New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, sen.Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro will also have roles in the event next week, Democratic officials told CNN. While the exact scheme is still being finalized, the lineup comes as the party tries to highlight the diversity of its members and supporters, as Joe Biden officially becomes his presidential candidate.
Ocasio-Cortez, an early supporter of Bernie Sanders’ presidential bid, will be part of a segment nominating the Vermont senator at the conference on Tuesday night, officials said, and she will also be seen in a video clip on Wednesday. The congresswoman’s participation further highlights the efforts of the Biden campaign to bring the party’s progressive wing into the fold.
After Sanders ended his 2020 run, Ocasio-Cortez served as co-chair of a climate change task force between supporters of the Sanders and Biden campaigns, one of several unit commissions that the two teams developed.
Lujan Grisham and Cortez Masto, who were mentioned among the early names as possible candidates for the nomination of the Democratic Vice President, will have individual speaking slots at the convention along with California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, who Biden signed during the primaries.
Castro, who delivered the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 2012, will be part of a segment featuring former 2020 presidential candidates.
Several Latino-elected officials who distinguished Biden in the primary will also have roles in the convention – state of Nevada, sen. Yvanna Cancela, Long Beach, California, Mayor Robert Garcia and State of Texas, Neave.
“Latinos are an integral part of this nation’s fabric. That’s why we are making significant efforts to ensure that Latino voices and experiences are highlighted throughout the Democratic National Convention,” said Julie Chávez Rodriguez, a senior adviser to the Biden -campaign. “Latino voters are critical of our path to victory, and as we continue to make our case for Vice President Biden, we will continue to invest in reaching Latino voters and uplifting individual stories around diversity and experiences. of Latinos all over the country. “
Democrats have significantly reversed their convention plans and have turned to a most virtual format for their event due to the coronavirus pandemic. Biden and his future running mate will no longer travel to Milwaukee to personally accept the nomination. The former vice president is expected to deliver his acceptance speech in his home state of Delaware.
The theme of the convention, which will take place August 17-20, is “Uniting America”, which represents a guiding principle of Biden’s campaign.
The first night of events, next Monday, will feature Sanders, former First Lady Michelle Obama, former Gov. of Ohio, John Kasich, a Republican, as the convention attempts to see a wide swad of Biden supporters. Hillary Clinton, the nominated Democratic president of 2016, and sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a former rival of Biden’s, is expected to speak Wednesday night.
Democrats have also announced they will include “voters of all kinds,” including a sold-out campaign for recipient of Mexico City’s childhood recipient who works as a paramedic in Florida amid the coronavirus pandemic and a teacher in Wisconsin who works in a bilingual program for an elementary school and has had to adapt to teaching in the midst of the global health crisis.
Political conventions typically have four full days of programming, but this year’s Democratic event will be condensed into two hours of prime-time coverage over four nights.
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