Kamala Harris accepts DNC’s ceremonial nomination for president 100 miles away from convention site
MILWAUKEE – Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the Democrats’ ceremonial nomination for president on Tuesday – from a watch party nearly 100 miles away from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Harris, 59, addressed supporters at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum shortly after Democratic delegates completed the symbolic roll-call vote.
“We are so honored to be your nominees,” the vice president said, with her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, standing nearby.
“This is a people-powered campaign and together we will chart a new way forward,” Harris added.
The first few minutes of the Democratic nominee’s remarks were livestreamed at the United Center in Chicago, where the DNC is being held. The prime-time speeches at the Democratic gathering will also be livestreamed at the Milwaukee arena.
“I’ll see you in two days, Chicago,” Harris told DNC attendees.
In the campaign speech that followed, Harris hit her 2024 opponent, former President Donald Trump, on abortion – and she accused him of threatening to “terminate the Constitution.”
“Yesterday, when he was asked if he had any regrets about ending Roe v. Wade, Donald Trump – without even a moment’s hesitation – said no,” Harris said. “No regrets. That’s because he hasn’t had to face the consequences. Women and families have.”
“Well, we will make sure he does face the consequence at the ballot box this November,” she continued.
At one point, a protester attempted to shout over Harris’ remarks, but the vice president powered through. It was unclear what the demonstrator was saying.
The arena – home of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks – was close to its 18,000 person capacity for the event.
Walz indicated that more than 15,000 people were in attendance during his remarks.
“They didn’t know the big party was in Milwaukee tonight,” the Minnesota governor said, referring to the Democrats at the DNC south of the state border.
Trump, 78, accepted the GOP nomination for president last month at the same Milwaukee venue.
“That convention had one purpose. To coronate one man,” Walz said of the GOP convention.
“It’s a celebration of all us over there,” he said of the DNC.
Harris appears to have accepted the nomination in Wisconsin in an effort to campaign in the key swing state.
The latest FiveThirtyEight average of polls shows Harris leading Trump by 3.2 percentage points in Wisconsin, which has 10 Electoral College votes up for grabs in November.
But it was not entirely a hometown crowd.
When the DJ at the Fiserv Forum asked who was in town from Illinois, the response from the crowd was deafening. And there were people from other states in the crowd as well.
Attendees donned light-up bracelets as they waited for Harris, matching the Taylor Swift concert-like fashion accessories handed out to DNC attendees in Chicago.
“I’m really gonna need your energy when they broadcast us live,” Jaliah Jefferson, Milwaukee Democratic Deputy Organizing Director, said before Harris took the stage, in an effort to pump up the crowd.
Harris was technically already the nominee, having officially received that title on Aug. 6 after a virtual roll call, but Democrats opted to hold a ceremonial procession in a nod to the tradition of voting on the party standard bearer during the convention.
“The roll call is a beloved and time-honored tradition, and we’re proud to bring it back in a new and fun format,” Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison said in a statement.
“Democrats from all across the country have made their voices heard in support of our Democratic nominees, and we look forward to using this convention to drive historic momentum behind the Harris-Walz ticket as we unify in our mission to defeat Donald Trump,” he added.
The ceremony in Chicago dragged on for more than an hour, with celebrities including Lil Jon and Eva Longoria helping announce their home states’ votes.
Democrats opted for a virtual roll call at the start of the month to avoid any potential ballot access snarls, particularly in Ohio, which had an Aug. 7 deadline to finalize its ballots.
Party officials sought to cast the ceremony as a way to gin up support for Harris and Walz.
The ceremonial roll call began with President Biden’s home state delegation from Delaware and wrapped up with California and Minnesota, the home states of Harris and Walz.
“The experience is intended to be felt arena-wide while also providing compelling visuals for those tuning in from home, with infused music, lighting, visuals, and special effects utilized throughout,” a convention spokesperson explained.
Democratic National Convention Chair Minyon Moore stressed that “the convention roll call is more than a ceremony — it is a celebration of everything the Democratic Party stands for: diversity, strength, and unity.”
Besides departing from the traditional weight of the convention roll call — which normally makes the party’s presidential nominee official rather than a virtual one ahead of time — Democrats also split from tradition in selecting Harris.
Typically, both political parties choose the presidential nominee via primary contests. Harris never competed in those contests for the 2024 presidential nod.
President Biden had locked the sufficient delegates from the Democratic primary this cycle but ultimately dropped out and endorsed her for president on July 21, paving the way for his delegates to flock toward her.
Walz is set to formally accept the party nomination on Wednesday with his signature address to the convention.
Harris will do the same on Thursday when she caps off the four-day gathering.
