Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the Democratic National Convention, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
CHICAGO (AP) — Kamala Harris urged Americans Thursday to reject political division and instead forge what she called a “new path forward” as she accepted her party’s nomination, mixing her biography with warnings against re-electing Donald Trump to the White House.
As she took the stage to a standing ovation at the conclusion of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the vice president argued that her personal history and background as a prosecutor made her uniquely suited to defend the interests of Americans against a former president whom she accused of only having his own interests in mind.
“With this election, our nation has a precious, fleeting opportunity to put the bitterness, cynicism and divisive struggles of the past behind us,” Harris said. “A chance to forge a new path forward. Not as members of a party or faction, but as Americans.”
The daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, Harris was the first black woman and person of South Asian descent to accept a major party’s presidential nomination, and if elected, she would be the first female president. Harris did not explicitly refer to the historic firsts she would set in her 40-minute speech, mentioning the words “Democrat” or “Republican” only in the context of discussing a bipartisan border bill that Trump killed earlier this year and that she hoped to sign if elected.
Her speech – and the Democratic convention as a whole – was intended to appeal to a broad swath of Americans, not just partisans already energized by Harris’s rise after President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid. She made several implicit appeals to the large mass of voters who just a few weeks ago were unhappy with either option for the White House, especially those unhappy with Trump. This was underscored by the appearance of several people who have broken with the 45th president while embracing the policies and approach of Biden, the 46th.
She accompanied a large blended and mixed-race family during the traditional balloon toss. Beforehand, two of her great-nieces had taught people in the packed United Center how to pronounce her name, which means lotus in Sanskrit.
“America, the path that has brought me here in the last few weeks has certainly been unexpected,” said Harris. “But I am no stranger to unusual travel.”
Harris introduces himself again
After her parents divorced, Harris was raised primarily by her mother in a small apartment in San Francisco’s East Bay. She described how she was also raised by friends and caregivers who were “family out of love.” She also detailed an important part of her political origin story, when Wanda, her best friend from high school, confided in her that she was being abused by her stepfather and came to live with Harris’ family.
“That’s one of the reasons I became a prosecutor. To protect people like Wanda,” Harris said.
Describing her work as a prosecutor, attorney general, senator and now vice president, Harris said, “In my entire career, I have had only one client: the people.” At the same time, she said Trump has always acted in the interests of “the only client he has ever had: himself.”
As she walked onto the stage, she saw a sea of female delegates and Democratic supporters wearing white—the color of women’s suffrage, the movement that culminated in 1920 with American women gaining the right to vote.
Harris’ speech was to mark her tenth wedding anniversary with her husband Doug Emhoff, whom she called “Dougie” on stage and who blew her a kiss from the stands at the beginning of her speech.
She and other speakers appealed directly to Republicans
Harris directly called on Republicans who do not support Trump to put aside their party affiliation and support her instead of Trump, who contested his loss to Biden in the 2020 election that inspired the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
“I know there are people watching tonight with different political views, and I want you to know that I promise to be a president for all Americans,” Harris said. “I promise to be a president for all Americans and to uphold America’s sacred constitutional principles, the fundamental principles, from the rule of law and fair elections to the peaceful transfer of power.”
At the convention, former Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican critic of Trump, gave a keynote speech. He said, “Whatever political views we hold, they pale in comparison to these basic questions of principle. Of decency. Of loyalty to this nation. To my Republican colleagues, if you still pledge allegiance to those principles, then I suspect you’re in the right place.”
Harris repeatedly referred to her accuser’s past and mentioned Trump’s “express intention” to release those who attacked police officers in the Capitol, to imprison political opponents and to use the military against American citizens.
“Think of what he plans to do if we give him power again,” she added.
Trump called Fox News after Harris’ speech and responded to the speech by asking, “Why didn’t she do the things she complained about?”
“There was a lot of whining. She didn’t talk about China. She didn’t talk about fracking. She didn’t talk about crime,” Trump continued, adding, “Other than that, it was a nice room.”
Harris promises to defend coalitions and access to abortion
In her most extensive national security speech since running for president, Harris pledged to strengthen U.S. ties with NATO allies and said the country must continue to support Ukraine in its war against Russia. Trump and his running mate JD Vance have repeatedly questioned U.S. support for Ukraine.
“I will never waver in defending America’s security and ideals, because in the ongoing struggle between democracy and tyranny, I know where I stand and I know where the United States belongs,” she said.
The Vice President also vowed to work toward an end to Israel’s war against Hamas, which could lead to stabilization in the rest of the region, and not to hesitate to protect U.S. forces from aggression by Iran and other adversaries.
While she promised to “always stand up for Israel’s right to self-defense” after the October 7 Hamas attack and pushed for the release of hostages and the implementation of a ceasefire agreement, she also highlighted the plight of Palestinian civilians. Pro-Palestinian protesters and members of the local “undecided” movement sharply criticized the convention organizers for not inviting a Palestinian American to the stage.
“What has happened in Gaza over the last 10 months is devastating. So many innocent people have lost their lives,” Harris said. “Desperate, hungry people keep fleeing for safety. The scale of the suffering is heartbreaking.”
Harris promised to restore nationwide access to abortion after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and sharply criticized Trump and Republicans who have allowed abortion bans in two dozen states and taken other steps.
“You are out of your mind,” Harris announced.
Harris has come under scrutiny in the month since she replaced Biden at the helm of the Democratic nomination for avoiding making concrete policy statements, making sweeping promises on a number of key policy areas, including expanding voting rights, lowering housing costs, strengthening the middle class through tax cuts and incentives, and securing the border.
Harris highlighted her background in law enforcement, including her time as district attorney in San Francisco and attorney general in California. She was later elected to the U.S. Senate and ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.
Her campaign failed this year before a single vote was cast in the primaries, but Biden made her his running mate, catapulting her onto the national stage.
Although Harris initially struggled to gain traction as vice president, her standing grew when she became the leading abortion rights advocate in the administration following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. Democrats seized on her anger over that decision to limit their losses in the last midterm elections.
When Biden stumbled at the debate with Trump in June, Harris defended him until he decided to drop out of the race. With his support, she was able to quickly unite the Democratic Party behind her candidacy, refocusing a presidential campaign that Trump seemed poised to win.
In a speech to her supporters after her remarks, Harris expressed confidence but encouraged them to continue campaigning as if they were behind.
“You can party tonight, we have a lot to do in the next 75 days,” she said. “We’re going to win this.”
