DNC 2024: How to watch live coverage of speeches, protests and more
WASHINGTON - The Democratic National Convention kicks off Monday, with delegates and officials descending on Chicago after a wild few weeks that saw the party switch out its nominee, upending what had already been an unprecedented campaign year.
With the departure of President Joe Biden from the campaign, and Vice President Kamala Harris’ swift ascension to the top of the ticket, Democrats have essentially rejiggered the general election fight against the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, just months before the Nov. 5 election.
The campaign redesign has also required changes in the platform that party officials will adopt before proceedings in Chicago, as well as physical reconfigurations of the signage and other materials in and around the convention hall, to reflect Democrats’ new ticket.
When is the DNC?
The convention begins Monday and runs through Thursday, with televised speeches and floor activity happening each night in prime time. A complete schedule hasn’t been released, but Harris, running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Biden, former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, as well as 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton and former first lady Michelle Obama, are all expected to speak during the week’s evening programming.
What time does the DNC start?
Keynote speeches Monday are expected to begin at 5:30 p.m.
One of the largest demonstrations expected this week is the Coalition to March on the DNC, which will begin outside the United Center with a rally at noon Monday before the march steps off around 2 p.m.
Ahead of that, The United States Palestinian Community Network will be hosting a demonstration at 9 a.m. in the same area near Union Park. The group will gather at 8 a.m.
Made up of over 200 organizations, the Coalition to March on the DNC includes the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, the U.S. Palestinian Community Network and the Arab American Action Network.
Where is the DNC taking place?
Democrats are convening at the United Center, home to the NBA’s Chicago Bulls and NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks. Other facilities such as the McCormick Place Convention Center are hosting event spaces, including areas where convention officials will hold media briefings and delegates will hold caucus meetings and other gatherings.
Illinois is a reliably Democratic state when it comes to presidential elections, voting for the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 1992.
Chicago was the scene of Democrats’ raucous floor fight in 1968 — a year fraught with President Lyndon B. Johnson’s decision not to seek reelection and the assassination of candidate Robert F. Kennedy — that ended with delegates defeating a peace platform seeking an end to the Vietnam War. Thousands of anti-war protesters marched in the streets and were attacked by police.
There’s uncertainty afoot about the Democrats’ return to Chicago, where protesters plan to oppose the Biden administration’s support for Israel in its war with Hamas — leaving some to wonder whether a 1968 redux could be coming. Police say they’ve undergone extensive de-escalation training in preparation.
Who will be on stage?
Harris is expected to give her nomination acceptance on Thursday night, as is tradition. Walz will accept his nomination as her running mate on Wednesday night. Biden will speak Monday, and the Obamas are scheduled to speak Tuesday.
Given the unprecedented nature of how this campaign year has unfolded, much of what the top-of-the-ticket candidates will be doing is introducing themselves to a national audience. Harris began her own run for president only four weeks ago and made Walz her pick only two weeks after that.
America has still had more time to get to know Walz before his speech than they did Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, before Republicans’ convention last month. Trump waited until the convention’s opening day to announce Vance as his running mate in a post on his Truth Social platform.
The DNC on Sunday listed its themes for each of the four days: "For the People," "A Bold Vision for America’s Future," "A Fight for Our Freedoms" and "For Our Future." Convention organizers are likely to release more specifics each morning for that night’s programming.
How to watch the DNC
FOX 5 DC will have coverage of the convention and related protests all week on air, online and on FOX Local. FOX 5's Tom Fitzgerald will be live from Chicago on FOX Local and on fox5dc.com every day at 7:30 p.m.
Here's how to download FOX Local on your smart TV.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.