Hillary Clinton took to the stage in a striking suffragette white outfit on Monday, signaling her support for a woman she hopes will achieve what she could not—becoming the first female president of the United States. Speaking at the Democratic National Convention, Clinton declared, “The future is here!” drawing strong applause from the crowd. She expressed a wistfulness that her mother and Vice President Kamala Harris’s mother could witness this pivotal moment.
Eight years since her defeat in the 2016 presidential election, Clinton intertwined her journey with that of Vice President Harris, referencing the historical milestones of the women’s rights movement, from the passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, to the upcoming election this November.
“Progress is possible, but not guaranteed. We must fight for it and never give up,” Clinton stated, reflecting on her unique role as the first woman nominated to lead a major party’s presidential ticket.
Emotional responses were visible among attendees, including Gwen Walz, the wife of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, as Clinton humorously addressed the scrutiny she faced from Donald Trump, who had criticized her and Harris’s laughter. The audience erupted in chants of “lock him up!” upon Clinton’s mention of Trump’s felony conviction, echoing the sentiments once directed at her during the 2016 campaign.
Following decades of prominence in the Democratic Party alongside her husband, Bill Clinton, who served as president from 1992, Hillary has stepped back from the limelight since the last election. Many Democrats had previously held her responsible for an overconfident approach leading up to her election loss.
On that fateful election night in 2016, Clinton’s victory party, outfitted at the glass-ceilinged Javits Center, turned into a symbol of missed opportunity when the anticipated celebration never unfolded. However, at this year’s convention, Clinton received a hearty welcome from party members, signaling a shift in sentiment.
“Together, we put a lot of cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling. And tonight, we are so close to breaking through once and for all,” she remarked, highlighting the progress made toward gender equality.
New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy, a significant supporter of Clinton, asserted that Clinton’s efforts laid the groundwork for Harris’s candidacy. “Without Hillary Clinton’s work and determination, we wouldn’t be here tonight,” Murphy noted, with her husband, Gov. Phil Murphy, echoing, “Without Hillary, we don’t have Kamala.”
Despite sharing the spotlight with President Joe Biden and Rep. James Clyburn, Clinton appeared content to step back from the forefront, recognizing her role in paving the way for Harris. “When a barrier falls for one of us, it clears the way for all of us,” she emphasized before departing the stage as her 2016 campaign anthem, “Fight Song,” played in the background.