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DNC 2024 Day 1 live updates: Biden lays out choice to 'save democracy' with Harris

"I hope you know how grateful I am to all of you," Biden said.

Last Updated: August 19, 2024, 11:14 PM EDT

Democrats kicked off their convention Monday with a who's who of guests who all touted Vice President Kamala Harris' run for the White House.

Several topics came up during the night including the future of reproductive rights and Project 2025.

Harris made a surprise appearance after several Democratic VIPS took the stage, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The main stars of the night were some of the Democrats' longstanding figures including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

But the main spotlight came as President Joe Biden spoke to the cheering crowd, reflecting on his four years as president and his decision to "pass the torch" to Harris.

9 hours and 1 minute ago

Sen. Warnock calls Trump a 'plague on the American conscience'

Sen. Raphael Warnock, who made history as Georgia's first Black senator, made clear the importance of his state in the 2020 election and what's at stake this November.

"A vote is a kind of prayer for the world we desire for ourselves and our children, and our prayers are stronger when we pray together," Warnock said. "So together we flipped the Senate, held the House and we sent Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White House."

The pastor went on to rail against former President Donald Trump, who he said is "a plague on the American conscience."

Senator Raphael Warnock, Democrat from Georgia, speaks on the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago, Aug. 19, 2024.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Warnock said he saw photos of Trump holding up the Bible and said, “He should try reading it.”

"It says, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' It says, 'In as much as you've done it unto the least of these, you have done it all. So on to me,'" Warnock said.

"So here we are, America. Are you ready?" Warnock added. "Are you ready to stand up in this moral moment? Stand up for the best in the American covenant. Elections are about the character of a country, and we must decide, again, we are the latest generation of Americans who get to decide what kind of country we want to be."

9 hours and 11 minutes ago

Women share personal stories of struggle, pain after Roe revoked

The convention turned its focus on the state of reproductive rights in the country following the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overruled Roe v. Wade.

Following a video that featured clips of Trump touting his stance on removing Roe, three groups of people spoke about their personal stories dealing with the fallout from laws passed in states that banned abortions.

Josh and Amanda Zurawski of Texas talked about how she was forced to wait three days to get an abortion after she miscarried. Amanda was "shaking, disoriented and crashing," before doctors were able to treat her, according to her husband.

Josh Zurawski and Amanda Zurawski speak onstage during the first day of the Democratic National Convention, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

"I was lucky. I lived. So, I'll continue sharing our story, standing with women and families across the country," she said.

Kaitlyn Joshua of Louisiana talked about how two emergency rooms turned her away after she miscarried because of the state's abortion bans.

Kaitlyn Joshua speaks during Day one of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Aug. 19, 2024.
Mike Segar/Reuters

"I was in pain, bleeding so much my husband feared for my life. No woman should experience what I endured, but too many have," she said. "Our daughters deserve better. America deserves better."

Hadley Duvall discussed getting pregnant at 12 after being sexually abused by her stepfather.

Duvall, 22, said she was grateful she had options, but that is not a reality for many girls today "because of Trump's abortion bans."

Abortion rights Advocate Hadley Duvall during Day one of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Aug. 19, 2024.
Mike Segar/Reuters

"He calls it a beautiful thing. What is so beautiful about a child having to carry her parent's child?" she said.

"There are other survivors out there who have no options. And I want you to know that we see you. We hear you," she added.

Three groups of people spoke about their personal stories dealing with the fallout from laws passed in states that banned abortions.
Three groups of people spoke about their personal stories dealing with the fallout from laws passed in states that banned abortions.

9 hours and 14 minutes ago

Beshear: 'Trump and Vance simply don't believe in your freedom'

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a one-time potential running mate for Harris, largely focused on reproductive rights during his remarks.

He called on voters to elect Harris and Walz to "protect reproductive freedom" and said that "Trump and Vance simply don't believe in your freedom."

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear arrives onstage to speak on the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago, Aug. 19, 2024.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

"Trump says people are absolutely thrilled that women had their basic rights eliminated. JD Vance says women should stay in violent marriages, and that pregnancies resulting from rape are simply inconvenient," Beshear said. "Their policies give rapists more rights than their victims. That's not inconvenient. It's just plain wrong."

He called on Americans to move beyond divisive politics "by remembering we are all Americans."

"That's how Joe Biden and Kamala Harris lead," he said.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a one-time potential running mate for Harris, largely focused on reproductive rights during his DNC remarks.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a one-time potential running mate for Harris, largely focused on reproductive rights during his DNC remarks.

9 hours and 19 minutes ago

Walz's kids give their dad bunny ears

It seems that even being Kamala Harris' VP pick can't spare you from your kids making fun of you.

During an interview on MSNBC, Walz's daughter and son held up bunny ears behind their dad's head.

The moment is getting a lot of attention on social media, including from Walz himself, who reposted the clip on X and wrote, "My kids keep me humble."

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

Tim Walz poses for a picture during the Democratic National Convention, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago.
Charles Rex Arbogast/AP