CHICAGO – The Democratic National Convention turned into a dance party Tuesday as delegates feted Vice President Kamala Harris with a ceremonial nomination, despite the fact that they already voted online two weeks ago.
Harris secured the necessary delegates to become the party’s presumptive nominee after earning the majority of the convention delegates during the virtual roll call. The vice president had won 2,350 votes, cementing her status as the party’s next leader.
The roll call got off to a shaky start with “Sweet Home Alabama” music cued up and cameras on Alabama for the kick-off state by accident when it was supposed to be Delaware going first in honor of the home state of President Joe Biden.
The music stopped and shifted over to Delaware where Sen. Chris Coons, a Biden ally, and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester announced their votes for Harris. The roll call then kicked back to Alabama to resume in alphabetical order.
The DNC called the unofficial roll call an event that would give delegates the opportunity to “celebrate the nomination” of Harris, which has been a staple of party conventions for almost 200 years.
Accompanied by a D.J. and with the vibe of the concert, states each had a theme song.
California played “Dr. Dre’s “The Next Episode,” New Jersey featured “Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen, Texas featured Beyonce’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” and swing state Pennsylvania had two in a sign of geographic diplomacy first with Boyz II Men’s “Motown Philly” and then Wiz Khalifa “Black and Yellow” in a nod to Pittsburgh Steelers.
Michigan chose “Lose Yourself” by Eminem, with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, and Democratic Party chairwoman Lavora Barnes announcing the state’s votes, albeit not entirely in sync, for Harris.
When it was Georgia’s turn, Lil John came out live with a surprise performance of “Turn Down for What.”
It was a time for celebrities to make their debut, including Sean Austin, of “Rudy” movie fame, who led the roll call for Indiana. Actress Eva Longoria joined Texas delegates on the convention floor. Filmmaker Spike Lee represented New York. He was flanked by Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James, who successfully prosecuted former President Donald Trump for civil fraud.
States took the assignment seriously as they cast their symbolic votes, often wearing festive attire to represent hometown pride. Kansas delegates sported red Chiefs football jerseys, corn heads could be found in Iowa, and Wisconsinites wore cheese on their heads. Gov. Tony Evers, however, had trouble getting out the words and he admonished himself in frustration. “Oh my God,” the Democrat said at the microphone. His fellow delegates urged him with chants of “Tony” until he finished the task of announcing the votes.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who urged Biden to step aside for the good of the Democratic Party, joined the California delegation on the floor to close out the roll call ceremony. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he was representing the “great state of Nancy Pelosi” as he went on to praise hometown favorite, Harris, and urged the country to “do the right thing” and make the vice president the next president of the United States.
The result from the official nomination vote from early August was 4,563 votes for Harris and 52 for “present,” the only other option on the ballot. An additional 79 delegates did not cast votes.
Harris officially accepted the Democratic Party’s 2024 nomination for president in Chicago via telecast from a rally her campaign staged in Milwaukee.
From the Fiserv Forum, the same arena that hosted former Trump’s own Republican convention a month ago, Harris and Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), her vice presidential nominee, thanked their party’s delegates for their support.
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“They have just completed their rollcall,” Harris said from Wisconsin before 15,000 people. “They have nominated Coach Walz and me to be the next vice president and president of the United States of America.”
Democrats opted to do a virtual roll call before the convention, fearing complications from state ballot deadline certifications. Harris is expected to formally accept the nomination in a speech on Thursday night, while Tim Walz will do the same on Wednesday.
