This week, the political world will turn its attention to the Windy City – and nearly 500 Californians will be there.
Party conventions used to be rousing events where the presidential candidate was decided. Sometimes the party bosses made deals behind closed doors. After the anti-war protests at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago and the subsequent push for a more democratic selection system, the candidate is now almost always decided in primaries months in advance.
Party conventions today are more about celebrating the nominees – and also about creating a few TV moments and viral social media clips, inspiring party supporters and perhaps even changing the minds of undecided voters.
This year’s convention, which begins today and runs through Thursday, could produce mixed results: While the Democratic Party has rallied behind Vice President Kamala Harris after President Joe Biden caved to pressure not to run for re-election, some undecided delegates may still need to be convinced.
Perhaps it will also be history in the making: a precious opportunity for Harris, who could become the first female president in America’s 248-year history, to reintroduce herself to the nation and dispel any concerns about her Californian identity.
Geoffrey Cowan, a professor of communications at USC who is credited with redesigning the presidential nomination process after 1968 — “for better or for worse,” he says — expects this convention, like the Republican Party’s in July, to be more of a showcase for the party’s ideas and its future leaders.
For California delegates, the week includes daily breakfasts with speeches from various politicians from around the country, votes on the party platform for the next four years and – after a virtual convention in 2020 due to COVID-19 – parties galore.
Here are three things you should know about the Democratic National Convention and the role of California delegates.
Which Californians are allowed to leave?
California sends more delegates to the convention than any other state – 496. That number was determined in part by the majority of votes in the last three elections.
There are 277 delegates elected by local party branches, plus a few delegates who are automatically appointed by virtue of their office, including Governor Gavin Newsom and all 40 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives from California, as well as the two U.S. Senators.
Among the candidates selected by the party are said to be other well-known names from Golden State politics: Attorney General Rob Bonta, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and London Breed of San Francisco, as well as union leaders such as Dolores Huerta and Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher.
And even though the state legislature is in its final two weeks of session, 21 state lawmakers will reportedly be in Chicago as well.
However, for security reasons, the full list of delegates will not be made publicly available, the party said.
Who won’t be there? Some Democratic candidates from swing districts in Congress may not be there if they want to distance themselves from the party to gain more votes.
What will the California delegation do?
Harris already secured the nomination with the support of 99 percent of delegates in a virtual vote earlier this month. According to the Associated Press, all but 11 California delegates voted for Harris.
The party will still hold a ceremonial version at the United Center on Tuesday, giving a leading Democrat from each state a chance to boast about how great they are and sometimes criticize Republicans while announcing how many votes the candidate received. The California party has not yet announced who will be the speaker this year.
When Biden was nominated in 2020, Rep. Barbara Lee and Los Angeles County Councilwoman Hilda Solis did the honors. When Hillary Clinton won the nomination in 2016, then-Governor Jerry Brown announced the state’s results, surrounded by other high-ranking Democrats with Harris right behind him.
And since Harris is from California — and tradition holds true — the delegation will be given the honor of closing the official roll call. At previous conventions, delegates from the candidate’s home state also received prime seating at the convention.
Thuy DaoJensen, a delegate from Brentwood in Northern California, told her that Harris “represents optimism.”
“I am thrilled and incredibly proud to be part of American history within the Democratic Party by nominating the first Black and Asian-Indian woman to be President of the United States,” said DaoJensen.
California delegates will also have a say in shaping the party’s platform – the guiding principles for the next four years. This year, some Progressive Caucus delegates plan to push the party to call for an arms embargo on Israel because of the war in Gaza.
Delegates will also meet with various party groups, such as the Women’s Group and the Disabled Group, or other groups such as the Labour Council.
And throughout the week, California delegates will hear from a number of politicians, including Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the governors of other states: JB Pritzker of Illinois, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Andy Beshear of Kentucky.
What you should pay attention to
Prime-time speeches often make the big headlines at conferences.
Biden is scheduled to address all delegates tonight, along with 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton. Former President Barack Obama will address delegates on Tuesday. On Wednesday, former President Bill Clinton and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco will take the stage before Minnesota Governor Tim Walz accepts the vice presidential nomination. Harris will deliver her acceptance speech on Thursday.
The Convention is also an opportunity for politicians with national ambitions (even particular who say they don’t have any) to gain exposure among party leaders and a national audience (in 2004, then-Senator Obama delivered the keynote speech that catapulted him to national fame.)
And even if there is unlikely to be any drama at the convention over the nomination, tension is to be expected: Various groups are planning protests in front of the United Center, including those who oppose the war in Gaza. An “Abandon Biden” group is planning a press conference this morning with third-party candidates Jill Stein and Cornel West. Due to increased security measures, the protests will be held in designated areas.
What questions do you have about Southern California?
