We’re just days away from the Democratic National Convention (and, unbelievably enough, less than 90 days out from Election Day). Democratic politicians around the country are gearing up to shore up their party’s platform in Chicago, while supporting the presidential run of Vice President and 2024 Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. Below, find everything you need to know about the upcoming political event:
When is the DNC?
The DNC kicks off on Monday, August 19 and runs through Thursday, August 22.
Where is the DNC being held?
The events at this year’s DNC will be split between the United Center and McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. (Chicagoans, beware of street closures.) There are a number of third-party events and other goings-on held around the city.
Who’s scheduled to speak at the DNC?
Something of an all-star political lineup has been assembled for the 2024 DNC, with President Joe Biden scheduled to kick off the proceedings with a speech on Monday. (There’s allegedly a whole tribute to Biden planned after the president ended his campaign for 2024 reelection this month.) Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will also address the DNC on Monday, with former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton scheduled to speak on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively; Democratic vice presidential nominee and Minnesota governor Tim Walz will also speak on Wednesday, with Harris closing out the show with her nomination acceptance speech on Thursday. Additionally, former president Jimmy Carters’s grandson Jason Carter will represent his nearly 100-year-old grandfather at the convention.
How many delegates will be attending the DNC?
Harris ended up receiving 99% of the votes of the delegates originally pledged to Biden after his exit from the race, with 4,567 delegates casting their vote for her in total. If you need a further breakdown of what, exactly, a delegate is, look no further than this Crooked Media explainer: “A delegate is a person (a real live person!) who will vote to nominate a candidate at the Democratic National Convention.” There will be a total of 4,750 delegates at the DNC, with 771 of them designated as “superdelegates” (i.e. party insiders who might include anyone from Barack Obama to Democratic senators and House members) who are not pledged to any specific candidate and get to support whomever they want after the first round of voting.
Are there protests being planned for the DNC?
There’s a long history of political protest and activism surrounding the Democratic National Convention, and this year appears to be following tradition; a March on the DNC is already being planned to protest Democratic support for Israel, mass incarceration and deportation, and a host of other hot-button issues. (Protest groups have already accused the city of Chicago of blocking their ability to put up stages or platforms or use sound equipment during the convention.)
Is Taylor Swift coming to the convention?
Well, her London tour wraps up a few days before, so we can hope.
