The 2016 Democratic National Convention was held July 25–28, 2016, in Philadelphia. The convention's evening general sessions were held at the Wells Fargo Center
Logistics of schedule On January 23, 2015, prior to even the selection of a location for the convention, the Democratic National Committee announced that the convention would be July 25–July 28, 2016. The Republicans had previously announced that their convention would be held the week previous, July 18–21. An informal tradition has long been observed by the two major parties that the incumbent presidential party (in 2016, the Democrats) holds its convention at a later date than the opposition party.
Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (mayor of Baltimore and the secretary of the Democratic National Committee) gaveled in the convention on the afternoon of July 25.
According to C-SPAN data, 257 speakers addressed the convention from the podium over the course of the convention.Steven Shepard, 5 numbers that mattered this week, Politico (July 20, 2016). Unlike previous conventions, sitting Cabinet members did not speak at the event; the White House decided that barring Cabinet officers from addressing the convention would "send a signal about the primacy of the Obama administration's responsibility to manage the government and serve the American people" and avoid legal or political difficulties.
Monday (July 25) The theme of the first evening was "United Together".
Speakers (Monday, July 25)
Speakers during the evening session on July 25 included U.S. representative Marcia Fudge of Ohio, permanent chair of the convention Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale, Invocation Former mayor of Denver Wellington Webb of Colorado State representative Diane Russell of Maine U.S. representative Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the House Democratic Whip U.S. representative Robert Brady of Pennsylvania U.S. representative Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania U.S. representative Raul Grijalva of Arizona U.S. representative Nita Lowey of New York State House Speaker Tina Kotek of Oregon State Senate President pro tempore Kevin de León of California State House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams of Georgia Mayor Jim Kenney of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania U.S. representative Keith Ellison of Minnesota Governor Dannel Malloy of Connecticut, chairman of the Democratic Governors AssociationSamantha Schoenfeld, Gov. Dan Malloy speaks about unity at Democratic National Convention, WTIC-TV (July 25, 2016). Leah D. Daughtry, CEO of the 2016 Democratic National Convention John Podesta, chairman of Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign U.S. representatives Linda and Loretta Sánchez of California Mayor Marty Walsh of Boston, Massachusetts Lee Saunders, president of AFSCME Lily Eskelsen García, president of the National Education Association Mary Kay Henry, president of the SEIU Richard Trumka, president of the AFL–CIO Sean McGarvey, president of the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL–CIO Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers Pam Livengood, New Hampshire grandmother who spoke on the opioid crisisAmanda Hoover, At DNC, New Hampshire grandmother on heroin crisis: 'It affects all of us', Boston.com (July 25, 2016). U.S. senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire Singer Demi Lovato U.S. senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon Karla and Francisca Ortiz, mother and daughter, speaking about immigrationChristine Mai-Duc, Mother-daughter duo who could be separated by deportation try to humanize immigration issues at DNC, Los Angeles Times (July 26, 2016). DREAMer activist Astrid Silva (headliner) U.S. representative Luis Gutiérrez of Illinois Jason and Jarron Collins, professional basketball players Jesse Lipson, founder of ShareFile Nevada state senator Pat SpearmanFULL: Pat Spearman – Democratic National Convention (video of speech, made available by KNXV-TV of Arizona) U.S. senator Bob Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania Mayor of Chillicothe, Ohio Luke FeeneyTRANSCRIPT: Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney's DNC speech, Chillicothe Gazette (July 26, 2016). U.S. senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York U.S. senator Al Franken of Minnesota and comedian Sarah Silverman – performed comedy sketch togetherSen. Al Franken appears in comedy skit with Sarah Silverman (video), The Washington Post. Anastasia Somoza, disability rights advocateLeinz Vales, Disability advocate steals spotlight at DNC, CNN (July 26, 2016). Eva Longoria, actressCarolina Moreno, Eva Longoria Schools Donald Trump In Powerfully Personal DNC Speech, The Huffington Post(July 27, 2016). U.S. senator Cory Booker of New JerseyJonathan D. Salant, READ: Full text of Cory Booker's speech at the DNC 2016, NJ.com (July 25, 2016). First Lady Michelle Obama (headliner)Will Drabold, Read Michelle Obama's Emotional Speech at the Democratic Convention, Time (July 25, 2016). Cheryl Lankford, speaking about Trump University U.S. representative Joe Kennedy III of Massachusetts (introduced Warren)Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Introducing Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Joe Kennedy III explains what it was like to be in her law school class, Boston.com (July 26, 2016). U.S. senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts (keynote speaker) U.S. senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont (headliner) —final speaker of the nightAbby Phillip & Sean Sullivan, Democratic National Convention: Bernie Sanders pleads with supporters to back Clinton, The Washington Post (July 25, 2016). Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, delivered closing benedictionJosh Nathan-Kazis, Why Rabbi Julie Schonfeld Saw ‘Lot of Familiar Faces’ at Historic DNC Benediction, The Forward (July 26, 2016).
Performances (Monday, July 25) Performances during the first evening session included:
Boyz II Men, performing "Motownphilly" Bobby Hill of the Keystone State Boychoir, singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" Demi Lovato, performing "Confident" Paul Simon, performing "Bridge over Troubled Water"
Tuesday (July 26) The theme of the second evening was "A Lifetime of Fighting for Children and Families".
The nominating roll call for president was conducted as part of the general session program.
Speakers (Tuesday, July 26)
Speakers on the second evening of the convention included:DNC 2016 (07/26/16): What time it starts, channels, live stream, speakers schedule, Bill Clinton speech, NJ.com (July 27, 2016) Former U.S. senator Tom Harkin of Iowa Secretary of State of Kentucky Alison Lundergan Grimes U.S. representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, nominating Bernie Sanders for president Paul Feeney, seconding the Sanders nomination Shyla Nelson, seconding the Sanders nomination Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, nominating Hillary Clinton for president U.S. representative John Lewis of Georgia, seconding Clinton's nomination Na'ilah Amaru, seconding Clinton's nomination Governor Terry McAuliffe of Virginia House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, appearing alongside several other female House Democrats Former state senator Jason Carter of Georgia, introducing a video message from former president Jimmy Carter U.S. senator Chuck Schumer of New York Elizabeth Banks, actress Thaddeus Desmond, Philadelphia children's advocate Dynah Haubert, Philadelphia attorney for disability rights group Kate Burdick, attorney for the Philadelphia-based Juvenile Law Center Anton Moore of Philadelphia, founder of nonprofit community organization that speaks to young people about gun violence Dustin Parsons of Little Rock, Arkansas, fifth-grade teacher Principal and students of Eagle Academy in New York City and Newark Daniele Mellott Jelani Freeman Donna Brazile, Democratic National Committee Vice Chair of Voter Registration and Participation and future interim chair of the Democratic National Committee (effective at the end of the convention)Kristina Webb, Donna Brazile: 5 things to know about the new interim chair of the DNC, Palm Beach Post (July 24, 2016). Former attorney general Eric Holder Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay Tony Goldwyn, actor The Mothers of the Movement (mothers of children killed by gun violence, headliners) Gwen Carr, mother of the late Eric Garner Lucy McBath, mother of the late Jordan Davis Lezley McSpadden, mother of the late Michael Brown Geneva Reed-Veal, mother of the late Sandra Bland Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Lena Dunham and America Ferrera, actresses Mayor Stephen Benjamin of Columbia, South Carolina U.S. senator Barbara Boxer of California Debra Messing, actress Joe Sweeney, New York City police detective, 9/11 first responder (headliner) Lauren Manning, wounded at the World Trade Center on 9/11 U.S. representative Joseph Crowley of New York Erika Alexander, actress Ryan Moore, of South Sioux City, NebraskaErin Murphy, South Sioux Cityan to speak at Democratic Convention in Philadelphia, Sioux City Journal (July 18, 2016). Former governor Howard Dean of Vermont U.S. senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota Ima Matul, Indonesian survivor of human trafficking, spoke on anti-slavery and human trafficking programs championed by Hillary Clinton[Indonesian human trafficking survivor to speak at US Democratic National Convention], Jakarta Post (July 25, 2016). Former secretary of state Madeleine Albright Former president Bill Clinton (headliner) Meryl Streep, actress Pastor Tony Campolo, delivering the benediction
Performances (Tuesday, July 26) Performances on the second evening included : Timmy Kelly, singing "The Star-Spangled Banner"Blind Man With Cerebral Palsy Hugs Biden Ahead of National Anthem Performance at DNC, Inside Edition (July 26, 2016). Andra Day, performing "Rise Up" Alicia Keys, performing "Girl on Fire"
Wednesday (July 27) The theme of the third evening of the convention was "Working Together".
Speakers (July 27)
Speakers on the third evening of the convention included:
Reverend William J. Byron, S.J., invocation Daniel Driffin, HIV/AIDS activist Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress Action Fund U.S. representative Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas U.S. representative Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District of Columbia U.S. representative Adam Schiff of California U.S. representative Maxine Waters of California Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America Mayor Andrew Gillum of Tallahassee, Florida U.S. representative Judy Chu of California, along with several other members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Brooks Bell, North Carolina tech entrepreneur Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City U.S. representative Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico The Reverend Jesse Jackson Star Jones, actress Mayor Karen Weaver of Flint, Michigan U.S. representative G. K. Butterfield of North Carolina, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY's List U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom of California U.S. representative Ruben Gallego of Arizona Jaime Dorff, widow of Army helicopter pilot Patrick Dorff Mayor Mike Duggan of Detroit, Michigan Former governor Martin O'Malley of Maryland Sigourney Weaver, actress Governor Jerry Brown of California Christine Leinonen, Brandon Wolf, and Jose Arraigada, speaking about the Orlando nightclub shooting U.S. senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut Erica Smegielski, speaking about the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in which her mother (Dawn, the school's principal) was murdered (headliner) Former Philadelphia police commissioner Charles H. Ramsey Angela Bassett, actress Felicia Sanders & Polly Sheppard, survivors of the Charleston church shooting (headliners) Former U.S. representative Gabby Giffords & Captain Mark Kelly, both of Arizona Rear Admiral John Hutson, U.S. Navy (retired) Kristen Kavanaugh, co-founder of the Military Acceptance Project Former CIA Director and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta Second Lady of the United States Jill Biden