Receiving a rapturous standing ovation, Harris argued that her background as a prosecutor and her personal story positioned her uniquely to safeguard American interests against a former president she portrayed as self-serving.
“This election gives our nation a precious and fleeting chance to rise above past bitterness, cynicism, and divisive conflicts,” Harris said. “It’s an opportunity to forge a new path, not as members of any specific party or faction, but as Americans.”
Harris, whose parents were Jamaican and Indian immigrants, is the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to receive a major party’s presidential nomination. Should she win, she would become the first female president. Although she did not directly highlight these historic milestones in her 40-minute speech, she did mention bipartisan issues, including a border bill that Trump had blocked, which she pledged to sign into law if elected.
Her speech, like the broader convention, aimed to reach a wide audience, including those who were previously disillusioned with both presidential candidates. The event featured several former Trump supporters who now back Biden’s policies, reflecting Harris’s attempt to connect with voters dissatisfied with Trump.
During the traditional balloon drop, Harris was joined by a diverse, mixed-race family. Earlier, two of her grandnieces led the crowd at the United Center in pronouncing her name, which means lotus in Sanskrit.
“America, the road that brought me here in recent weeks has been full of surprises,” Harris said. “But I’m familiar with unexpected journeys.”
