Harris Takes Center Stage as Democrats Look to the Future at Unconventional Convention

CHICAGO - The Democratic National Convention kicked off in Chicago on Monday, marking a historic and somewhat unexpected transition of power as President Biden passed the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris, the party's nominee for president.

The convention, originally envisioned as a celebratory coronation for Biden, has transformed into a launchpad for Harris's campaign against former President Donald Trump. Josh Morgan / USA TODAY NETWORK

Biden, in an emotional late-night address, acknowledged the unusual circumstances, stating, "I love the job. I love my country more."

He defended his own record while simultaneously making the case for Harris, highlighting her role in passing the Inflation Reduction Act and casting his own presidency as a period of recovery from the January 6th Capitol riot and the COVID-19 pandemic. Jasper Colt / USA TODAY NETWORK

He also launched pointed attacks on Trump, labeling him a danger to democracy and a candidate with a pessimistic view of the United States. Josh Morgan / USA TODAY NETWORK

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered a speech positioning Harris as a historic figure poised to shatter the "glass ceiling."

Clinton, invoking her own 2016 campaign, declared, "My friends, the future is here," and later added, "On the other side of that glass ceiling is Kamala Harris taking the oath of office as our 47th President of the United States." Josh Morgan, Josh Morgan / USA TODAY NETWORK

Harris herself made a brief but energetic appearance, entering to the tune of Beyoncé's "Freedom" and expressing gratitude to Biden.

"We are forever grateful to you," she said, before briefly outlining her campaign theme: "We are moving forward — in optimism, hope and faith." Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY

The convention also saw a rousing speech from progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who energized the crowd with a call to support Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D). Jasper Colt / USA TODAY NETWORK

She denounced Trump as a "two-bit union buster" who would "sell this country for a dollar." Jasper Colt-USA TODAY

With Harris's official acceptance speech scheduled for Thursday, the Democratic National Convention has set the stage for a pivotal election cycle.

The convention continues to unfold against a backdrop of both optimism for the future and concern over international conflicts, promising a week of high-stakes political drama. Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY