U.S. Senate Democrats vow to battle for majority with Harris-Walz ticket
The Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on Aug. 20, 2024. (Photo by Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom)CHICAGO — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Tuesday said that he’s determined to give Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris a Senate held by Democrats should she win the White House this November.
“She will lead America forward but she needs a Democratic majority in the Senate,” he said in a speech during the second night of the Democratic National Convention.
Schumer told delegates that he was confident Democrats would expand their slim majority in the Senate because of the kind of candidates that are running, such as U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego in Arizona and Angela Alsobrooks in Maryland.
“Folks, listen to this,” Schumer told the packed United Center. “More than half of our candidates are candidates of color. We’re making the Senate look like America.”
Schumer touted Harris’ work in the Senate, representing California, and most recently as the tiebreaker vote for Senate Democrats in her role as vice president.
“I saw a leader who was fearless,” he said of Harris’ time in the Senate.
Because Senate Democrats have a slim majority in the upper chamber, Harris has often been the deciding vote on legislation as well as judicial nominations. Last year, she broke the record for tiebreaking votes.
“She has been the best partner Senate Democrats can ever ask for,” he said.
And, in a show of unity, independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is sometimes at odds with Democrats, spoke after Schumer.
“We’re laying the groundwork for Kamala Harris to become our next president,” Sanders said.
Sanders has a core working-class base and in 2016, hundreds of his supporters protested the Democratic presidential nomination of Hillary Clinton during the DNC in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“Let us go forward to create the nation we know we can become,” Sanders said.
During his speech, Sanders commended the Biden-Harris administration for addressing the coronavirus crisis and passing critical legislation that helped local states and governments recover through funding provided by the American Rescue Plan Act.
Sanders said he is looking forward to working with Harris on a myriad of issues such as strengthening public education, raising the minimum wage, passing legislation to give workers the right to unionize, raising teacher salaries and taking on corporate giants like pharmacy, tech and agriculture.
“Too many of our fellow Americans are struggling every day to just get by,” Sanders said.
He also urged an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, where more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war, according to Palestinian health authorities.
“We must end this horrific war in Gaza,” he said, which received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Senate control
Michigan Sen. Gary Peters appeared earlier in the night before delegates and noted that Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, have middle-class roots and an upbringing similar to that of many Americans.
Peters, who is the leader of Democrats’ U.S. Senate campaign arm, had said Monday that not only is he confident Harris can win the presidency, but that the Senate will remain under Democratic control.
In the upcoming Senate races, Democrats have no room for error, especially after the retirement of West Virginia independent Joe Manchin III. Sens. Jon Tester of Montana and Sherrod Brown of Ohio have particularly tough reelection races in states that Trump carried in 2020.
But Schumer in his remarks expressed confidence in Senate incumbents like Brown, Tester and Nevada’s Jacky Rosen.
“Our candidates are implementing all the great things we did in 2021, 2022,” he said.
Schumer also criticized former President Donald Trump’s 2024 running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, and his tenure in the Senate. Schumer criticized Vance for not showing up to vote on expanding the child tax credit.
The second night of the DNC included a ceremonial roll call for the nomination of Harris and Walz, and appearances from top Democrats such as former President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama and performances by Patti LaBelle and Common.
A surprise performance came from rapper Lil Jon during the ceremonial roll call when delegates from the state of Georgia voted. The official roll call happened earlier this month.
Harris, who campaigned Tuesday in Wisconsin, had some of her remarks there patched into the United Center stadium. She thanked the delegates for their ceremonial roll call and told them she would see them Thursday, for her acceptance speech.
“This is a people-powered campaign,” she said. “Together we will chart a new way forward, a future for freedom.”
Illinois senator discusses IVF
Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth told delegates that she takes access to reproductive health personally, noting that the only reason her daughters were born was due to access to in vitro fertilization.
She warned that Republicans will not stop when it comes to limiting access to abortion, but that the GOP “will come for IVF next.”
Since the conservative Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade two years ago, Democrats have campaigned on restoring reproductive rights.
Harris has promised if elected, she would restore the constitutional right to an abortion, but passing that kind of legislation would be an uphill battle. Democrats would need to control the House, but also would have to have 60 votes to overcome the Senate filibuster threshold.
Regardless, Schumer told reporters after his speech that restoring abortion access is a key issue for Democrats.
“Republicans know it’s a loser issue for them,” he said. “And when we get the majority in the House, have it in the Senate and the presidency, we’re going to explore, you know, we’re going to explore how we can keep a woman’s right to choose and keep reproductive freedom.”
Jacob Fischler contributed to this story.
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