Delegates gathered for the Democratic National Convention are set to partake in a ceremonial roll call today to honor Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The 57 delegations will deliver speeches and cast symbolic votes at Chicago’s United Center.
The roll call will commence with President Joe Biden’s home state of Delaware and conclude with California and Minnesota, the home states of Harris and Walz, respectively. Organizers have highlighted these details to emphasize the significance of this transitional moment.
While Harris officially secured the party’s nomination earlier this month through a virtual roll call, the in-person votes scheduled for today carry substantial symbolic weight. Following a period of internal strife within the party, which saw Biden withdraw from the 2024 race in July and Harris swiftly clinch the nomination, many Democrats view this week as an opportunity for healing and celebration.
It is worth noting that four years ago, the Democratic National Convention also did not feature an in-person roll call for then-presumptive nominee Biden due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which necessitated a predominantly virtual convention.
