preamble, the platform states that “President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Democrats are running to finish the job.” The rules body is not scheduled to meet to update the platform before the convention begins Monday.

Harris has not yet released a detailed list of her policy positions and how – or if – they differ from those of Biden. The fact that the platform has not been updated since Harris took over at the top of the ticket suggests her vision for the future may be more of the same. The platform calls for restoring abortion rights nationwide, focusing on green energy initiatives, capping childcare costs, and restructuring the immigration system. 

The platform also says Israel’s right to defend itself is “ironclad” while praising the Biden administration’s effort to achieve a lasting ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. It is this continued support of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza that is galvanizing protestors to descend on Chicago.

An umbrella group of organizations called the Coalition to March on the DNC planned marches on the first and last day of the convention, August 19 and 22, largely focused on pressuring Democrats to cut off U.S. military assistance to Israel.

Despite the negative press the protests will likely bring, Democrats are hoping they will be blessed with the typically positive post-convention glow. Harris leads Trump by 1.4 points going into convention week, according to the RCP Average. Convention speeches often aid in polling boosts, and convention organizers aimed to give Harris all the help possible by stocking the schedule with the biggest names in politics. 

On Monday, themed “For the People,” Joe Biden and Jill Biden are slated to speak, along with the another onetime first lady (and 2016 presidential nominee) former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. On Tuesday, “A Bold Vision for America’s Future,” the country will hear from former President Barack Obama and Kamala Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff. Axios reports that former first lady Michelle Obama will also speak Tuesday. Wednesday, “A Fight for Our Freedoms,” will highlight Gov. Tim Walz as he accepts his vice-presidential nomination. Former President Bill Clinton, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are also expected to address the delegates Wednesday. On Thursday, themed “For Our Future,” Vice President Kamala Harris will accept the party’s nomination for president.

These faces of old and new, all rallying behind Harris, hope to send a message to Americans still on the fence: We’re behind this candidate, and you should be too.