The Democratic National Convention in Chicago will feature President Joe Biden giving the keynote address on Monday night, symbolically passing the party to Vice President Kamala Harris and making the case against a potential return of Donald Trump to the White House. After ending his bid for reelection four weeks ago, Biden will highlight the reasons he believes Harris should replace him and defeat Trump, whom he perceives as a threat to democracy. Biden will also emphasize his accomplishments before stepping back to allow Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, to take center stage for the rest of the week.
Despite no longer being the nominee, Biden’s influence will still be felt at the convention, albeit in a reduced capacity. Speakers are expected to reference Biden’s achievements, such as leading the country out of the COVID-19 pandemic and passing significant investments in infrastructure, climate, and healthcare. Harris has built upon Biden’s policies to form the foundation of her own policy plans. The convention’s logo and signage will harken back to Biden’s campaign logo, and quotes from his Oval Office address urging voters to back Harris will be displayed around the venue. First Lady Jill Biden and other members of the Biden family will be present to witness Joe Biden’s speech, marking the end of his 50 years in Democratic politics.
Biden received a warm reception and chants of “Thank you, Joe!” at a recent appearance with Harris in Maryland, indicating a consolidation of support behind Harris within the party. Biden endorsed Harris shortly after leaving the race, ensuring a smooth transition of his political operation to his vice president and avoiding any contentious battles over the party’s future at the convention. While Biden will have a smaller role than if he were the nominee, his presence and influence will still be significant throughout the event.
The convention will kick off with Biden’s speech on Monday, where he will encourage voters to support Harris and emphasize the importance of the election in determining the future of the country. The theme of spreading faith and unity, a regular Biden-ism, will be prominent in the messaging of the event. Monday night will also feature a speech from First Lady Jill Biden, further underscoring the significance of the occasion as a culmination of Joe Biden’s long political career. Harris is expected to attend on Monday night as well, with her speech in the prime spot scheduled for Thursday evening, when Biden himself will not be present at the convention. Overall, the event will serve as a platform to showcase the unity and strength of the Democratic Party behind Harris’s candidacy and the importance of defeating Trump in the upcoming election.
