Coverage of the Convention: What Happened at the DNC

The Democratic National Convention (DNC) was held from Aug. 19-22 in Chicago, where 4,695 delegates from 50 states, 5 U.S. territories, Washington D.C. and Democrats Abroad converged to adopt the party’s policy platform and formally announce the Democratic nominee for President and Vice President: Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

The Red Folder’s C.J. Getting attended the DNC live for three of the convention’s four days as part of the Illinois Youth Press Corps. He interviewed over a dozen governors, senators, representatives, and delegates from across the country. Here’s what happened, from someone who saw it live:

Messaging

With the DNC showcasing the Democratic Party to millions of Americans on live television each night, it presented the unique and powerful opportunity to reframe the views of what it means to be a Democrat.

Perhaps nowhere was this more evident on the final day of the convention, when over two dozen members of democratic leadership went out on stage, each of them with prior military experience. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) was perhaps the most moving of them all among those who didn’t give speeches. Though she spoke with a prosthetic on Tuesday night, she rolled to the front of the stage on Thursday night, the result of an Iraqi attack in 2004 that caused her to lose both her legs. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) also spoke in detail of their prior military experience, highlighting the Democrats as the party of American patriotism while emphasizing Harris’ position on the Senate Intelligence Committee. For a party that for years was known as one that aimed to defund the military and kneel during national anthems, the change was meaningful. As American flags waved all across the United Center and chants of “USA!” rang out, it felt as if the Democrats were finally taking steps to challenge the GOP’s monopoly on patriotism.

The greatest beneficiary of democratic messaging, however, was none other than their VP nominee: Tim Walz. The Minnesota Governor went from a largely-unknown political figure to perhaps the most relatable candidate either party has seen in decades. Throughout the convention, he was referred to almost exclusively as “Coach Walz,” a nod to his days as a high school football coach that led his team to a Minnesota State Championship well before he even entered the world of politics. Democrat or Republican, it seemed impossible to dislike Walz as a person, regardless of your views on his mostly-progressive policies. Even his policy record, one almost universally liked by Democrats, was seemingly ignored in comparison to his background as a teacher and small town resident. In all my interviews, not one person referred to him as “governor,” but twice people called him “coach,” a true testament to the messaging put forth by Democrats throughout the convention.

“As someone from Missouri, I didn't really know who Tim Walz was prior to the national conversation around him potentially being the Vice Presidential pick, but some of the things that really stuck out to me were, you know, having someone who has been a public school teacher,” said Zack Dunn, a delegate from Missouri’s 3rd congressional district. “My wife is a teacher, so I know the amount of hours that they spend trying to help students, day in, day out. But also to hear you know about his military service and how he was also a football coach. These were things that really helped show me that he's a very relatable guy.”

On Project 2025, Democrats spent hours tearing down the policy platform put forth by the conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation. SNL’s Kenan Thompson flipped through pages of the proposal, talking to guests about how it would hurt teachers, LGBTQ+ Americans, government officials, middle-class Americans, and more. It seemed as if every major speaker at the convention referenced Project 2025 at least once, and in the words of Tim Walz, “when somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they're gonna use it.” One of the Harris campaign's many slogans became evident as it relates to Project 2025: “we’re not going back!”

“We can either choose to move our country forward, or or we can choose to move our country back, and I think the choice is clear: Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are the people to do it,” said Paul Harper, a delegate from Missouri’s 3rd congressional district. “I'm really excited for this election. I think that this is a turning point election.”

Most uniquely was the Democrat’s messaging on the Israel-Hamas war. Addressing the conflict has divided the party, and it seemed as if all major speakers would stay away from the issue entirely, fearful that they may ostracize independents or progressives no matter what they say, such that the only solution would be to stay silent. That all changed when Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin spoke on Wednesday night of the DNC. The parents of an American citizen taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, they gave an emotionally-powerful speech that largely backed the continued American support of Israel. They talked to BIden’s efforts to both reach a ceasefire deal and bring the hostages home—negotiations that to this point have been unsuccessful. Their message was furthered by Kamala Harris on Thursday, whose acceptance speech featured an incredibly pro-Israel message. She endorsed continued defense spending to Israel supporting its “right to defend itself” and didn’t once condemn Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the notable caveat that Palestinians have the “right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination” and that the scale of the conflict in Gaza is “heartbreaking.” At least twice during her speech, someone in the United Center yelled “free Palestine,” although it never amounted to an arena-wide chant like “bring them home” had just a day earlier.

Biden’s Legacy

Monday night, convention attendees held signs saying “We ❤️ Joe” and “Thanks, Joe!” Whether or not the appreciation for the President was due to his administration’s work over the past three years or his decision to drop out of the race was left unsaid.

Though Biden’s speaking and articulation needed work (as anyone who watched the debates could rightly assume), his speechwriting team made an exceptional speech for Monday night. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden similarly gave an exceptional speech just before her husband.

“I commend President Joe Biden for more than 50 years of public service,” said Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. “He has done so much for young voters and all Americans: addressing the student debt crisis, making sure that we’re addressing the climate crisis in this country, addressing economic opportunity for young people and all Americans.”

But beyond Biden’s policies and background in politics, Biden’s stepping down also created a new type of legacy—one that, for many, likened him to other American heroes like George Washington.

“I personally think it puts him on the same level as George Washington because when you think about George Washington, when his terms were up he decided ‘I’m not running again’ even though everyone wanted him to,” Illinois State Rep. Janet Yang-Rohr said. “It made me a little teary-eyed. It was just so amazing [for Biden] to be able to make that decision—it is really hard as an elected official—to say ‘I’m going to step back now and I’m going to let someone else take over.’”

For others, Biden’s legacy is one of diversity in politics.

“When we look back on [the] history of Joe Biden’s Presidency, we’re going to find that this man was the Vice President for the first Black male President. Then he created a space for the first Black woman [Vice] President to become the President,” said DaMareo Cooper, co-Executive Director of the Center for Popular Democracy. “In this moment, with so much authoritarianism, hate, racism [and] sexism in our environment, [Harris] represents a possibility for our future.”

Protests

Just outside the DNC, thousands of protesters gathered at Union Park to stand against the Biden-Harris administration’s policies in Palestine. Some 20,000 people marched on the convention on Monday, enough to fill 85% of the United Center’s 23,500 available seats. On Thursday, the coalition marched again with another 10,000 protesters.

“The entire world is watching,” said Hatem Abudayyeh, National Chair of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN). “The event of the season was in Chicago today at Union Park, not the United Center.”

However, the protests had minimal impact on the convention itself. Outside of the occasional protester shouting some version of “free Palestine” during morning caucuses, they were mostly out of sight and out of mind. The protest route outlined by Chicago kept the protesters far away from the United Center, and although I could hear and see them chanting in the distance as I made my way through security on Monday, the same could not be said for many other attendees.

“I haven't actually seen them,” Paul Harper said. “It has not affected my experience at all. I really have not seen the protesters that everyone [is] talking about.”

Despite their size, the impact they had was minimal. While a group of uncommitted delegates had successfully lobbied the DNC to include a panel discussion on Monday afternoon on the conflict, they were ultimately unsuccessful at obtaining a Palestinian speaker at the convention—a goal campaigned for by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and the United Auto Workers union, both of whom gave their own speeches on Monday and steered clear of any talk about the conflict. Delegates also engaged in a sit-in at the DNC for nearly 24 hours, from Walz’s speech on Wednesday until Harris’ the day after.

“They’re very ineffective at getting people in this room to pay attention to what the fuck is going on, but overall I think that we shouldn’t stop, and eventually, hopefully [Democrats] will respond to public pressure,” said progressive activist Hasan Piker, who has 2.7 million followers on the streaming platform Twitch. “You’ve got to just keep it going; there’s not really anything else you can do. You have to hope that you keep communicating these clear-cut demands [and] desires that the overwhelming majority of the American public also agree on: a ceasefire in Gaza. Inevitably, the dam will break.”

Across the convention, however, political leaders defended the First Amendment rights of the protesters.

“I hope that everyone feels the right to express their opinion. The First Amendment is so important,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said. “But the state, the city and the convection have to be orderly, so I know everyone’s trying to strike the right balance.”

The view was echoed by Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD).

“Protests [are] democracy,” he said. “Expressing your opinions, whether you agree or disagree with the government; that’s what our democracy is about. It’s good for the country, it’s good for democracy and it’s good for us.”

Within the convention itself, another form of protests were occurring: conservative media. Newsmax hosted its show daily from Media Row in the United Center; Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, debated against Cenk Uygur on The Young Turks Monday night; Fox News asked combative questions to anyone they could score an interview with, from campaign volunteers to members of congress.

“I wish Democrat voters would have had a chance to vote for [Kamala Harris],” Charlie Kirk said. “She’s going to be tough to beat.”

Youth

One of the most unique parts about this year’s DNC was its emphasis on youth. The Illinois Youth Press Corps—a group of 10 schools sending a combined 40 student journalists to cover the DNC as credentialed media—was the largest single cohort of student journalists to ever cover a national convention for either party.

The DNC also rolled out new “creator” credentials given to influencers on YouTube, Instagram, Twitch and more. Over 200 creators were given these credentials, allowing them to access exclusive creator lounges, interviews with politicians, and (in select cases) studios to record and stream videos.

“I think that giving people the ability to see inside the convention—I’m literally live on TikTok right now—being able to see me walking around does a lot better than just normal work,” said Chris Mowrey, who has 63.6k followers on Instagram. “Authenticity is what works best.”

But youth appeal at the convention went beyond social media influencers. The politicians themselves made a concerted effort to support youth voices and increase turnout among Gen Z voters.

“I’m doing all I can to encourage investment in their communities, reaching out to get more of them to vote by knocking on doors, making phone calls, but more importantly listening to what the needs are, what the excitement looks like, and asking them for advice about what else we should do,” said former Georgia State Rep. Stacey Abrams. “Young voters can change the future starting in this election. You all have the numbers, you have the power, we’re just waiting for you to use it.”

On Tuesday night, the DNC themed itself around “A Bold Vision for America’s Future.” Thursday was similar, themed as “For Our Future.” Both days featured speakers and events focused on youth engagement.

“The DNC really prioritized that young voters [and] young people are engaged in this and that they are part of this process,” said Illinois State Rep. Janet Yang-Rohr. “If you look at [the] floor, it is full of some really great young leaders. When you look at that delegate floor, that’s what you’ll see: a lot of young people getting involved and making sure their voices are heard.”

Many politicians also emphasized the opportunities available to young people in politics, even if they’re too young to vote. From interning on a campaign to phone banking and volunteering, politicians are looking for young people to support their efforts.

“You don't have to be able to vote to have an impact on voting,” Rep. Stacey Abrams said. “Before you’re 18 [and] before you cast your first ballot, you know an adult who needs you to tell them what to do, so do it.”

For Rep. Janet Yang-Rohr, the opportunities extend beyond the campaign and into the legislative process.

I’ve done a lot of work with students that were younger,” she said. “They had good ideas for legislation, they saw issues [and] problems that were going on in their schools [and] their classrooms facing them and their classmates, and we talked. Through that talking [and] through research we came up with legislation and we have passed multiple pieces of legislation at this point that are directly [impacting] your classrooms that you’re seeing every single day.”

Kamala Harris

The keynote of the entire convention was none other than Vice President Kamala Harris, who accepted the Democratic nomination for President with 4,563 delegates (98.9% of those participating).

While there was never a dull moment among the key speakers each night, the United Center audience was especially loud when Harris walked onto the stage.

“It couldn’t be more exciting,” Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said. “[Harris] represents diversity, [she] represents fresh ideas, new energy [and] a different background.”

In her speech, Harris outlined some of her policy platform which had largely remained secret until this point—tax cuts for the middle class, passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, the Freedom to Vote Act and bringing back the Bipartisan Border Security Bill. She also re-emphasized earlier policy proposals, including $25,000 downpayment assistance for first-time homebuyers.

“Right now, [Harris and Walz] are talking about creating millions of housing units and they’re already making a commitment while they’re on the campaign trail,” said DaMareo Cooper. “At this point, it’s good that as a candidate, they’re making these types of commitments to the community, to people, to their voters.”

Yet perhaps more important than what Harris said in her acceptance speech was what she didn’t say. Harris avoided conversations about her diverse background. Though she already serves as the first female Vice President, first African-American Vice President, and first South Asian Vice President of the United States, she made no mention of her diverse qualifications in her speech. If elected, she’d be the first female President and first South Asian President in U.S. history, although she never mentioned the many glass ceilings she’d be breaking. It was a striking difference from Hillary Clinton’s campaign in 2016, where becoming a President of many firsts became a campaign strategy for her in an effort to mobilize women voters. Rather, Harris aligned far more with Obama’s strategy, where diversity was demonstrated best not through outright callouts, but instead through a life narrative and story.

In that narrative, Harris repeatedly referred back to her time as a prosecutor and Attorney General of California. That experience, Harris says, has set her up for a career of public service and the Presidency.

“It helps her respect the rule of law, and we need leaders to respect the rule of law if we’re going to tell everybody to obey the law,” said Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney who represented George Floyd and Flint, Michigan. “It’s about fair play, it’s about giving everybody an equal opportunity at the American promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; it’s about your future, and my daughter’s future. That’s what this campaign is about: one of hope, one of joy, saying ‘America, we’re better than this’ and it is still morning in America, our best days are still ahead of us.”

At the beginning of every trial, she’d start with the same five words: “Kamala Harris for the people.” According to many at the DNC, those same words echo true today.

“The Harris-Walz ticket believes in you,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “They are focused on the future, they’re focused on creating more opportunity in the years to come: affordability of housing, better jobs, a better future with more options to chase your dreams regardless of what they are. We’ve got to elect the Vice President who’s focused not just on the next generation, but the one after that and the one after that and the one after that.”