2024 Democratic National Convention: Democrats Highlight Threats to Democracy
As the 2024 Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago, the party is set to emphasize the threat to democracy that they believe former President Donald Trump poses. Several prominent speakers, including lawmakers who served on the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021 insurrection, will take the stage to address this issue.
Key Speakers at the 2024 Democratic National Convention
Reps. Jamie Raskin (Maryland) and Bennie Thompson (Mississippi), who both served on the House January 6th committee, will speak at the convention. The committee’s 2022 report recommended barring Trump from holding office again.
Retired Capitol Police Officer Aquilino Gonell, who was injured during the January 6th attack, will also address the convention. Gonell has become a public face of the insurrection’s toll and a critic of Trump and Republicans who defend him.
Former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger (Illinois), another January 6th committee member, is scheduled to speak on Thursday. Kinzinger, now a CNN commentator, was one of 10 House Republicans to vote for Trump’s impeachment.
The “Tennessee Three” — state Reps. Justin Jones, Justin Pearson and Gloria Johnson — are expected to speak after being expelled from the Tennessee House last year for leading a gun control protest on the chamber floor. They have since won reelection.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (Texas), who served in the state Legislature in 2021 when Democrats sought to block restrictive voting legislation, and Sen. Raphael Warnock (Georgia), pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, is also scheduled to speak.
Shifting Focus from Biden to Harris
While President Biden made the threat to democracy a central argument in his failed 2024 bid, Harris has placed less emphasis on the issue as a new candidate. However, the Harris campaign will make clear this week that they believe it remains a critical concern for voters.
“We will remind all Americans about the stakes of this election for freedom and the future of our democracy,” a campaign official stated.
The 2024 Democratic National Convention focus on January 6th and the threat to democracy aims to energize the Democratic base and appeal to independents and moderate Republicans who are concerned about the state of American democracy. As Harris seeks to build momentum and unite the party behind her candidacy, this message could prove crucial in the months leading up to the 2024 election.
