2020 DNC: Featured speakers include Michelle and Barack Obama, Hillary and Bill Clinton
The list of speakers for next week's Democratic National Convention — a mostly virtual event that will be anchored from Milwaukee — reads like a who's who of the party's last 30 years.
From Hillary and Bill Clinton and Michelle and Barack Obama to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the speakers reflect the party's push to bridge generations and put on a united front to launch presidential nominee Joe Biden and his vice presidential pick, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, into the fall campaign.
There's even a bit of a Wisconsin angle: In 2018, Harris told an audience that she lived in Madison when she was 5 while her parents taught at the University of Wisconsin.
Speaking time has also been carved out for state and local leaders, including U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Gov. Tony Evers, U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who will speak from the Wisconsin Center, organizers announced Tuesday.
The event, which runs Aug. 17-20, has been overhauled because of the coronavirus pandemic, with most speakers addressing the convention from remote sites.
The convention, to run from 8 to 10 p.m. Central time, will gavel in and out each night from the Wisconsin Center. The center will also be home to a custom virtual video control room "that has been designed to take in hundreds of feeds from around the country," organizers said.
Moore is scheduled to speak live from Milwaukee on Monday night.
Barrett, a convention co-chairman, will call the convention to order on Tuesday. That day Jason Rae, the convention's secretary, will direct the roll call vote, and Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes will lead the Wisconsin delegation in offering the state votes to nominate Biden.
Evers will help kick off Wednesday night's programming and Baldwin will speak live Thursday.
Two Milwaukee women are also scheduled to speak virtually during the convention, organizers announced Monday. Luz Chaparro Hernandez, a mother, elementary school teacher and union member, and Julie Buckholt, a mother and retired educator, are expected to share their families' stories as they talk about their support for Biden.
Democrats are billing the event as "Uniting America."
At the very least, the speaking lineup reveals a united party to take on President Donald Trump in the fall campaign.
Top speakers include Michelle Obama on the opening night; former President Bill Clinton and Jill Biden on the second night; former President Barack Obama, 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Harris on the third night; and Biden accepting the nomination on the final night.
Other opening night speakers include U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders, Amy Klobuchar, Doug Jones and Catherine Cortez Masto, Govs. Andrew Cuomo of New York and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, U.S. Reps. Jim Clyburn and Bennie Thompson, and former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican.
The second night will feature the keynote address and the roll call. Other speakers include: former Acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer and former Secretary of State John Kerry.
Ocasio-Cortez, one of the party's rising stars, will speak on the second night along with fellow Democratic Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester.
Third night speakers include House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico and former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
Fourth night speakers include U.S. Sens. Cory Booker, Chris Coons and Tammy Duckworth, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and the Biden family.
Commemorative credential features Milwaukee Art Museum
Democrats also unveiled this year's commemorative credential featuring an illustration of the Milwaukee Art Museum, which will be mailed to more than 5,000 voting delegates and alternates throughout the country, as well as some Democrats abroad, as part of a convention kit.
The Democratic National Convention Committee commissioned artist Mauricio Ramirez to design the credential.
"Whenever I create a piece that represents Milwaukee, I want to make sure it includes our landmarks, architecture and culture, and the Milwaukee Art Museum was one of those places that really represents all of these features of our city," Ramirez said in a statement. "It's a great feeling to put our best foot forward as a city through this art, and to know that delegates participating across the country will receive something that shows the soul of Milwaukee."
Museum officials said they were honored by Ramirez's design.
"His striking depiction of our Santiago Calatrava-designed Quadracci Pavilion showcases Milwaukee's dynamic energy, its architecture and culture—all things that make us proud to call our city home," said Margaret Andera, interim chief curator and curator of contemporary art of the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Organizers announced last week that Biden won't be traveling to Milwaukee to give his acceptance speech.
Contact Mary Spicuzza at (414) 224-2324 or mary.spicuzza@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MSpicuzzaMJS.