Democratic Convention Night 3: Harris Shouts Out To A ‘New Generation’

August 20, 2020
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August 20, 2020

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) officially became the vice presidential nominee tonight, delivering a speech that harkened back to her record in the Senate and as a prosecutor while simultaneously touching on the fact that she is the first woman of color to ever accept a position on a major party’s presidential ticket.

Harris reflected on her childhood — she was raised primarily by a single woman of color whose sacrifices, Harris said, paved the way for her career. The VP nominee made it clear that her role in the campaign was to advocate for the voiceless and to function as a placeholder for the American electorate.

“There’s something happening all across our country. It’s not about Joe or me. It’s about you. And it’s about us,” Harris said. “People of all ages and colors and creeds who are, yes, taking to the streets and also persuading our family members, rallying our friends, organizing our neighbors and getting out the vote.”

The evening, which was largely a celebration of women, also saw a moving speech by former President Barack Obama, which included a collection of anecdotes about Biden’s voting record and his advocacy for the Violence Against Women Act. Speakers also focused on gun violence and the economy while praising the former VP’s efforts on both of those fronts.

It’s night three of the Democratic National Convention, and as we noted below, this evening, while star-studded, also dug into core policy issues — including gun control, climate change, and immigration — in a way we hadn’t quite seen on other nights this week. We’ll have more for your tomorrow.

Read TPM’s live coverage of the event tonight below:

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What to Know

  • The theme of the third night is "A More Perfect Union"
  • Actress Kerry Washington will serve as emcee
  • Grammy-award winner Billie Eilish will perform a song
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Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) officially became the vice presidential nominee tonight, delivering a speech that harkened back to her record in the Senate and as a prosecutor while simultaneously touching on the fact that she is the first woman of color to ever accept a position on a major party’s presidential ticket.

Harris reflected on her childhood — she was raised primarily by a single woman of color whose sacrifices, Harris said, paved the way for her career. The VP nominee made it clear that her role in the campaign was to advocate for the voiceless and to function as a placeholder for the American electorate.

“There’s something happening all across our country. It’s not about Joe or me. It’s about you. And it’s about us,” Harris said. “People of all ages and colors and creeds who are, yes, taking to the streets and also persuading our family members, rallying our friends, organizing our neighbors and getting out the vote.”

The evening, which was largely a celebration of women, also saw a moving speech by former President Barack Obama, which included a collection of anecdotes about Biden’s voting record and his advocacy for the Violence Against Women Act. Speakers also focused on gun violence and the economy while praising the former VP’s efforts on both of those fronts.

It’s night three of the Democratic National Convention, and as we noted below, this evening, while star-studded, also dug into core policy issues — including gun control, climate change, and immigration — in a way we hadn’t quite seen on other nights this week. We’ll have more for your tomorrow.

Read TPM’s live coverage of the event tonight below:

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