CHICAGO — Vice President Kamala Harris will officially accept the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday night in a historic moment, following President Biden’s victory in the 2024 Democratic primaries. However, Biden later suspended his campaign due to internal party pressure.
Harris is set to deliver a primetime address at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Thursday night.
By the end of the evening, the Democratic presidential ticket will be finalized with Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. From there, they will face off against the Republican ticket, led by former President Trump and his vice-presidential pick, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, in the general election.
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Harris surprised attendees on Monday night by delivering remarks at the start of the DNC in Chicago, where she expressed gratitude to Biden, stating, “We are forever grateful to him.”
In her speech, Harris emphasized that Democrats are “united by our shared vision for the future of our country.”
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“And this November, we will come together and declare with one voice as one people, we are moving forward,” Harris said on Monday. “With optimism, hope, and faith, guided by our love for this country, and knowing we have more in common than what divides us. Let us fight for the ideals we hold dear, and remember: when we fight, we win.”
President Biden, who spoke at the DNC on Monday night, addressed the packed United Center arena, stating, “America, I gave my best to you.”
Reflecting on his decision to choose Harris as his running mate, Biden said, “Selecting Kamala was the very first decision I made when I became our nominee, and it was the best decision of my career. She’s tough, experienced, and has enormous integrity.”
He added, “Her story represents the best of the American story.”
Biden then rallied the crowd, asking, “Are you ready to vote for freedom? Are you ready to vote for democracy and for America? Are you ready to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz as president and vice president of the United States?”
Harris has been actively campaigning across the country this week and recently unveiled a significant proposal to increase the corporate tax rate. Her campaign described this move as a “fiscally responsible way to put money back in the pockets of working people and ensure billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share.”
Meanwhile, Harris has garnered support from major Democratic figures and top Hollywood stars ahead of her formal acceptance of the Democratic presidential nomination. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised Harris, drawing on her famous “glass ceiling” metaphor.
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“On the other side of that glass ceiling is Kamala Harris, raising her hand and taking the oath of office as our 47th president of the United States,” said Clinton, who became the first woman to win a major party’s presidential nomination in 2016.
Harris also received praise from former President Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and former President Bill Clinton, among others.
Her husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, expressed his pride, stating, “That’s who she is. Whenever she’s needed, however, she’s needed, Kamala rises to the occasion. She did it for me and our family. Now that the country needs her, she’s showing you what we already know: she’s ready to lead, she brings both joy and toughness to this task, and she will be a great president who we will all be proud of.”