Politics

DNC 2024: Live Updates

Breaking news, key moments and photos from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

By YR Staff
08.19.24
DNC 2024: Live Updates

Aug. 22

10:15 p.m. CT

Kamala Harris: ‘For the People’

“We are charting a new way forward. Forward to a future with a strong and growing middle class because we know a strong middle class has always been critical to America’s success and building that middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency. … As president, I will bring together labor and workers and small business owners and entrepreneurs and American companies to create jobs to grow our economy and to lower the cost of everyday needs like health care and housing and groceries. We will provide access to capital for small business owners and entrepreneurs. … And we will end America’s housing shortage and protect social security and medicare.  … In this election, many other fundamental freedoms are at stake. The freedom to live safe from gun violence in our schools, communities, and places of worship. The freedom to love who you love openly and with pride. The freedom to breathe clean air and drink clean water, and live free from the pollution that fuels the climate crisis. … And the freedom that unlocks all the others, the freedom to vote,” said Vice President Kamala Harris as she accepted the Democratic nomination to run for the 47th President of the United States.

7:45 p.m. CT

Maxwell Frost: First Gen Z Elected to Congress

6:45 p.m. CT

Young Voter Enthusiasm: ‘Off the Charts’

“I think the amount of enthusiasm among young voters, at least in my experience: off the charts. There are differences between the parties that young people can identify themselves, whether it’s reproductive rights, economic opportunity or civil rights. I think young people are going to be the difference in this election and put Kamala Harris in the White House,” said Former President John F. Kennedy’s grandson Jack Schlossberg.

Jack Schlossberg, grandson of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy. | Mandel Ngan/ AFP via Getty Images)

1 p.m. CT

Expectations on DNC’s Closing Night

  • Other speakers for Thursday
    • Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (Illinois)
    • Gabby Giffords, a gun safety advocate
    • Rep. Maxwell Frost (Florida)
    • Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
    • Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts)
    • Tennessee State Reps. Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson
  • Singer Pink is expected to perform
  • Donald Trump plans to do a live “play-by-play” on his social media platform of Vice President Kamala Harris’ speech

10:30 a.m. CT

DNC Livestream Guide

Need a refresher on how to watch DNC programming live? Here’s how to watch Vice President Kamala Harris officially accept the nomination for President:

If you’re watching from your laptop or desktop, you can catch the official live stream at the DNC website: DemConvention.com.

Aug. 21

11:59 p.m. CT

Vice Presidential Nominee Tim Walz

10 p.m. CT

Oprah Winfrey: ‘Choose Common Sense Over Nonsense’

Media titan Oprah Winfrey reminded voters that the election isn’t about “us and them,” but “you and me” and what “we want our future to look like.”

Without saying Trump’s name, she said the right choice must be made.

Oprah Winfrey speaks on stage during the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago. | Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images

“Now there’s a certain candidate who says if we just go to the polls this one time, that we’ll never have to do it again. Well, you know what? You’re looking at a registered independent who’s proud to vote again and again and again because I’m an American and that’s what Americans do,” said Winfrey. 

She urged all voters, especially those undecided to “choose optimism over cynicism,” “inclusion over retribution” and “common sense over nonsense.”

“Decency and respect are on the ballot in 2024. Common sense tells you that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz can give us decency and respect. … Let us choose the sweet promise of tomorrow, over the bitter return to yesterday. We won’t go back. We won’t be set back. Push back, believe back, kick back. We’re not going back,” she stressed.

Poet Amanda Gorman Speaks to the Crowd

8:30 p.m. CT

Stevie Wonder Takes the ‘Higher Ground’

Stevie Wonder performs on stage during the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago. | Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images

8 p.m. CT

Harris Gets a Republican Endorsement

Calling Trump a “direct threat to democracy,” former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan endorsed Vice President Harris, adding, “the only thing left to do is dump Trump.”

Immigration

“When Donald Trump comes down to Texas, stands next to officers in uniforms just like mine, he’s not there to help us. Don’t think that — not for a second.” -Sheriff Javier Salazar of Bexar County, Texas

Reproductive Rights

“I’m here to tell you, in no way are Donald J. Trump and JD Vance more qualified than doctors and women to make these decisions. We decide. We trust women. We trust doctors. And we trust Kamala Harris.” -Alexis McGill Johnson, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood

LGBTQIA+ Rights

“Donald Trump wants to erase us.” -Kelly Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign

5 p.m. CT

Immigration and Trump Gets New Endorsement

  • Immigration will be a key talking point among Wednesday’s speakers 
  • Entertainers Sheila E. and John Legend are scheduled to perform
  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has reportedly ended his presidential campaign as an independent and will endorse former President Donald Trump
Sheila E. and John Legend rehearse prior to the start of the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago. | Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images

1 p.m. CT

Official DNC Roll Call Playlist

Enjoy the full playlist used during the ceremonial roll call on Tuesday.

10 a.m. CT

Day 3 Speakers and Where to Watch

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will accept the Democratic nomination for vice president Wednesday. Before Walz takes the stage, former President Bill Clinton and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Cory Booker and Govs. Wes Moore of Maryland and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, among others, will address the crowd.


You won’t be in front of a TV to watch? Check here to see how you can still watch it live.

Aug. 20

11:59 p.m. CT

Let’s Call it a ‘Comeback’

Two heavy-hitters – former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama – graced the DNC stage Tuesday to keep the crowd fired up after Lil Jon made sure the crowd didn’t “turn down.” And First Gentleman Douglas Emhoff shared a personal story.

The former First Lady said Vice President Kamala Harris is the key to America “making a comeback.”

“Harris understands that most of us will never be afforded the grace of failing forward. We will never benefit from the affirmative action of generational wealth. If we bankrupt a business or choke in a crisis, we don’t get a second, third or fourth chance. If things don’t go our way, we don’t have the luxury of whining or cheating others to get further ahead. We don’t get to change the rules so we always win. Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs?,” said Obama.

Barack Obama followed by stressing the need for the United States being a global “force for good.”

“We can’t eradicate every cruelty and injustice in the world, but America can be, and must be, a force for good: discouraging conflict, fighting disease, promoting human rights, protecting the planet from climate change,” said Obama.

8 p.m. CT

DNC Playlist: Delegate Roll Call 

The crowd inside the United Center couldn’t help but get hyped up when Atlanta’s own Lil Jon rocked the crowd with “Turn Down For What” during the ceremonial delegate roll call for Georgia.

Arkansas: “Don’t Stop” by Fleetwood Mac

California: “California Love” by Tupac Shakur

Illinois: “Sirius” by The Alan Parsons Project

Kansas: “Carry On Wayward Son” by Kansas

Massachusetts: “Shipping Up to Boston” by Dropkick Murphys

Michigan: “Lose Yourself” by Eminem

New Jersey: “Born In the USA” by Bruce Springsteen

New York: “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys

North Carolina: “Raise Up” by Petey Pablo

Puerto Rico: “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi

South Carolina: “Get on Up” by James Brown

Tennessee: “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton

Vermont: “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan

West Virginia: “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver

Wisconsin: “Jump Around” by House of Pain

12 p.m. CT

Young Voters Breakfast

Young political leaders from several organizations — TOGETHER!, Voters of Tomorrow, The Lincoln Project and Blue Futures — co-hosted the “Youth Power Breakfast” at a coffee shop in Chicago’s South Loop to energize the youth voting bloc.

Key issues highlighted:

  • Reproductive rights
  • LGBTQIA+ rights
  • Gun violence reform

Aug. 19

10 p.m. CT

‘Torch’ Passed

Several spoke up, loudly, for Vice President Kamala Harris at the opening night main event, including President Joe Biden.

As Biden was preparing to grace the stage and talk about his achievements and those of the vice president, Harris surprised the crowd.

“I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible president, Joe Biden. Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of historic service to our nation and for all you will continue to do. We are forever grateful to you,” said Harris.

Biden’s response?

“Selecting Kamala was the very first decision I made when I became our nominee,and it was the best decision I made my whole career. She’s tough, she’s experienced and she has enormous integrity. Her story represents the best American story. And like many of our best presidents, she was also vice president,” said Biden.

Former Senator and Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also spoke about Harris and the impact of her nomination. 

“We refused to give up on America. We kept our eyes on the future. Well, my friends, the future is here. Together we put a lot of cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling. Tonight, so close to breaking through once and for all, I want to tell you what I see through all those cracks. I see freedom … the freedom to look our children in the eye and say you can go as far as your hard work and talent will take you — and mean it,” said Clinton.

2:30 p.m. CT

3 Things to Watch at #DNC2024

The Democratic National Convention will make history this week in Chicago by nominating Vice President Kamala Harris for President. The announcement will come roughly one month after President Joe Biden ended his re-election bid.

Here are a few things YR Media will highlight during the four-day convention.

Mobilizing the Youth Vote

Young political organization leaders will reveal the challenges and opportunities in mobilizing the youth vote. They will also discuss the vital role of youth engagement in the electoral process.

Youth Polling Numbers

A Harvard poll examines current trends in the youth vote.

Project 2025

A deep discussion and education about the 922-page policy recommendations that has been repeatedly referred to as problematic for the nation.

12:00 p.m. CT

Thousands demonstrate to have their voices heard during the Democratic National Convention which started in Chicago on Monday. | Getty Images

Scott Olson | Getty Images
Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times | Getty Images
Brandon Bell | Getty Images
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