'Rising stars' to deliver keynote address at DNC
The almost-entirely digital Democratic National Convention – which kicks off on Monday - will feature 17 young politicians considered 'rising stars' in the party.
Convention organizers said "These young electeds will offer a diversity of different ideas and perspectives on how to move America forward, but they will all speak to the future we're building together.”
They include Stacey Abrams, a leading voting rights advocate and former state lawmaker, who narrowly lost a Georgia governor's race and who was considered a possible running mate for former Vice President Joe Biden before he picked Senator Kamala Harris.
Party conventions have long been a stage where ambitious up-and-comers can win national attention – in 2004, it was Illinois State Senator Barack Obama. Four years later, he was the presidential nominee.
The coronavirus pandemic forced the party to reinvent the convention, scrapping crowds and balloons in Milwaukee in favor of virtual events televised from around the country.
The 17-person keynote spreads the spotlight typically used to highlight one person as millions are expected to tune in to the scheduled formal nomination of former Vice President Joe Biden.
