By EMILY R. CONDON, JAMES MATHESON, TAYLOR NICHOLS, CALEY FOX SHANNON, AVA THOMPSON and KATHARINE WILSON
CHICAGO – Vice President Kamala Harris accepted her party’s nomination Thursday night, pledging “a new way forward” for the nation and warning that the consequences of another Donald Trump presidency would be “extremely serious.”
“On behalf of the people, on behalf of every American, regardless of party, race, gender or the language your grandmother speaks, on behalf of my mother and everyone who has ever set out on their own unlikely journey, on behalf of Americans, like the people I grew up with, people who work hard, chase their dreams and look out for one another, on behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth, I accept your nomination for president of the United States of America,” Harris told the Democratic National Convention, packed to the rafters of the United Center.
The former prosecutor harkened to her days in the California courts to make her case against Trump, saying that while the former president was not a serious man, “the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.”
“Our nation with this election has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past,” Harris said. “A chance to chart a new way forward. Not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans.”
Maryland delegates said Harris’ speech has fired them up for the fall campaign.
“She said everything that we needed to hear to bring our country together, to lay out a bold vision,” said Jared Schablein, a delegate from Maryland’s Eastern Shore. “We’re ready to win in November, and we’re ready to flip Wicomico County blue for the first time since 1964. We were 890 votes short in 2020. We’re going to do it this year with the ticket of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.”
If elected, Harris would be the first woman president and the first president of South Asian descent.
The speech began as a biographical introduction to the country, touching on Harris’ family history, childhood and key moments that propelled her into the limelight. This included a story about her high school friend Wanda, who stayed with Harris after revealing she was a victim of sexual abuse at home. Harris said she became a prosecutor to protect people like Wanda.
“I believe everyone has a right to safety, to dignity and to justice,” Harris said. “As a prosecutor, when I had a case, I charged it not in the name of the victim, but in the name of the people…a harm against any one of us is a harm against all of us.”
Harris, a former attorney general of California, contrasted her experience as a prosecutor against Trump’s legal woes.
“Donald Trump tried to throw away your votes when he failed,” Harris said. “He sent an armed mob to the United States Capitol, where they assaulted law enforcement officers. When politicians in his own party begged him to call off the mob and send help, he did the opposite. He fanned the flames, and now for an entirely different set of crimes, he was found guilty of fraud by a jury of everyday Americans, and separately found liable for committing sexual abuse.”
The nominee then went through major policy areas that are expected to be key themes in her presidential campaign.
Notably, Harris emphasized her unwavering support for Ukraine against Russian aggression and reminded audiences of her competitor’s tendency to side with the Russian president. On the Israel-Hamas war, she reiterated her calls for a ceasefire and release of the hostages.
She promised to bring back the bipartisan immigration bill Trump effectively killed earlier this year.
“I know we can live up to our proud heritage as a nation of immigrants – and reform our broken immigration system,” Harris said.
Harris said she intended to create an “opportunity economy” where everyone – regardless of where they grew up – has the chance to succeed. She also said she wanted to bring labor, companies and entrepreneurs together.
“I’ll tell you, this is personal for me,” she said. “The middle class is where I come from. My mother kept a strict budget. We lived within our means, yet we wanted for little, and she expected us to make the most of the opportunities that were available to us and to be grateful for them, because, as she taught us, opportunity is not available to everyone.”
The vice president also reiterated her determination to protect abortion rights and voting access.
Harris said she wanted an inclusive presidency.
“I know there are people of various political views watching tonight,” the vice president said. “And I want you to know: I promise to be a president for all Americans. You can always trust me to put country above party and self. To hold sacred America’s fundamental principles. From the rule of law. To free and fair elections. To the peaceful transfer of power.”
“I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations. A president who leads, and listens, who is realistic, practical and has common sense and always fights for the American people. From the courthouse to the White House, that has been my life’s work.”
Not far from the left side of the stage, Maryland delegates were on their feet for Harris.
“People have more in common than they realize,” Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said. “We have two major parties, but on most issues at the local level, there’s not a whole lot of difference between people and I wish we could bridge things the same way at a national level.”
“She met the moment,” Johnny Olszewski, the Baltimore County Executive and a candidate for the House of Representatives said.
“You could tell that she was just feeling and embodying the words that she was saying tonight. And the entire room, we were all standing for the length of her speech,” said Maryland state Del. Jheanelle Wilkins, also a convention delegate.
Will Jawando, a Montgomery County Council member and a delegate, said Harris “touched on every point that this is about bringing people together, not fear and division, that this is an existential crisis to beat Donald Trump, that she has the experience, the background, the compassion, the practicality to govern for all Americans.”
“I think she prosecuted the case,” said Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson. “She said exactly why this is one of the most consequential elections in modern history. She is inspired about what we can be moving forward and reminded people what it would look like if we went backwards.”
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