The Democratic national convention is under way, with primetime addresses scheduled for tonight from Bill Clinton; Tim Walz, Kamala Harris’s running mate; and many more.
CNN reported that Oprah Winfrey, the talkshow host and longtime Democrat, is set to appear on the main stage. In previous elections, Winfrey lent her star power to Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Here’s a look at the notable Democrats scheduled to speak on Wednesday night.
What is the speaker schedule for tonight?
The main programming for the convention’s third day runs from 6pm to 10pm CT, with Bill Clinton and Tim Walz scheduled to appear during prime time.
Other notable speakers include:
Beginning at 7pm CT
Chris Murphy, US senator, Connecticut
Olivia Troye, former Trump administration national security official
Bennie G Thompson, member of the US House of Representatives, Mississippi
Andy Kim, member of the US House of Representatives, New Jersey
Stevie Wonder, singer-songwriter and musician (performance)
Kenan Thompson, comedian, and guests (remarks on Project 2025)
Beginning at 8pm CT
Mindy Kaling (host introduction)
Hakeem Jeffries, US House of Representatives Democratic leader
Bill Clinton, former US president
Nancy Pelosi, former US House speaker
Josh Shapiro, governor of Pennsylvania
Catherine Cortez Masto, US senator, Nevada
Beginning at 9pm CT
Amanda Gorman, national youth poet laureate, whose performance of The Hill We Climb at Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration wowed the audience
Wes Moore, governor of Maryland
Pete Buttigieg, US transportation secretary
John Legend and Sheila E, musicians (performance)
Amy Klobuchar, US senator, Minnesota
Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota and Kamala Harris’s running mate (keynote address)
The full lineup of all speakers is available on the Democratic national convention’s website.
How can I watch the convention?
The party will livestream the convention on its Democratic national convention website and on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
The Guardian has a team of reporters in Chicago and will be covering the convention in depth, including live blogs each night:
Major news networks are likely to carry primetime programming. In the US, PBS will have live coverage beginning at 8pm ET each night.
What will Walz talk about?
The theme of Wednesday’s programming is “A Fight for Our Freedoms”, mirroring a message that Harris has embraced in her campaigning. The Democratic candidate has invigorated crowds with her argument that fundamental freedoms are on the line this year, telling voters: “We won’t go back.”
Walz may use his speech to highlight how he has similarly embraced that message during his gubernatorial tenure. Since Minnesota Democrats won a legislative trifecta in 2022, Walz has signed a series of bills to enshrine abortion rights into state law, protect access to gender-affirming care and make it easier for people with a felony conviction to vote.
“The story here is simple and it’s one that will resonate with Americans across the country,” Minyon Moore, the convention chair, said on Sunday. “Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are fighting for the American people and America’s future – Donald Trump is only fighting for himself.”
Who has spoken so far at the convention?
Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance on Monday night, before Joe Biden gave a primetime address.
Tuesday night, Barack Obama and Michelle Obama laid out Harris’s qualifications for the world’s most powerful job.
“We do not need four more years of bluster and bumbling and chaos,” Barack Obama told delegates. “We have seen that movie before and we all know that the sequel is usually worse. America is ready for a new chapter. America is ready for a better story. We are ready for a President Kamala Harris.”
What else is there to know?
The Democratic national convention is being held in Chicago from 19-22 August.
Party leaders have emphasized that the theme of the week is “passing the torch” to a new generation of leaders, reflecting Harris’s ascension to the nomination after Biden abandoned his re-election campaign last month.
Each day of the convention has a specific theme:
Monday: For the People
Tuesday: A Bold Vision for America’s Future
Wednesday: A Fight for Our Freedoms
Thursday: For Our Future
