Marina Pitofsky,Maya Homan,Karissa WaddickUSA TODAY
President Joe Biden delivered an emotional address on Monday, reflecting on his tenure in politics and endorsing his vice president as the next leader of the Democratic Party.
Biden said the 2024 race for the White House offered Americans the chance to "vote for freedom" and democracy before turning to some of his administrations accomplishments — ranging from student debt forgiveness to cutting some health care prices for seniors.
At one point, as chants of "Thank you, Joe!" broke out on the convention floor in Chicago, Biden told his fellow party members, "Thank you Kamala, too."
On Tuesday, some of the most prominent Democratic figures will lay out their pitch for the future of the party and the country. Former former first lady Michelle Obama will take the stage to back Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz, and former President Barack Obama will headline the primetime speakers.
Keep up with the USA TODAY Network's live coverage of the Democratic convention in Chicago.
Joe Biden's goodbye, Gaza ceasefire protests swarm Chicago streets: Day 1 takeaways
Democrats entered the United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks, with a much more upbeat outlook about their chances at retaining the White House. Harris issurging past Trumpin battleground states, according to polling.
Much of the convention this week will focus on that enthusiasm and turning the page as Democrats focus on reproductive rights, bringing down costs for average Americans and attacking Trump's character.
Protests outside the arena threaten to distract from the progressive unity fest, however, as left-leaning activists demand Harris and the Democrats do more to end Israel's bombardment of Gaza as a result of its war with Hamas stemming from the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack.
Here are some key takeaways from Day 1.
- 'Thank you, Joe': Biden's farewell kicks off DNC 2024: Democrats paid tribute to Biden's five-decade career Monday evening, which began in the Richard Nixon era as the country's youngest senator and ends as its oldest president.
- Biden leaves the DNC, and he ain't coming back: The president and first lady Jill Biden quickly left Chicago after his speech forSanta Ynez, California, to vacation in wine country – and the pair won't be around at the DNC convention for the rest of the week.
- 'Abandon Harris': Gaza protests swarm Chicago's streets outside convention: One of the more anticipated protests started Monday at Union Park, which is about a half-mile from the convention hall, with chants of "free, free Palestine." The crowd swelled to roughly 1,000 people as it approached the United Center.
- AOC, Beshear and other rising Dems shine: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia, and Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas were among those who addressed the convention.
Read more takeaways from the kickoff to the Democratic convention.
— Phillip M. Bailey and Joey Garrison
DNC schedule Tuesday: See full list of events, where to watch Democratic convention
Biden wanted his Democratic convention speech to be a launchpad. It became his swan song.
The cheers for President Joe Biden as he stepped on stage at the Democratic National Convention Monday night were so deafening that they rattled the rafters at the United Center in Chicago − thanking him for a half-century in politics, a crucial victory in 2020 and nearly four hard-fought years in the White House since then.
And thanking him for now being willing to leave.
The final speech on the convention's first night capped the most astounding turnaround in an election that has had more than its share of upheavals, including on the Republican side the unprecedented conviction of a former president on criminal charges and his defiant response to an assassination attempt.
Read more on Biden's Monday convention speech.
— Susan Page
When did Joe Biden drop out?
Joe Biden announced on Sunday, July 21 that he would not seek reelection amid intense pressure fromDemocratic leaderssounding the alarm that his path to beatDonald Trumpin November had vanished.
"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President," Biden said in a letter addressed to Americans. "And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and my country for me to stand down and to focus solely on my duties as President for the rest of my term."
−USA TODAY Network
What happens at the DNC?
Unlike the RNC, the DNC decided to confirm their nominee during avirtual roll callon Aug. 5 to satisfy ballot deadlines in several states. According to a news release, 99% of participating delegates supported Harris in the virtual roll call, and Harris and Walz accepted the nomination a day later.
In the meantime, there is still plenty left to do for the Democratic delegates. The DNC offers them a chance to adopt and unify a comprehensive party platform, taking a stance on issues like reproductive rights, immigration and economic policy. They'll also have a kind-of ceremonial vote for Harris, but her position as Democratic nominee is already final
The Democratic Party will post updates on its convention website, whichcan be found atdemconvention.com.
− Maya Homan
Where is the DNC?
The convention will be in Chicago, just 90 miles south of Milwaukee, where the Republican National Convention was recently held.
The Democratic Party has held a national convention every four years since 1832 to nominate its chosen candidates, and Chicago has a storied history of hosting conventions on both sides of the political aisle dating back to 1860, with the nomination of Abraham Lincoln.
According to theChicago Sun-Times, this will be the Windy City’s 26th political convention.
−Maya Homan
