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Democratic National Convention Committee
August 18, 2020

Democrats Announce Highlights for Night Two of the 2020 Democratic National Convention: Uniting America

Tuesday Night’s Theme is “Leadership Matters”

MILWAUKEE—The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) today previewed the official program for night two of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, happening Tuesday, August 18 from 9:00-11:00 PM Eastern.

The theme of Tuesday’s program is “Leadership Matters.” A moment like now demands real leadership. A leader who has the experience and character to meet the moment. A leader who will unite us, tell us the truth, take responsibility, listen to experts and be an example for the nation. Strong people and strong countries rise up during crises, don’t shy away from what is tough, and lead with competence. With Joe Biden as our president, we will restore honesty and integrity to our government, and stake out a renewed leadership role in the world. And we will create more justice, more fairness and more equality for all.

Tonight’s focus is on the leaders and the experts, the veterans, the activists, and all those who seek to unite and not divide, and who step up—and don’t back down—from a fight over what’s right. 

Highlights from tonight’s program are listed below:

 
LEADERSHIP MATTERS
 
Call to Order
The Honorable Tom Barrett
Mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Credentials Committee Report
James Roosevelt Jr.
Co-Chair of the Credentials Committee
Lorraine Miller
Co-Chair of the Credentials Committee

Rules Committee Report
The Honorable Barney Frank
Co-Chair of the Credentials Committee
Maria Cardona
Co-Chair of the Credentials Committee

Platform Committee Report
Julie Chavez Rodriguez
Co-Chair of the Credentials Committee
Dennis McDonough
Co-Chair of the Credentials Committee

THE LEADERS WE ARE

Keynote Address: “We Step Up to Lead”
Young and diverse elected leaders will offer different ideas and different perspectives during the keynote address, but everyone will speak to the future we’re building together—and why we need Joe Biden’s leadership right now.
Full list of participants here.

Introduction
Tracee Ellis Ross
American actress
We Respect the Constitution

Remarks
Sally Yates
Former Acting Attorney General of the United States

Remarks
The Honorable Charles Schumer
Minority Leader of the United States Senate
 
We Lead from the Oval Office

Remarks
Caroline Kennedy
Former U.S. Ambassador, daughter of President John F. Kennedy
Jack Schlossberg
Grandson of President John F. Kennedy

Remarks
The Honorable Jimmy Carter
39th President of the United States
Rosalynn Carter
Former First Lady of the United States

Remarks
The Honorable Bill Clinton
42nd President of the United States

THE LEADER WE NEED

Introduction
Tom Perez
Chairman of the Democratic National Committee

Nominating Speeches for The Honorable Bernie Sanders
Bob King
Former President of the United Auto Workers
The Honorable Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, New York

Nominating Speeches for The Honorable Joe Biden
The Honorable Chris Coons
United States Senator, Delaware
The Honorable Lisa Blunt Rochester
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Delaware

Roll Call Across America

THE LEADERS WE ARE

We Take On the Toughest Challenges

The Biden Plan: Healthcare
We share Joe Biden’s plan to strengthen the Affordable Care Act, protect those with preexisting conditions, and expand access to every American - because for Joe Biden and his family, this is personal. 

A More Perfect Union: A Conversation on Healthcare 
Joe Biden listens to, and engages with, everyday Americans on what the Affordable Care Act means to them, to their health, and to their loved ones - and they all stress why we can't stop working to expand access and bring costs down, especially during this pandemic. 

Remarks
Ady Barkan
Progressive activist

THE LEADER JOE BIDEN IS

Remarks
The Honorable John Kerry
Former United States Secretary of State
Former United States Senator, Massachusetts
2004 Democratic Nominee for President

A True Commander-In-Chief

The Biden Plan: National Security
National Security leaders who have served Democratic and Republican Presidents make the case for Joe Biden’s steady, experienced leadership.

Family, Faith, and Country First

“Teacher”
The story of Dr. Biden’s life, her career, and her relationship with Joe Biden, family, and staff.

Remarks
Dr. Jill Biden
Former Second Lady of the United States

Performance
John Legend
American singer-songwriter

ed. note.  The roll call was one of the highlights of the convention, taking viewers to all 57 states and territories.  Each state Democratic party did something different.  For some states a party leader made the announcement, while in others it was a union member or worker.  Settings ranged from landmarks like the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama to artistic spaces to outdoor locations.  Some of the announcements were live and others videotaped.  If you watched the roll call, you may recall a few of the state announcements as being particularly memorable or effective.  For example, many people mention Rhode Island's announcement, which included a chef holding a plate of calimari.  It is an interesting exercise to try to figure out why some presentations worked better than others.

Democratic National Convention Committee
August 18, 2020 [updated to include North Dakota]

Americans Will Step Up to Lead Democrats’ “Roll Call Across America”

Delegates will cast their nominating votes from cities, locations, and landmarks all across the nation

MILWAUKEE—The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) today announced some of the everyday Americans who will cast their official nominating votes for president of the United States during tonight’s Roll Call Across America.” The roll call vote will take place under tonight’s theme, “Leadership Matters,” and spotlight those who are stepping up in this moment of crisis to play their part in the democratic process.

“A moment like this demands leadership—not just from those we’ve elected, but from all of us,” said Joe Solmonese, CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee. “All across the nation Americans are answering that call to action, and tonight we hope viewers are inspired to see their neighbors overcoming Donald Trump’s chaos and joining Joe Biden in his battle for the soul of our nation.”

Over the course of 30 minutes, the reimagined roll call process will take convention viewers to all 57 states and territories. Democrats will tell a story about the strength of the American people in overcoming the chaos and crisis of Donald Trump and fighting for a better America. Viewers will hear from delegates, parents, teachers, small business owners, essential workers, activists and elected leaders in the Democratic Party as they officially cast votes to nominate Joe Biden to become the next president. And viewers will see these votes cast not on a convention floor, but at businesses, inside living rooms, and in front of iconic landmarks in cities and towns nationwide.

Participants include:
ALABAMA 
Rep. Terri Sewell will invoke the memory of Rep. John Lewis to advocate for restoring the Voting Rights Act.
ALASKA
Veteran, fisherman, and party activist Chuck Degnan will discuss the impact of climate change on tribal waters.
AMERICAN SAMOA
Party leaders Aliitama Sotoa and Patti Matila will celebrate American Samoa’s legacy of military service—and Joe Biden’s work to improve the territory’s infrastructure.
ARIZONA
Middle school social studies teacher Marisol Garcia will discuss remote learning from the perspective of teachers, parents, and activists.
ARKANSAS
Chef Gilbert Alaquinez will describe his work delivering meals prepared at the Clinton Presidential Center to local families via food trucks.
CALIFORNIA
Sec. Hilda Solis and Rep. Barbara Lee will highlight the importance of Joe Biden’s clean energy plan for communities of color.
COLORADO
Immigrant and party activist Howard Chou and his family will discuss the challenges facing working parents during the pandemic.
CONNECTICUT
Veteran firefighter Peter Carozza will explain why he and his fellow first responders trust in Joe Biden’s courage and commitment to working Americans.
DELAWARE
Gov. John Carney and Sen. Tom Carper will share a local perspective on Delaware’s favorite son.
DEMOCRATS ABROAD
Organizer Julia Bryan will offer a call to action for Americans living abroad to get involved in this election.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Mayor Muriel Bowser will issue a call for DC statehood.
FLORIDA
Gun safety activist Fred Guttenberg will describe Joe Biden’s compassion in the wake of his daughter’s murder in Parkland and commitment to defeating the NRA.
GEORGIA
State Sen. Nikema Williams, candidate for John Lewis’s seat in Congress, will urge viewers to overcome voter suppression.
GUAM
Party chair Sarah Thomas-Nededog will celebrate the 70th anniversary of Guam citizens becoming American citizens.
HAWAII
Civil rights activist Dr. Amy Agbayani will offer a special personal message to American immigrants.
IDAHO
Mayor Lauren McLean will share her city’s bold response to climate change.
ILLINOIS
Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun will discuss the Biden plan for racial justice in housing.
INDIANA
Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg will describe his city’s revitalization and the Biden plan to do the same nationwide.
IOWA
Secretary Tom Vilsack will take a moment to share best wishes for Iowans suffering after last week’s storm.
KANSAS
Fourth-generation family farmer Mark Pringle will share his concern about the future of rural America and his confidence in the Biden plan for revitalizing rural communities.
KENTUCKY
Education advocate Colmon Elridge will share a personal story about Joe Biden’s commitment to improving American health care.
LOUISIANA
Rep. Cedric Richmond and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell will visit a thriving independent art studio to highlight the importance of small businesses to cities.
MAINE
State Rep. Craig Hickman, the first openly gay African American to serve in the Maine House of Representatives, will take us inside his American dream.
MARYLAND
City Council President Brandon Scott and college student Bianca Shah will describe the Biden plan for racial justice in the economy.
MASSACHUSETTS
State Rep. Claire Cronin will highlight the Biden plan to help our economy recover from the pandemic.
MICHIGAN
Sen. Gary Peters and UAW auto worker Ray Curry will discuss how Joe Biden saved the Michigan auto industry and his plan to create a million new auto jobs.
MINNESOTA
Sen. Amy Klobuchar will discuss Joe Biden’s ability to bring people together before throwing it across the Mississippi River to St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter.
MISSISSIPPI
College president Dr. Carmen Walters will discuss the history of the HBCU she leads and the Biden plan to invest in these important institutions.
MISSOURI
Bricklayer Reuben Gill will praise the contributions of his fellow working men and women and the Biden plan to invest in infrastructure.
MONTANA
Recent college graduate Rachel Prevost will describe her senior year of remote learning and highlights the importance of rural broadband.
NEBRASKA
Meatpacking plant employee Geraldine Waller will share a personal perspective on the dangers facing essential workers during the pandemic.
NEVADA
Backed by an array of working Nevadans, Rep. Dina Titus will describe the Biden plan for putting workers first in our economy.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Gov. John Lynch will offer his personal endorsement of Joe Biden’s leadership skills.
NEW JERSEY
Gov. Phil Murphy will mark the impact of the pandemic on his state and explains why Joe Biden is the right leader to help us recover.
NEW MEXICO
Tribal member and state Rep. Derrick Lente will celebrate his state’s diversity and commitment to preserving natural and cultural resources.
NEW YORK
Registered nurse and a member of 1199SEIU Scheena Iyande Tannis will offer a raw personal perspective on the dangers facing health care workers.
NORTH CAROLINA
Longtime Democratic activist Cozzie Watkins will offer a call to action for Black women.
NORTH DAKOTA
Tribal citizen and advocate Cesar Alvarez will discuss his unique path to college and Joe Biden's plan to open up educational opportunity.
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

Party chair Nola Kileleman Hix will describe her organizing efforts as the young leader of the party in the NMI.
OHIO
Rep. Tim Ryan and IBEW organizer Josh Abernathy will describe Donald Trump’s broken promises to Ohio workers and the Biden plan to invest in America.
OKLAHOMA
Party chair Alicia Andrews will reflect on the lessons of the Tulsa Race Massacre.
OREGON
Activist Dr. Rosa Colquitt and registered nurse Travis Nelson will discuss racial disparities in health care.
PENNSYLVANIA
Sen. Bob Casey, a fellow Scranton native, will talk about how Joe Biden’s childhood in Scranton formed his commitment to working families.
PUERTO RICO
Sen. Carmelo Rios-Santiago, will highlight Donald Trump’s abandonment of Americans in Puerto Rico.
RHODE ISLAND
State Rep. Joseph McNamara will discuss the impact of the pandemic on his state’s restaurants and fisherman and shows off the mouth-watering flavors of Rhode Island seafood.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Senate candidate Jaime Harrison will speak from the alma mater of Rep. Jim Clyburn and his late wife Emily.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Tribal activist Kellen Returns From Scout will issue a plea for forward-looking leadership.
TENNESSEE
On the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment, college student Keely Sage will visit the headquarters of the suffragists to discuss her own first vote for President and the role of women in this election.
TEXAS
Rep. Veronica Escobar will reflect on the lessons of the August 2019 massacre in El Paso.
UTAH
Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson will debunk misinformation about mail-in voting.
VERMONT
Gubernatorial candidate and Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, joined by Jane and Bernie Sanders and other Vermont activists, will speak out for justice.
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Chair Cecil Benjamin will lead a colorful tribute to Joe Biden’s leadership.
VIRGINIA
Activist Khizr Khan will reflect on the racial violence that claimed a life in his beloved home city of Charlottesville.
WASHINGTON
State Rep. My-Linh Thai, a former refugee, will share her commitment to the public schools that gave her a chance to contribute to her new home.
WEST VIRGINIA
Veteran educator and union organizer Fred Albert will discuss how teachers and parents can work together to create change.
WISCONSIN
Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes will share his personal story and a call to action for a brighter future.
WYOMING
Activists Judy and Dennis Shepherd will discuss Joe Biden’s leadership to stop hate crimes against LGBTQ Americans in the wake of their son Matthew’s murder.

###

Roll Call Tally


Biden
Sanders
Abstain
Alabama (60)
52
8

Alaska (19)
12
7

American Samoa (11)
11
-

Arizona (80)
51
29

Arkansas (36)
27
9

California (494) 253
241

Colorado (79)
42
36
1
Connecticut (75)
75
-

Delaware (32)
pass


Democrats Abroad (17)
7
10

District of Columbia (45)*
43
1

Florida (249)
192
57

Georgia (118)*
117
-

Guam (13)
11
2

Hawaii (33)*
23
9

Idaho (25)
16
9

Illinois (182)*
122
59

Indiana (89)*
86
2

Iowa (49)
38
11

Kansas (45)
35
10

Kentucky (60)
60
-

Louisiana (60)
60
-

Maine (32)
22
9

Maryland (120)
119
1

Massachusetts (114)*
83
30

Michigan (147)*
92
53

Minnesota (91)
60
31

Mississippi (41)*
38
2

Missouri (79)*
50
28

Montana (25)*
18
1

Nebraska (33)
33
-

Nevada (49)
25
24

New Hampshire (33)
24
9

New Jersey (146)*
139
5

New Mexico (46)
42
4

New York (324)*
277
44

North Carolina (122)
83
39

North Dakota (18)
8
10

Northern Mariana Islands (11)
9
2

Ohio (154)
134
20

Oklahoma (43)*
24
13

Oregon (74)*
57
16

Pennsylvania (210)*
175
34

Puerto Rico (58)
53
5

Rhode Island (35)
34
1

South Carolina (64)
49
15

South Dakota (21)*
17
3

Tennessee (73)
50
23

Texas (260)
161
98
1
Utah (34)*
16
17

Vermont (24)
9
15

U.S. Virgin Islands (13)
13
-

Virginia (124)*
91
32

Washington (109)
66
43

West Virginia (34)
34
-

Wyoming (18)
11
4
3
Wisconsin (97)
67
30

Delaware (32)
32
-









* Indicates that the number of delegates announced in the roll call is less than the total allocated to the state, usually by one delegate, probably due to absentions.  Request for clarification pending.