DNC 2024 Day 4 live updates: Harris says she will 'fight for America's future'

Harris set her agenda in a rousing speech at the DNC.

ByAlexandra Hutzler, Ivan Pereira, Meredith Deliso, Tal Axelrod, and Brittany Gaddy
Last Updated: August 22, 2024, 10:14 PM EDT

The moment that millions around the country have been waiting for took place Thursday at the Democratic National Convention as Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the nomination for the presidency.

Harris took the stage to a roaring standing ovation and soon set her agenda in a rousing speech.

Whether it was immigration, reproductive rights or foreign security, the vice president showcased a sharp contrast in policies to former President Donald Trump.

Harris's speech was preceded by a who's who of leaders from both sides of the aisle who all made the case that she is the best person to be the nation's leader.

Photos: 2024 Democratic National Convention

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Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris takes the stage on Day 4 of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, Aug. 22, 2024.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

    Latest headlines:

    Here's how the news is developing:
    ByTia Yang
    Aug 22, 2024, 10:14 PM EDT

    Harris is working to rebuild the Biden coalition

    Our colleague at 538, Mary Radcliffe, did a deep dive earlier this week into polling crosstabs to see how Harris is doing with the coalition of voters that successfully elected Biden in 2020. We're hearing from Black, Latino and Midwest politicians and celebrities tonight because that's part of who Harris has to get to the polls to recreate that winning formula this November. You can read more detail in our story.

    — 538's Monica Potts

    Aug 22, 2024, 10:11 PM EDT

    Adam Kinzinger rounds out slate of GOP speakers

    Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger is delivering a prime-time speech in support of Harris -- rounding out a slate of Republicans who have spoken at the DNC this week, including former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, Mayor John Giles of Mesa, Arizona, former Trump White House national security official Olivia Troye and former Trump White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham.

    Kinzinger, who retired from the House in 2023, has been a vocal Trump critic over the years, and although he describes himself as a "proud conservative," he endorsed then-candidate Joe Biden for reelection in June.

    The former Illinois congressman sat on the House's Jan. 6 select committee that investigated the attack. He was also one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump on a charge of inciting the Jan. 6 attack.

    Since Harris replaced Biden as the Democratic nominee, Kinzinger has supported the vice president, saying she stands for democracy.

    -ABC News' Sarah Beth Hensley

    ByTia Yang
    Aug 22, 2024, 10:19 PM EDT

    Fact-checking Ruben Gallego’s claim about veteran unemployment

    Arizona Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Ruben Gallego talked about veterans issues in his remarks, claiming “Kamala Harris has delivered more benefits to more veterans than ever before, and has achieved the lowest veterans unemployment rate in history.”

    Leaving aside what Harris did specifically to lower unemployment for veterans, the numbers show that the unemployment rate for veterans in 2023 dropped to 3%, the lowest average the Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded since it began tracking the veterans data in 2000.

    —PolitiFact’s Aaron Sharockman

    Aug 22, 2024, 10:13 PM EDT

    'Big Gretch' Whitmer talks about how Harris will 'G.S.D.'

    Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, or as she introduced herself "Big Gretch" got a huge ovation as she took the stage and immediately took a jab at Trump.

    "Donald Trump called me 'that woman from Michigan' as an insult. But being a woman from Michigan is a badge of honor. Like women across America, we just G.S.D. -- Get Stuff Done," using the sanitized version of the slogan.

    Whitmer talked about the struggles of raising her child and helping her elderly mother. The governor noted that Harris has lived a similar life, unlike Trump

    "You think he understands that when your car breaks down you can’t get to work? No! His first word was probably 'chauffeur,'" she said.

    Speaking of the Democratic presidential candidate, the Michigan governor said, “She’s lived a life like ours. She knows us.”
    Speaking of the Democratic presidential candidate, the Michigan governor said, “She’s lived a life like ours. She knows us.”

    Whitmer acknowledged the last couple of years have been hard but in the end they need to make sure the commander in chief is ready for any crisis like Harris.

    "Why wouldn’t we choose the leader who’s tough, tested and a total bada--?" she said to cheers.

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