Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will formally accept his vice presidential nomination on Wednesday, addressing the Democratic convention in Chicago and Americans across the country.
His remarks come after former President Barack Obama took the stage at the convention on Tuesday, who said the 2024 election represents a "fight for the America we believe in."
"Make no mistake: it will be a fight," Obama said, adding "this will still be a tight race in a closely divided country."
Former first lady Michelle Obama; second gentleman Doug Emhoff and top Democratic officials delivered their own speeches on Tuesday, focusing on major debates facing the nation from reproductive rights to voting access and more.
Keep up with the USA TODAY Network's live coverage of the Democratic convention.
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Democratic National Convention highlights
Catch up on some of the key moments from Tuesday night.
- Michelle Obama lays into Trump and rallies DNC to 'Do Something!' for Kamala Harris
- Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President Kennedy, delivers speech on DNC Night 2
- 'I'm feeling fired up!' Watch Barack Obama speech at the Democratic convention
- Doug Emhoff recalls first date with Harris in DNC speech
- At national convention, Democrats pass the torch to a new generation of leaders
- Ex-Trump insider Stephanie Grisham goes after former boss in DNC speech
— Duane W. Gang
DNC takeaways: 'Hope is making a comeback.' Obamas storm the national stage
Barack and Michelle Obama arrived at the 2024 Democratic convention Tuesday with a message: Yes we Kam!
Speaking to a raucous crowd that hung on every utterance, the Chicago couple brought into focus the values at stake and their belief in how Vice President Kamala Harris is uniquely ready to turn the page and become America's next president.
Here are several key takeaways from Tuesday night.
- 'It will be a fight': Obama rips Trump, uplifts Harris: Obama criticized Trump for engaging in "childish nicknames and crazy conspiracy theories and (a) weird obsession with crowd size." He described Trump as a leader, "whose act has gotten pretty stale," but also as a "dangerous" person should he return to the White House.
- Michelle Obama says something 'magical is in the air': She said Democrats feel the “exhilaration of once again being on the cusp of a brighter day” but also warned the party not to get complacent, calling it an “uphill” fight to beat Trump in November.
- Lil Jon, Spike Lee spice up rollcall: A convention DJ cued up different music selections for each state’s delegation as they announced their delegates committed to Harris. Eminem’s “Lose yourself” was picked for Michigan. Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” for New Jersey. For Tennessee, it was Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.”
- Dems keep making Project 2025 their boogeyman: Democrats continued their assault on Project 2025, the policy blueprint of the conservative think-tank the Heritage Foundation, seeking to tie the agenda to Trump.
— Phillip M. Bailey and Joey Garrison
The Obamas, the Clintons, Carter and even JFK: How the old gang is helping Kamala Harris
President Joe Bidenspoke Monday, embracing Harris after reluctantlystepping back from the campaign. Former President Bill Clinton is slated to speak Wednesday. In an animated speech Monday, Hillary Clinton predicted Harris would shatter the "highest, hardest glass ceiling" that she had only managed to crack as the 2016 nominee. Jesse Jackson, a groundbreaking presidential hopeful who is 82 and ailing, gave the audience a thumbs-up from his wheelchair on stage.
Even former president Jimmy Carter,99 years oldand inhospice careat his home in Plains, Georgia, relayed remarks to the United Center on Tuesday via his grandson. "My grandfather can't wait to vote for Kamala Harris," Jason Carter declared.
He was followed on stage by the grandson of former president John F. Kennedy, likening Harris to JFK. "Once again, the torch has been passed to a new generation," Jack Schlossberg said, "to a leader who shares my grandfather's energy, vision and optimism for our future."
Read more on how these prominent Democrats are working to boost the Harris campaign.
— Susan Page
How to watch the Democratic convention
The convention willair live on its website, from the United Center in Chicago between 6:15 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern (5:15 p.m. to 10 p.m Central) on Monday, and 7 p.m to 11 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Central) the other days.
The USA TODAY Network and news outlets will livestream the convention and most will broadcast the major speeches live.
—Joey Garrison
Where is the DNC?
The convention is in Chicago, just 90 miles south of Milwaukee, where the Republican National Convention was recently held.
The Democratic Party has held a national convention every four years since 1832 to nominate its chosen candidates, and Chicago has a storied history of hosting conventions on both sides of the political aisle dating back to 1860, with the nomination of Abraham Lincoln.
According to theChicago Sun-Times, this will be the Windy City’s 26th political convention.
—Maya Homan
