Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage in Chicago on Thursday night to formally accept her party’s nomination for president. During her speech, she reflected on her upbringing, family, and cultural influences, mentioning icons like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Aretha Franklin.
Harris sought to portray herself as having a working-class background, although both of her parents were academics, with her mother eventually becoming a professor at Montreal’s prestigious McGill University. This narrative has been a central part of Harris’s relaunch as a presidential candidate.
Despite her current leadership role as Vice President, Harris’s tone throughout the speech suggested she was seeking a new opportunity to lead. She promised a “new way forward,” yet offered little explanation as to why she hadn’t already pursued this vision from her position in the White House.
Harris shared personal stories, including a memory of helping a friend who was being abused at home, emphasizing a theme of collective responsibility. “A harm against any one of us is a harm against all of us,” she said, highlighting her belief in shared humanity.
Accepting the nomination, Harris promised to be “a president to all Americans,” pledging to put the country above party and uphold America’s core principles, including the rule of law and the peaceful transfer of power. This was seen as a direct contrast to her opponent, Donald Trump, who she accused of undermining these values.
Harris spoke about her past accomplishments as a prosecutor and California’s Attorney General but notably avoided discussing her record as a senator or as Vice President. She also criticized Trump, accusing him of dishonesty and predicting that a second term under him would bring chaos.
She outlined her vision for the future, focusing on strengthening the middle class, which she described as crucial to America’s success. The biggest applause from the crowd came when she discussed abortion access, though her comments on Trump’s stance were met with skepticism by some.