The Democratic National Convention is set to open today (Sunday) in Chicago, Illinois. While the primary question of the convention - officially nominating Kamala Harris to replace the retiring Joe Biden - has already been settled, the event is expected to be far from a peaceful display of unity.
First and foremost, 30 delegates from the "Uncommitted" movement, which has gained momentum in Michigan and neighboring states with its support for Palestinians and opposition to Israeli operations in Gaza, are expected to attend the event. Despite their small number - 30 out of 4,000 delegates - and the fact that none of them have been granted permission to speak officially, they plan to leave a mark.
One of the delegates, Asma Mohammed, told the Qatari news outlet Al Jazeera, "There's 30 of us, and there's over 4,000 delegates nationally. So we're less than 1 percent of the delegates, But inside the convention hall, we will be representing the Palestinians that were massacred, representing the almost million voters nationwide who said that they want a ceasefire right now and that they want an arms embargo."
In addition to the delegates within the convention, thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters are expected to gather in the area to pressure the delegates to keep the Palestinian issue on the Democratic agenda. This pressure from the progressive wing highlights the growing significance of this highly active, though still marginal, faction within the Democratic party.
The Democratic Convention is not only expected to be a battleground between different factions within the Democratic Party but also a platform for new voices in the party who are likely to compete for key positions in the near future. While the organizers have yet to release a final list of speakers, party insiders claim that the event will symbolize the "passing of the torch" to new voices within the party.
One of these figures is Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who, according to media sources, is expected to be one of the speakers at the event. Moore welcomed Kamala Harris, the party's almost certain nominee for president, alongside President Joe Biden. Moore introduced Kamala Harris as the 47th President of the United States, to which the rally crowd responded with chants of "48" signifying their support for Moore's potential future presidential bid.
Moore is not the only rising star in the Democratic Party expected to attend the convention. Figures like California Governor Gavin Newsom, whose name has been mentioned as a possible competitor to Harris, is seen as one of the potential speakers at the convention, as well as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
