Kamala Harris invites voters to chart a ‘new way forward’ as she accepts Democratic nomination

Zeke Miller, Will Weissert and Darlene Superville, Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris told voters they person a chance to floor plan a “new measurement forward” arsenic Americans this November, arsenic she looked to present herself to voters and prosecute her lawsuit against Republican Donald Trump arsenic she accepted her party’s information Thursday nighttime astatine nan Democratic National Convention.

Harris walked onstage to thunderous applause and a agelong opinionated ovation arsenic convention-goers chanted her name, earlier opening her remarks.

“Our federation pinch this predetermination has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past nan bitterness, cynicism, and divisive battles of nan past,” Harris said, arsenic she accepted nan nomination. “A chance to floor plan a New Way Forward. Not arsenic members of immoderate 1 statement aliases faction, but arsenic Americans.”

Harris’ reside successful Chicago caps a whirlwind 8 weeks successful American authorities and manifests nan stunning reversal of Democratic fortunes conscionable 75 days until Election Day. Party leaders, who had publically despaired complete President Joe Biden’s candidacy aft his disastrous statement against Trump, were jubilant some astatine nan historical quality of Harris’ candidacy and their buoyed hopes for this November.

“America, nan way that led maine present successful caller weeks was nary uncertainty unexpected. But I’m nary alien to improbable journeys,” she said.

Just a period aft Biden ended his reelection bid and endorsed her to switch him atop nan Democratic ticket, Harris was looking to make nan astir of her chance to specify herself and her governmental imagination to voters connected her ain position earlier an assemblage of millions.

Harris talked astir being raised chiefly by her mother aft her parents divided successful a mini flat successful San Francisco’s East Bay, and being raised arsenic good by friends and caregivers who were “family by love.” She besides elaborate a cardinal portion of her governmental root story, erstwhile Wanda, her champion friend from precocious school, confided successful her that she was being abused by her stepfather and came to unrecorded pinch Harris’ family.
“That is 1 of nan reasons I became a prosecutor. To protect group for illustration Wanda,” Harris said.

Harris is nan first Black female and first personification of South Asian descent to judge a awesome party’s statesmanlike nomination, and if elected, she would beryllium nan first female U.S. president. As she took nan stage, she saw a oversea of female delegates and Democratic supporters wearing achromatic — nan colour of women’s suffrage — nan activity that culminated pinch American women securing nan correct to ballot successful 1920.

A festive temper filled nan United Center each evening, pinch a packed assemblage including moving mate Tim Walz dancing and singing on to a operation of popular and classical rock. Two of Harris’ young grandnieces were brought onstage by character Kerry Washington to punctual nan normal really to correctly pronounce her first name. At nan girls’ direction, 1 broadside of nan arena shouted “comma” and nan different “la.”

Harris, nan girl of immigrants from Jamaica and India, said a time aft Walz, her prime for moving mate, thanked nan packed Chicago arena for “ bringing nan joyousness ” to nan election.

Despite speculation astir a imaginable astonishment quality by nan euphony superstar Beyoncé astatine Thursday’s normal up of Harris’ speech, a root progressive successful nan evening’s readying who was not authorized to talk it publically said she would not beryllium successful attendance.

Harris said concisely to nan normal connected Monday, erstwhile she thanked Biden and celebrated his grounds arsenic president, and again connected Tuesday, erstwhile nan opening of her rally successful Milwaukee was streamed into nan normal hallway aft Democrats reaffirmed their information of her pinch a state-by-state rotation call.

Among others who said earlier Harris connected Thursday were Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Gabby Giffords, nan Arizona Democrat who was astir killed successful a wide shooting successful 2011, and civilian authorities leader Al Sharpton.

Sharpton highlighted nan historical quality of Harris’ nomination, noting that 52 years ago, he was a younker head for erstwhile Rep. Shirley Chisholm’s 1972 Democratic superior bid for nan White House. Chisholm, who was Black, died successful 2005, but Sharpton drew cheers erstwhile he declared, “I cognize she’s watching america coming arsenic a Black female stands up to judge nan information for president of nan United States.”

Sharpton besides introduced nan now-exonerated members of nan Central Park Five — nan Black teenagers who were wrongly convicted of rape successful New York City successful 1989. Trump took retired full-page newspaper ads astatine nan clip calling for 5 to person nan decease punishment — and moreover coming sidesteps calls to apologize.

Harris made a nonstop entreaty to anti-Trump Republicans to put speech statement labels and to support her complete Trump, who denied his nonaccomplishment to Biden successful nan 2020 election, which inspired nan Jan. 6 2021 Capitol insurrection.

“I cognize location are group of various governmental views watching tonight, and I want you to cognize I committedness to beryllium a president for each Americans,” Harris said. “I committedness to beryllium a president for each Americans to clasp ineffable America’s law principles, basal principles, from nan norm of rule and adjacent elections to nan serene transportation of power.”

The normal besides granted a premier speaking slot to erstwhile Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, a Republican professional of Trump’s who said: “Whatever policies we disagree connected ray successful comparison pinch those basal matters of principle. Of decency. Of fidelity to this nation. To my chap Republicans: If you still promise allegiance to those principles, I fishy you beryllium here, too.”

Casting Harris arsenic nan amended guarantor of nan nation’s security, erstwhile Obama management Defense Secretary Leon Panetta evoked Ronald Reagan and Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona slammed Trump for targeting nan precocious Republican Sen. John McCain, nan GOP nominee for president successful 2008.

“John McCain was an American hero,” Gallego said. “Show immoderate respect.”

Republicans, meanwhile, person raced to specify Harris, accusing her of being a “communist” and “dangerously liberal.” Trump has besides targeted her race, while his moving mate JD Vance describes her arsenic a “chameleon.”

Harris’ squad has emphasized her rule enforcement background, including her clip arsenic San Francisco territory lawyer and California lawyer general. She was later elected to nan U.S. Senate and sought nan Democratic statesmanlike information successful 2020.

Her run imploded that twelvemonth earlier a azygous superior ballot was cast, but Biden chose her arsenic his moving mate, catapulting her to nan nationalist stage.

Although Harris initially struggled arsenic vice president, her estimation grew erstwhile she became nan administration’s starring advocator for abortion authorities aft nan U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Democrats harnessed anger complete nan determination to stem their losses successful nan past midterm elections.

When Biden stumbled successful his statement pinch Trump successful June, Harris defended him until he decided to driblet retired of nan race. With nan thief of his endorsement, she swiftly unified nan Democratic Party down her candidacy, resetting a statesmanlike title that Trump had appeared connected way to win.

“We cognize what we’re dealing pinch successful this moment,” Harris said this week successful Milwaukee. “And we must retrieve — arsenic nan generations of Americans earlier america who led nan conflict for state — nan baton is now successful our hands.”

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Associated Press writers Chris Megerian successful Washington and JJ Cooper successful Phoenix contributed.