On Thursday night, Vice President Kamala Harris of the United States will officially accept the Democratic Party’s nomination for president. This marks the culmination of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) and the theme of the evening is “For Our Future”.
Reports from the Associated Press indicate that Harris will use her speech to outline her vision for the country. A campaign official, who chose to remain anonymous, stated that Harris’ speech has three main objectives: sharing her story of coming from a middle-class family, highlighting her role as a prosecutor in protecting others, promoting her “optimistic” agenda, and inspiring patriotism among Americans.
The emphasis on Harris’ law enforcement background, including her stints as a prosecutor in the San Francisco area and California’s Attorney General, has been highlighted by her team. She later was elected as a United States Senator from California and sought the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 2020.
Although her campaign faltered before the primary votes that year, Biden chose her as his running mate, bringing her back onto the national stage.
Following the overturning of the Roe v. Wade case by the U.S. Supreme Court, she became a leading advocate for federal abortion rights. The abortion rights controversy helped the Democratic Party retain control of the Senate in the last midterm elections, while maintaining a narrow margin in the House.
After President Biden’s initial debate loss to Republican presidential candidate Trump in June, Harris has been a staunch defender of Biden and he later decided to exit the race, endorsing Harris instead.
Harris quickly united the Democratic Party, securing the party’s presidential candidate status through online voting. Her presence has sparked enthusiasm among Democratic voters and large traditional rallies have been held in battleground states.
“We know what we are doing at this moment,” Harris said at a rally in Milwaukee this week. “We must remember—as the generations of Americans before us who fought for freedom—that the baton is now in our hands.”
As the Democratic National Convention reaches its climax, there is anticipation from the public for Harris’ nomination speech to reveal more about economic, energy, trade, and foreign policy directions.
Thursday’s events are set to take place from 8 to 11 PM Eastern Time, with prominent senior Democratic lawmakers or governors from key battleground states delivering speeches.