DNC 2024: Live updates on tonight’s speakers as Kamala Harris and surprise guest to close
Support truly
independent journalism
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
Kamala Harris will finally accept the Democratic Party’s nomination to be its 2024 presidential candidate on Thursday as the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago reaches its climax.
Her running mate Tim Walz formally accepted his nomination on Wednesday, delivering a moving speech that brought his family to tears as he told them: “Hope, Gus and Gwen – you are my entire world and I love you.”
Walz was met with cheers and chants of “Coach! Coach! Coach!” as he took to the stage and declared: “Never underestimate a public school teacher.”
“It’s the fourth quarter, we’re down a field goal, but we’re on offense and we have the ball, we’re driving down the field and boy do we have the right team,” the former football coach concluded.
“Kamala Harris is ready! Our job for everyone watching is to get in the trenches and do the blocking and the tackling.”
Former president Bill Clinton, talk show host Oprah Winfrey, Nancy Pelosi and Democratic rising stars Pete Buttigieg, Wes Moore, Hakeem Jeffries and Josh Shapiro all spoke at the United Center on Wednesday, with musical performances by Stevie Wonder and John Legend.
DNC night four: In summary
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the fourth and final night of the Democratic National Convention! Let’s get caught up:
– Vice President Kamala Harris will make the final speech of the night to accept the Democratic nomination for president. She is expected to discuss her upbringing and parents; plans to tackle social issues such as abortion; and deliver a blistering takedown of Donald Trump.
– She will follow leading female Democrats including Gretchen Whitmer, Gabby Giffords, and Deb Haaland.
– Rumors of a special “mystery guest” are running wild with speculation that global megastars Beyonce or Taylor Swift may make an appearance.
Mike Bedigan22 August 2024 23:33
Kamala Harris cuts Donald Trump’s lead in Texas in half with Ted Cruz in tight race for Senate
A new poll shows Kamala Harris has halved Donald Trump’s lead in Texas, a state widely expected to vote Republican come November.
Mike Bedigan22 August 2024 23:45
She tweeted about protesting Kamala Harris at the DNC. Then the K-Hive called the Feds
Days before the Democratic National Convention kicked off in Chicago, a university professor innocuously tweeted her excitement about the upcoming protests against the Gaza war outside the United Center, triggering a firestorm.
Minutes later, Kamala Harris supporters replied that they had reported her to the Feds…
Richard Hall has the full story:
Mike Bedigan22 August 2024 23:30
Watch live: Final day of DNC in Chicago as Harris accepts nomination and delivers speech
Mike Bedigan22 August 2024 23:22
Who is writing Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech?
The team of writers that has penned Kamala Harris nomination acceptance speech includes a speechwriter for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign.
Adam Frankel also served the former president through his first term and has worked on the speech Harris will give Thursday night alongside Megan Rooney, Harris’ head speechwriter.
Since 2021 he has served as an adviser in the vice president’s office.
Frankel is a graduate of Princeton University and the London School of Economics, where he was a Fulbright Scholar. He is the grandson of Holocaust survivors and the author of a book The Survivors: A Story of War, Inheritance, and Healing.
Also on the speech-writing team are a handful of aides including a policy aide, a political strategist and others.
Mike Bedigan22 August 2024 23:15
100,000 balloons set to drop to close the DNC
100,000 balloons are set to drop after Kamala Harris closes the Democratic National Convention (DNC), CNN is reporting.
Mike Bedigan22 August 2024 23:08
Mike Bedigan22 August 2024 23:00
Democrats have one message as they close their convention: Don’t start celebrating
Eric Garcia writes that one persistent message throughout the past few nights was that the race is not in the bag and the party cannot celebrate until the final votes are tallied.
Oliver O’Connell22 August 2024 22:45
JD Vance in awkward campaign stop at donut shop as server says she doesn’t want to be on film
Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance turned the joyous task of ordering donuts into a deliciously awkward encounter, a new video reveals.
Mike Bedigan22 August 2024 22:30
White House political director tweets bee emoji amid speculation about Beyonce at DNC
Emmy Ruiz, White House political director, has further stoked sepculation about a mystery guest appearance at the DNC after posting a bee emoji to X on Thursday afternoon.
The bee emoji is used to signify members of The Bee Hive – the colloquial name for Beyonce’s fan club.
The Texas Hold ‘Em singer is one of the high profile celebrities rumoured to be appearing at the convention in Chicago, ahead of Kamala Harris nomination acceptance speech.
Mike Bedigan22 August 2024 22:21
