Bill Clinton and Tim Walz will headline the Democratic national convention on Wednesday night.
The former president will give an address before the vice-presidential hopeful – Clinton’s 11th Democratic convention speech.
In 2020, he tore into Donald Trump, remarking: “If you want a president who defines the job as spending hours a day watching TV and zapping people on social media, he’s your man.” In 2016, he made the case for his wife, Hillary Clinton, to be elected, and in 2012, he made a passionate and clear case for why Barack Obama deserved a second term.
Walz, the Minnesota governor, will close out the night by officially accepting his party’s nomination for vice-president.
Walz’s speech is an opportunity for him to introduce himself to a much wider audience of voters as he seeks to build on the intense enthusiasm surrounding his campaign with Kamala Harris.
Here’s what we know about tonight’s speeches from Bill Clinton and Tim Walz.
When is Bill Clinton’s convention speech?
Bill Clinton is scheduled to deliver remarks on Wednesday in the programming block beginning at 9pm.
When is Tim Walz’s convention speech?
Walz will close out the third night of the convention with a prime-time address in the 9pm programming block.
After delays on Monday saw Joe Biden’s address knocked out of prime time, Tuesday’s keynote speech from Barack Obama started earlier, around 10pm ET.
How can I watch the speech?
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 speech in depth, including on a live blog.
Major news networks are likely to carry prime-time programming. PBS will have live coverage beginning at 8pm each night.
What will Walz talk about?
Wednesday’s theme is “A Fight for Our Freedoms”, mirroring a message that Harris has embraced in her campaigning. The Democratic nominee 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 else is speaking on Wednesday?
In addition to Walz and Clinton, Wednesday’s programming will include some of the best-known names in the Democratic party, including Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker. Top congressional Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader; Cory Booker, senator of New Jersey; and Amy Klobuchar, senator of Minnesota, are slated to speak as well. Some of the party’s biggest rising stars – including Pete Buttigieg, the US transportation secretary; Wes Moore, the Maryland governor; and Josh Shapiro, the Pennsylvania governor – will address the convention.
Amanda Gorman who performed The Hill We Climb at Biden’s 2021 inauguration is also scheduled to appear. Celebrities and performers Mindy Kaling, Kenan Thompson, John Legend and Stevie Wonder are also on the lineup.
Who else is speaking at the convention?
The full lineup of speakers for the remainder of the convention have not yet been released, but several big names – plus many new lawmakers and rising stars – are expected to appear.
Thursday, 22 August: Vice-President Kamala Harris will close out the fourth night of the convention.
What else has happened so far at the convention?
The first night of the convention included speeches from Biden, Hillary Clinton and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the convention.
Joe Biden closed out the first night, delivering a reflective and optimistic 50-minute address, urging the nation to elect Kamala Harris to protect American democracy.
Both Barack and Michelle Obama gave full-throated endorsements of Kamala Harris Wednesday night, with Michelle arguing: “Kamala Harris is more than ready for this moment.”
“America is ready for a new chapter. America is ready for a better story. We are ready for a President Kamala Harris,” Barack Obama said in his keynote address.
