Democrats roll out prime time convention speakers
Washington — The Democratic National Convention Committee has unveiled its list of primetime speakers for this week's convention, rolling out a lineup that unites the party's progressive wings with the Democratic establishment.
The Democratic National Convention kicks off Monday, August 17, and will feature four nights of speakers who will address supporters remotely from 9 to 11 p.m. Nightly keynote speeches will be given by Michelle Obama on Monday, Jill Biden on Tuesday and Barack Obama on Wednesday. On Thursday, Joe Biden will formally accept his party's presidential nomination with a speech.
The gathering, which has been roiled by the coronavirus crisis, begins Monday and will feature Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who went head-to-head with Biden in the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination after the party's vast field of candidates narrowed.
Joining Sanders will be Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who met with Biden in Delaware as part of his search for a running mate, and former presidential hopeful Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. Republican John Kasich, the former governor of Ohio who sought the GOP presidential nomination in 2016, is also slated to speak Monday, as is New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Tuesday's lineup features former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and former President Bill Clinton.
Biden's running mate, Kamala Harris, was initially slated for Thursday, but now, as the vice presidential nominee, will have a prime speaking time on Wednesday. Also appearing Wednesday will be House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
Closing out the Democratic National Convention with speeches Thursday are a number of Biden's former competitors in the 2020 race, including Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
A number of former vice presidential contenders are sprinkled throughout the speaking lineup rolled out by Democrats, including Whitmer, Warren, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottom and Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth.
The Democratic National Convention was originally to take place in Milwaukee, but the coronavirus pandemic prompted the party to revamp the gathering. The Democrats said last week that all invited speakers will appear remotely from their home states, and Biden will deliver his acceptance speech from his home state of Delaware instead of in Milwaukee.
Here is who is slated to speak each day of the Democratic National Convention:
Monday
In order of appearance
Congressman Bennie Thompson, convention chairReverend Gabriel Salguero, president of the National Latino Evangelical CoalitionGwen Moore, convention sergeant-at-armsWashington, D.C., Mayor Muriel BowserPerformance by singer Leon BridgesCongressman James ClyburnGovernor Andrew CuomoKristin Urquiza, whose father died from COVID-19Sara Gideon, speaker of the Maine House of RepresentativesPerformance by Maggie RogersMichigan Governor Gretchen WhitmerChristine Whitman, Republican former governor of New JerseyMeg Whitman, former CEO of Hewlett-PackardSusan Molinari, Republican former congresswomanJohn Kasich, Republican former governor of OhioSenator Doug JonesSenator Catherine Cortez MastoSenator Amy KlobucharFormer 2020 presidential candidatesCongressman Cedric RichmondSenator Bernie SandersFormer first lady Michelle ObamaPerformance by Billy Porter and Stephen StillsReverend Dr. Jerry YoungTuesdayFormer Acting Attorney General Sally YatesSenate Minority Leader Chuck SchumerFormer Secretary of State John KerryCongresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-CortezCongresswoman Lisa Blunt RochesterFormer President Bill ClintonFormer second lady Jill BidenWednesdayHouse Speaker Nancy PelosiFormer Secretary of State Hillary ClintonSenator Elizabeth WarrenGovernor Tony EversGovernor Michelle Lujan GrishamFormer Congresswoman Gabrielle GiffordsSenator Kamala HarrisFormer President Barack ObamaThursdaySenator Cory BookerGovernor Gavin NewsomMayor Keisha Lance BottomsFormer Mayor Pete ButtigiegSenator Tammy BaldwinSenator Tammy DuckworthSenator Chris CoonsThe Biden familyFormer Vice President Joe Biden
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