CHICAGO (WLS) — Vice President Kamala Harris called on Americans to join her in “forging a new path forward” as she accepted the Democratic nomination on Thursday, arguing that her personal history and background as a prosecutor make her uniquely suited to protect citizens’ interests and defeat Republican Donald Trump.

When Harris took the stage to thunderous applause at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, she sought to introduce herself to the American public and lay out her vision for leading the nation over the next four years.

“With this election, our nation has a precious, fleeting opportunity to put the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past behind us,” Harris said. “A chance to forge a new path forward. Not as members of a party or faction, but as Americans.”

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Harris was aware of the magnitude of the last month and the incredible turn of events that brought her to the United Center stage tonight.

“America, the path that has brought me here in recent weeks was undoubtedly unexpected. But unlikely journeys are nothing new to me,” she said.

She called for an agreement and climate change in state politics.

“With this election, our nation has a precious, fleeting opportunity to put the bitterness, cynicism and divisive struggles of the past behind us. A chance to forge a new path forward. Not as members of a party or faction, but as Americans,” Harris said.

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The daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, Harris was the first black woman and person of South Asian descent to accept the presidential nomination of a major party. If elected, she would be the first female U.S. president.

Harris said that after her parents divorced, she was raised primarily by her mother in a small apartment in San Francisco’s East Bay, but also by friends and caregivers who were “family out of love.” She also described an important part of her political origin story, when Wanda, her best friend from high school, confided in her that she was being abused by her stepfather and came to live with Harris’ family.

As she walked onto the stage, she saw a sea of ​​female delegates and Democratic supporters dressed in white, the color of women’s suffrage – the movement that culminated in 1920 with the acquisition of the right to vote for American women.

Harris made a direct appeal to anti-Trump Republicans to put aside party affiliations and support them over Trump, who denied his defeat to Biden in the 2020 election that sparked the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021.

The prosecutor in Harris’ case appeared during the speech when she repeatedly referred to Donald Trump’s “express intent” to release those who attacked police officers at the Capitol, imprison political opponents and use the military against American citizens.

“Think of what he plans to do if we give him power again,” she added.

In her speech, she expressed the view that she wanted to play a unifying role.

“I will be a president who unites us around our highest goals. A president who leads and listens. Who is realistic. Who is practical. Who has common sense. Who always fights for the American people. From the courthouse to the White House, that has been my life’s work,” Harris said.

She promised that rebuilding the middle class would be the key goal of her presidency, sending a message of hope.

“I see an America where we hold on to the fearless faith that our nation was built on. That has inspired the world. That here in this country, anything is possible. Nothing is out of reach,” she said.

What time does Kamala Harris speak tonight and the rest of the speaking schedule for the fourth night of the DNC

The DNC has run late every night so far, but based on the previous evening’s schedule, there is hope that Harris will take the stage in the second half of the 9:00 p.m. (CT) hour.

This is the full schedule of the four speakers for DNC night (all times are Central Time).

5:30 p.m.

• Call to order: Minyon Moore, Chair of the 2024 Democratic National Convention Committee
• Hammer in office: Representative from Texas, Veronica Escobar
• Invocation: Everett Kelly, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees and Imam Muhammad Abdul-Aleem, Masjidullah Mosque, West Oak Lane, PA
• Presentation of the Colors: Illinois State Police Honor Guard
• Pledge of Allegiance: Luna Maring, sixth grader from Oakland, California
• Welcome speech: Representative from Texas, Veronica Escobar
• Joint remarks: Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, and Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers
• Remarks: Senator Alex Padilla of California

18:00 hrs

• Remarks: Former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia L. Fudge
• Remarks: California Representative Ted W. Lieu
• Remarks; Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin
• Remarks: US House of Representatives Democratic Whip Katherine Clark
• Remarks: Deputy Chairman of the Democrats in the House of Representatives, Joe Neguse
• Remarks: Durham, NC Mayor Leonardo Williams
• Remarks: Illinois Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi
• Remarks: Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania
• Remarks: Senator from Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren
• Remarks: “Project 2025 – Chapter Four: Making America Weak and Less Safe” by Colorado Rep. Jason Crow
• Remarks: Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin
• Remarks: New York Representative Pat Ryan
• Remarks: Reverend Al Sharpton
• Joint remarks from representatives of the Central Park Five: New York City Councilor Dr. Yusef Salaam, activist Korey Wise, activist Raymond Santana, activist Kevin Richardson

19:00

• Joint remarks: Amy Resner, former prosecutor and friend of Vice President Harris, Karrie Delaney, Director of Federal Affairs at the & Incest National Network, former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, National Urban League President Marc H. Morial, former Corinthian College student Nathan Hornes, and former New York State Deputy Attorney General Tristan Snell
• Remarks: Governor of Massachusetts, Maura Healey
• Comments: Courtney Baldwin, youth organizer and survivor of human trafficking
• Remarks: US Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland
• Notes: John Russell, Content Creator
• Remarks: Florida Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost
• Remarks: Texas Representative Colin Allred
• Joint remarks on “A New American Chapter”: Anya Cook, Florida, Craig Sicknick, New Jersey, Gail DeVore, Colorado, Juanny Romero, Nevada, and Eric, Christian, and Carter Fitts, North Carolina

20:00

• National Anthem: The Chicks
• Introducing the host: Kerry Washington
• Joint remarks: Meena Harris, Ella Emhoff, Helena Hudlin
• Notes: DL Hughley
• Notes: Genesee County, Michigan. Sheriff Chris Swanson
• A conversation about gun violence: Representative Lucy McBath of Georgia, along with Abbey Clements of Newton, Connecticut, Kim Rubio of Uvalde, Texas, Melody McFadden of Charleston, South Carolina, and Edgar Vilchez of Chicago, Illinois
• Remarks: Former US Representative Gabrielle Giffords
• Appearance: P!NK
• Remarks: Arizona Senator Mark Kelly
• Remarks: Former Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta
• Remarks: Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego
• Remarks: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

21:00

• Notes: Eva Longoria, American actress and film producer
• Remarks: Former Illinois Representative Adam Kinzinger
• Notes: Maya Harris
• Remarks: Governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper
• Remarks: Vice President Kamala Harris

And a series of microphone checks at performances, as well as Oprah Winfrey’s surprise appearance on Wednesday night, have fueled speculation about whether there might be another surprise guest tonight.

Ultimately, that was not the case.

Excitement after Governor Tim Walz’s speech continues into the second day

On Wednesday evening, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, her designated running mate, thanked the packed Chicago arena for bringing “joy” to the election.

“We are all here tonight for one beautiful, simple reason: We love this country,” Walz said as thousands of delegates held vertical signs reading “Coach Walz” in red, white and blue.

“He’s approachable and down-to-earth, so I think he’s going to win over a lot of people because he really cares about people. He’s the right man for the position at this time,” said Illinois State Senator Adriane Johnson.

Senator Dick Durbin was impressed by Walz’s personal story about his family’s difficulties in having children and the response that followed.

“They showed it to his children. They may have looked at it, and there was a moment that couldn’t have lasted more than two seconds when his son Gus stood up, pointed and said, ‘That’s my father,'” he said.

The party leadership is enthusiastic about the Harris-Walz ticket, but knows that the expected electoral success can only be the prelude to November, given the likely close election result.

“We need to have a presence here at home and we need to work with our neighbors in Michigan and Wisconsin to win these swing states because winning takes more than just voting,” said Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Cook County Board.

“I mean, we have to keep that energy going. We have to make sure we keep it going throughout November. You can tell there’s been a new jolt in the party. You can see it. There’s a sense of joy, a sense of happiness,” said State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago).

And joy is expected to be part of Kamala Harris’ message when she shares her story, her feelings and her vision for the country in a prime-time speech tonight.

ABC News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.