DNC 2024 Day 2 live updates: 'Yes, she can': Obama endorses Harris, blasts Trump

Democrats picked Angela Alsobrooks to give a lengthier speech than others -- and it’s no coincidence.

Alsobrooks is running for Senate in Maryland, a race that was once considered sleepy. But with popular former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan as the GOP nominee, the race is more competitive, and Democrats are desperate to keep the seat of outgoing Sen. Ben Cardin in their column.

-ABC News' Tal Axelrod

John Giles, the Republican mayor of Mesa, Arizona, got a prime-time spot at the DNC, during which he stressed putting country over party, "as my hero, John McCain, taught us."

"I have a confession to make. I'm a lifelong Republican. So, I feel a little out of place tonight. But I feel more at home here than in today's Republican Party," Giles said at the top of his remarks.

He said the Republican Party has devolved into "the cult of Donald Trump," whom he said made a lot of lofty promises as president but "couldn't deliver a thing."

Biden and Harris, meanwhile, reached across the aisle delivered for his conservative community and "countless more across the country," he said, while calling on Americans to "put country first" and elect Harris and Walz.

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Republican mayor addresses DNC in primetime spot

John Giles, the Republican mayor of Mesa, Arizona, got a primetime spot at the DNC, during which he stressed putting country over party, "as my hero, John McCain, taught us."

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The future of reproductive rights was again a strong topic at the convention with several speakers discussing their personal struggles with having children or finding an abortion.

Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, expressed anger at Trump, Vance and Republicans over their proposals to limit fertility options and ban abortions.

"I take it personally when a five-time draft-dodging coward like Donald Trump tries to take away my rights and freedoms in return -- especially when it concerns my daughters," she said.

Duckworth a veteran and double amputee, was candid about IVF treatments used to conceive her daughters.

"My struggle with infertility was more painful than any wound I earned on the battlefield," she said.

The senator spoke directly to would-be parents and said she would fight any attempts to restrict reproductive rights.

"We’ll send a message to Trump: Stay out of our doctors’ offices -- and out of the Oval Office, too," she said.

Reproductive rights are a key voter issue that both Harris and Trump are working to speak to voters about as November approaches.

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Sen. Tammy Duckworth at DNC gets personal about IVF journey

Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth expressed anger at Donald Trump, JD Vance and Republicans over their proposals to limit fertility options and ban abortions.

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Angela Alsobrooks, who is taking on popular former Gov. Larry Hogan in Maryland's Senate race, spoke about her friendship with Harris and how she looked up to her as a mentor.

Alsobrooks said when she ran for state's attorney in 2009, she discovered Harris' work as district attorney piloting a program to help low-level offenders get job training, GED help and more.

"After reading about this super-bad district attorney, I talked non-stop about her on the campaign trail," she said. "Two days after I won the election, my phone rings. It’s Kamala Harris, calling to congratulate me and ask how she could help. She helped me bring Back on Track to Maryland. Crime went down, and economic growth went up. Back on Track is now a national model."

Alsobrooks went on to tout Harris' prosecutorial record against big banks, gangs and more.

"Kamala Harris knows how to keep criminals off the streets," she said. "And come November, with our help, she’ll keep one out of the Oval Office."

After her remarks, the crowd erupted in "Angela" chants.

Alsobrooks' race against Hogan is a high-stakes where Maryland could alter which party has control in the Senate.

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Angela Alsobrooks at the DNC: ‘We are not going back’

Maryland’s Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate spoke about her friendship with Kamala Harris and how she looked up to her as a mentor.

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