Kamala Harris Accepts Democratic Nomination, Promises Unity and Change

Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for the 2024 presidential election on August 22, setting a new direction for her political career while contrasting herself with her Republican opponent, Donald Trump. In her acceptance speech, she emphasized her desire to lead the United States as a unifying figure, standing in stark opposition to what she described as Trump’s divisive tactics.

“On behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth, I accept your nomination for president of the United States,” Harris declared, her words met with roaring applause from the Democratic supporters gathered at their national convention.

Harris’s ascent to the Democratic nomination occurred just over a month ago, after President Joe Biden, at 81 years old, was pressured to withdraw from the race by his own supporters. If Harris succeeds in her bid, she will make history as the first woman elected to the U.S. presidency.

The four-day Democratic National Convention was a star-studded event, drawing major figures from both the political and entertainment worlds. On the final night, the United Center in Chicago was filled to capacity, with its 23,500 seats occupied, prompting staff to temporarily prevent more attendees from entering due to safety concerns declared by the city’s fire marshal.

Prior to her speech, Biden personally called Harris to offer his best wishes, according to a White House spokesperson. Harris, in her address, aimed to set a tone of inclusivity, promising to “be a president for all Americans,” a statement that directly counters Trump’s often polarizing rhetoric on the campaign trail.

Four Years of Challenges and Ambition

Kamala Harris, who previously served as California’s attorney general, has long harbored presidential aspirations. Her 2020 campaign was fraught with challenges and missteps, which also marked her nearly four-year tenure as vice president. However, she now sees the 2024 election as an opportunity for the nation to “move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past,” and to embark on what she called “a New Way Forward.” Harris emphasized that this new direction should be driven not by partisan loyalties but by a collective identity as Americans.

Entertainment for the evening included a performance by country band The Chicks, who sang the national anthem, and Pink, who energized the crowd with her music. The convention also featured a moving appearance by the Central Park Five—Black men who were wrongfully convicted of rape as teenagers and spent years in prison before being exonerated. They received a standing ovation from the crowd and criticized Trump, who had vocally condemned them during their trial and never retracted his statements even after their exoneration.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, a former presidential candidate in 2020, delivered a passionate endorsement of Harris, becoming emotional as she described Trump as “the felon.” Warren’s words were met with enthusiastic approval from the audience, further intensifying the anti-Trump sentiment that permeated the convention. The event also featured victims of gun violence, including former U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt in 2011.

Former U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger, one of the few Republicans who voted to impeach Trump, also spoke at the convention. “Democracy knows no party,” he said, appealing to his fellow Republicans by emphasizing that “Democrats are as patriotic as us. They love this country as much as we do.”

Throughout the convention, Democrats positioned themselves as the party embodying true American values, resonating with voters from small towns to urban centers. Harris’s dynamic speeches have generated considerable enthusiasm among voters ahead of the upcoming November 5 election. Her campaign has raised an unprecedented $500 million in just a month, and she has either narrowed the gap or taken the lead in many battleground state polls.

Contentious Issues Beyond the Convention

While the atmosphere inside the United Center was one of unity and hope, outside the convention, a different scene was unfolding. Thousands of Palestinian supporters gathered to protest U.S. support for Israel amidst its ongoing conflict in Gaza. This issue remains one of the most contentious within the Democratic Party and was largely avoided during the convention, a decision that could potentially affect voter turnout in the upcoming election.

Adding to the controversy, delegates from the Uncommitted National Movement—who rallied nearly 750,000 voters to withhold support from Biden during the primaries—entered the venue in a show of protest. These delegates had camped outside the convention the previous night to demonstrate against the Democratic National Committee’s refusal to include a Palestinian speaker in the program.

Despite her high-profile acceptance speech, Harris has yet to fully articulate her comprehensive vision for the nation. Critics, particularly from the Republican side, argue that the Democrats have focused more on attacking Trump than on outlining their policy proposals. To address this, Harris’s aides have indicated that she plans to discuss a range of domestic and economic issues, including tax cuts for most Americans, efforts to increase the housing supply, and measures to combat what she calls “price gouging” by grocery chains. Additionally, her campaign has proposed raising the corporate tax rate from 21 percent to 28 percent.

Her upcoming speeches are expected to cover various aspects of foreign policy and will include narratives from women affected by abortion restrictions and other limitations on reproductive rights, according to her campaign aides and advisers.

As Harris gears up for the final stretch of her campaign, the stakes are high, not just for her but for the Democratic Party as a whole. With the election drawing near, her ability to consolidate support and articulate a clear, inclusive vision for America’s future will be critical in determining whether she can break yet another glass ceiling and become the nation’s first female president.