The Democratic National Convention is set to open in Chicago with a proposed platform that names the wrong candidate for president, as it has not been updated since a draft was released before President Joe Biden left the race. The platform, which outlines the party’s goals and policy positions, was compiled by a committee that worked for over a year to draft it, but has not been modified to reflect the current candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris has not released a detailed list of her policy positions since becoming the Democratic nominee, leaving the platform without insight into her direct views on key issues.
While the platform is nonbinding, some Democrats have criticized the lack of transparency in updating the document, especially compared to the Republican Party’s platform, which was modified to reflect former President Donald Trump’s positions during their convention. The Democratic National Committee has stated that the platform will embody the values of the party and build on the accomplishments made during the Biden-Harris administration. The draft platform from July still refers to Biden as a candidate, stating that he and Harris are running to finish the job, even though Biden has left the race.
The draft platform focuses on contrasting the Biden-Harris ticket with Trump, criticizing the former president and accusing him of focusing on revenge and retribution. Most of the platform’s conclusions align with the work of the Biden administration, supporting initiatives such as restoring abortion rights nationwide, advancing green energy, capping child care costs for low-income families, and advocating for a pathway to U.S. citizenship for long-term undocumented immigrants. It also supports Israel’s right to defend itself while endorsing efforts to broker a lasting cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The platform committee worked diligently with stakeholders from all corners of the party to create a bold, progressive agenda for the next four years. Despite the lack of updates to reflect the current Democratic ticket, the platform still aligns with many of Harris’ views, as she has expressed general support for the Biden administration’s key goals. The language of the platform emphasizes the differences between the Biden-Harris ticket and Trump, highlighting their focus on opportunity and optimism compared to what they describe as Trump’s focus on himself. With the convention approaching, there are no scheduled meetings to update the platform before it is approved by delegates.
