CHICAGO — Democrats from across the country, including dozens of delegates from Colorado, are gathering in Chicago this week for the Democratic National Convention (DNC).

“The energy here is just out of this world,” said Joe Salazar, a former state representative who is one of 72 Colorado delegates to the convention. “It’s nothing like what we imagined six weeks ago. The energy here is just electric.”

Serena Thomas of Fort Collins is also a delegate at the convention. She said the historic nomination of a black and Asian woman for president of a major party was inspiring.

“It’s just something that so many people in this country need and want to see,” Thomas said.

Vice President Kamala Harris will formally accept the party’s nomination for president on Thursday. Phil Chen, a political science professor at the University of Denver, said it is a big moment for Harris.

“This is a real opportunity to introduce ourselves to the nation, where most of the attention will be on the Democrats,” Chen said. “We don’t know much about our vice presidents. We may know who they are. We don’t know much of their life story.”

Large crowds of pro-Palestinian protesters have gathered outside Congress demanding that the US stop its military aid to Israel.

“This is an important voice within the Democratic Party at this time. This is a way for them to be heard,” Chen said.

Democrats in Colorado said the protests showed the diversity of the party. They believe that diversity will give them an advantage in the fall.

“The Democratic Party is under one big umbrella and that includes all of these voices,” Miller said.

President Joe Biden will address the party’s convention on Monday evening. Governor Tim Walz will accept the party’s nomination for vice president on Wednesday.

Other speakers at the convention include former President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, and former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

The meeting lasts until Thursday.