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.
Biden's daughter, Ashley Biden, called the president the "O.G. girl dad" in her remarks introducing him.
First Daughter Ashley Biden speaks onstage during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on Aug. 19, 2024 in Chicago.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
"He wasn't just a girl dad. I could see that he valued and trusted women," she said. "How he listened to his mother, how he believed in his sister, and most of all, how he respected my mother's career."
She continued, "Dad, you always tell us, but we don’t tell you enough that you are the love of our lives and the life of our love."
Aug 19, 2024, 11:23 PM EDT
'We will fight, and we will win together': Jill Biden
First lady Jill Biden talked about her husband's kindness and devotion to helping others during his years of service.
She noted that she "saw him dig deep into his soul and decide to no longer seek reelection and endorse Kamala Harris."
First Lady Jill Biden speaks onstage during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on Aug.19, 2024 in Chicago.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Jill Biden said that she and her family valued Harris for years, given the kinship the vice president had with Beau Biden.
"We have seen her courage, her determination and her leadership up close. Kamala and Tim, you will win, and you are inspiring a new generation," she said.
"We will fight, and we will win together," the first lady added.
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First Lady Jill Biden takes the stage at the DNC
First Lady Jill Biden talked about her husband's kindness and devotion to helping others during his years of service.
ABCNews.com
Aug 19, 2024, 11:15 PM EDT
Delaware Sen. Chris Coons leads crowd in 'We love Joe!' chant
Delaware Sen. Chris Coons, a close Biden ally, spoke ahead of the president's keynote speech.
He thanked Biden for his service, saying the president "passed and signed into law the most consequential legislation of any president in 60 years, helping our veterans, advancing gun safety, cutting prescription drug prices, fighting climate change, rebuilding bridges and broadband, bringing manufacturing back to America."
He thanked Biden for "elevating a great leader in Kamala Harris" and led the crowd in a chant of "We love Joe!" at the end of his speech.
Aug 19, 2024, 11:11 PM EDT
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."
