With California’s Kamala Harris leading the pack, the Golden State’s politicians will take center stage on the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Long Beach Congressman Robert Garcia and California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis will deliver speeches in the afternoon.
California is sending nearly 500 delegates, more than any other state, to the four-day event at the United Center, where the vice president will thank delegates for their support and reintroduce herself and her program to the nation.
The keynote speech on Monday will be given by President Joe Biden, who has strongly supported Harris following her withdrawal in July.
Bass will deliver her remarks at around 3:45 p.m. Pacific Time, highlighting her 20-year partnership with Harris and the historic nature of the vice president’s campaign, Bass’ office said.
Bass and Karen are women of color who have broken glass ceilings throughout their political careers and were both on President Biden’s shortlist for vice president in 2020. The two have frequently appeared together at events in Los Angeles, including the reopening of Freeway 10, a rally for reproductive rights, campaign rallies and Bass’ swearing-in ceremony.
Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia of Long Beach will speak at the DNC after Bass at around 4 p.m. – an honor for the new congressman, who is seen by many as the party’s rising star.
Garcia also has close ties to Harris, who swore him in when he was elected mayor of Long Beach in 2014. Garcia supported Harris during her 2020 presidential campaign and was recently part of the presidential delegation to the Paris Olympics along with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.
Mayor Gavin Newsom will also attend the meeting, but it is not known whether he will speak.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles City Council meetings have been canceled this week as members Bob Blumenfield, Monica Rodriguez, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Curren Price and Heather Hutt are all attending the meeting.
Blumenfield told City News Service it was great that Harris, who has a home in Brentwood, was the party’s presidential nominee because she “is close to many of us in the LA delegation and understands our issues.”
“I think this will be a huge benefit for Los Angeles,” Blumenfield said.
City News Service contributed to this article
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