The 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago has concluded, with Vice President Kamala Harris delivering a historic acceptance speech for the party’s presidential nomination to close out the evening.
The speech seemed unlikely just over a month ago, before President Joe Biden suspended his re-election campaign in late July, after which much of the Democratic Party quickly rallied behind Harris.
Harris’ remarks opened as an introduction of sorts as a presidential candidate to viewers across the country, invoking her background of being raised in California and moving around the Midwest as a child due to her parents being in academia.
Her speech also drew heavily on her background as a prosecutor, aiming to draw a sharp contrast to Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump.
Harris laid out support for a bipartisan border security bill, spoke about protecting reproductive rights and expanding environmental protections, and called for stricter gun laws on domestic issues.
On foreign policy, Harris showed strong support for Ukraine in its war against Russia, while talking about protecting American interests and strengthening global leadership.
Regarding the Israel–Hamas war, Harris reiterated his support for Israel’s right to defend itself and ensured that Israel would retain the ability to defend itself in its administration. Harris also called for a ceasefire and hostage deal in the conflict, calling the scale of the devastation in Gaza “heartbreaking” while championing “security, freedom and self-determination” for the Palestinian people.
Harris’ full speech can be viewed in the player above.