Vice President Kamala Harris officially became the official Democratic presidential nominee during the second night of the Democratic National Convention.
The night included a lively and upbeat roll call vote of delegates that featured a DJ, some celebrities and energetic speeches. Also, Harris, who campaigned in Milwaukee, thanked the crowd in a live-streamed message.
Second gentleman Doug Emoff talked about his long relationship with Harris and touted her vision for the country.
But the night's biggest headline was the return of former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama to the DNC stage. Both stressed what's at stake in this election and pushed Americans to come together to bring the country to a better future.
In her closing remarks, former first lady Michelle Obama warned that a handful of votes in select states would decide the election and pushed Americans to come out to the polls.
Former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama speaks during Day 2 of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Aug. 20, 2024.
Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images
"So we need to vote in numbers that erase any doubt we need to overwhelm any effort to suppress us. Our fate is in our hands," she said.
20:56
Michelle Obama at the DNC: 'Hope is making a comeback'
The former first lady spoke during the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Aug 20, 2024, 11:00 PM EDT
'We cannot get a Goldilocks complex': Michelle Obama
The former first lady warned that "we can not be our worst enemies" and not take things for granted in this election.
"We cannot get a Goldilocks complex about whether everything is just right," Michelle Obama said to cheers.
"We cannot indulge our anxieties about whether this country will elect someone like Kamala instead of doing everything we can to get someone like Kamala elected," she added.
Former first lady Michelle Obama speaking during the Democratic National Convention, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Obama said she is confident that Harris would be a great leader but noted that there will be a lot of opponents who will put out lies about her.
"It’s up to us to remember what Kamala’s mother told her: Don’t just sit around and complain, do something," she said. "So if they lie about her, and they will, we’ve got to do something."
Aug 20, 2024, 10:56 PM EDT
Michelle Obama takes jabs at Trump
The former first lady took several subtle and clear jabs at former President Donald Trump, contrasting his past scandals with Harris' years of accomplishments.
"She understands that most of us will never be afforded the grace of failing forward we will never benefit from the affirmative action of generational wealth," she said.
"If we bankrupt a business or choke in a crisis, we don’t get a second, third, or fourth chance," she added.
Michelle Obama got more direct and noted that Trump "did everything in his power to try to make people fear us."
"His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who also happened to be Black," she said.
Former US First Lady Michelle Obama speaks on the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, on Aug. 20, 2024.
Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images
"Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those 'Black jobs?'" Obama asked to a cheering crowd.
"It’s his same old con: doubling down on ugly, misogynistic, racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solutions that will actually make people’s lives better," she added.
Aug 20, 2024, 10:51 PM EDT
Emhoff revives crowd
Emhoff sent the crowd into a tizzy after attendees had been lagging in energy.
The first gentleman told a story of his first date with Harris, prompting cheers when describing by an awkward voicemail he sent her.
Attendees hold "Doug" signs as Douglas Emhoff, second gentleman of the United States, speaks on Day 2 of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Aug. 20, 2024.