U.S. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona was one of the speakers at the Democratic Party Convention on Thursday, the final night of a tumultuous four-day event at which Vice President Kamala Harris accepted her party’s nomination for president.
Before his remarks, Kelly appeared on stage with his wife, former Democratic U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords, and recounted how she survived a shooting during a caucus in Tucson in 2011. Giffords argued that if Harris were elected to the Oval Office, she would fight for gun safety laws.
Kelly, a Navy veteran, astronaut and U.S. senator representing Arizona in 2020, focused his speech on the need to maintain key alliances like NATO, arguing that it takes a team to protect the country against adversaries and maintain world peace. “Kamala Harris knows that when we stand with our allies, we must stand up for Americans,” he said.
What you should know about Arizona Senator Mark Kelly
- Who is he? US Senator Mark Kelly is a former astronaut and US Navy captain. Kelly was one of the last contenders for Harris’s vice presidential nomination before he was ultimately passed over in Walz’s selection.
- What role does he play? US Senator who represents a border state, has criticized the Biden administration’s border policies in the past and is considered a centrist voice in the Democratic Party.
- Key quote: “Donald Trump skipped his intelligence briefings. He was too busy currying favor with dictators and dreaming of becoming one himself,” Kelly said.
Watch Senator Mark Kelly’s full speech here:
When and where will the DNC take place
The DNC will take place in Chicago from August 19 to 22.
The United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks, will be the main venue for the DNC.
Chicago has hosted the Democratic National Convention eleven times, most recently in 1996, when President Bill Clinton was nominated for a second term at the United Center.
How to watch and stream the DNC 2024
The convention will be broadcast live from the United Center in Chicago on the organization’s website on Monday between 6:15 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time (5:15 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Central Time) and on the other days between 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time (6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Central Time).
USA TODAY will provide live stream coverage of the DNC every night Monday through Thursday on YouTube.
What are the themes for each night of the DNC?
The DNC announced the evening’s themes for the convention. The title of the convention is “For the People, For Our Future.”
Here are the topics for each evening:
- Monday: “For the people”
- Tuesday: “A bold vision for America’s future”
- Wednesday: “A fight for our freedoms”
- Thursday: “For our future”
