Vice President Kamala Harris will close out the Democratic National Convention when she accepts her party's historic presidential nomination. Harris will lay out her vision Thursday night for the country and prosecute her case against Republican Donald Trump, capping a whirlwind month that began when President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid and endorsed her to replace him atop the Democratic ticket. On Wednesday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz accepted the vice presidential nomination and thanked the packed Chicago arena for "bringing the joy" to the election. Also speaking Thursday are Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, civil rights leader Al Sharpton and Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.

The Democratic National Convention is kicking off just four weeks after President Joe Biden shuttered his campaign and made way Vice President Kamala Harris to ascend to the top of Democrats' ticket. Biden is expected to take the stage Monday night. Harris is expected to be on hand to watch Biden's remarks, although she doesn't take the stage until Thursday. Tens of thousands of protesters are also expected in Chicago to show their angst over the Israel-Hamas war and other issues. Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, opens a tour of the country in his own counterprogramming to Democrats' big week.

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama have endorsed Kamala Harris in her White House bid, giving the vice president the expected but still crucial backing of the nation's two most popular Democrats. The endorsement was announced Friday in a video showing Harris accepting a joint phone call from the former first couple. It comes as Harris builds momentum as the party's likely nominee after President Joe Biden's decision to end his reelection bid and endorse her against Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump. Harris thanks the Obamas for their backing and says she looks forward to campaigning with them ahead of the Nov. 5 Election Day.

President Joe Biden is dropping out of the 2024 race following a disastrous debate with Republican Donald Trump, throwing the Democratic Party into chaos just months before the election. And Biden has thrown his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris, the party’s instant favorite for the nomination at its August convention in Chicago. Many Democrats this is among the most consequential in a lifetime because of Trump’s plans for a dramatic government overhaul formed around his grievances. Biden’s decision came as he has been isolating at his Delaware beach house after being diagnosed with COVID-19 last week. He had been huddling with a shrinking circle of close confidants and family members about his political future

Republican officials, strategists and activists who packed into their national convention this week are exuding a confidence not seen in decades. Boos and infighting marred Donald Trump's first convention in 2016. But this one in Milwaukee was defined by overwhelming displays of party unity as GOP leaders and even Trump skeptics reveled in the excitement of what many view as an all but certain victory in November. Many describe Trump's near-assassination last week in Pennsylvania as the last piece to bring everyone together in spite of Trump's personal and political baggage. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders are intensifying lobbying efforts to force President Joe Biden to leave the 2024 race, believing he cannot win.

President Joe Biden's imperiled reelection campaign is hitting new trouble. Rather than urging him to stay in, on Wednesday Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said "it's up to the president to decide" if he should. Celebrity donor George Clooney said he should not run, and Democratic senators expressed fresh fear about his ability to beat Republican Donald Trump. It all shows how unsettled the questions over Biden's candidacy remain among Democrats, despite Biden's insistence he is staying in the race. Pelosi has been widely watched for signals of how top Democrats are thinking about Biden's candidacy. And Clooney's portrayal of Biden as "the same man we all witnessed at the debate" shows the depth of concerns.

President Joe Biden is vowing to keep running for reelection as he rejects pressure from within his Democratic Party to withdraw after a disastrous debate performance raised questions about his readiness. But in an ominous sign, one of his top allies publicly suggested on Wednesday a way that the party might choose someone else. According to a campaign aides, Biden told his staff that "no one is pushing me out" of the race. But there are signs that support for Biden is rapidly eroding among Democrats on Capitol Hill. Rep. Jim Clyburn, a longtime Biden ally, says he'd support a "mini-primary" in the run-up to the Democratic National Convention next month if Biden were to leave the race.