Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, shot in the head in 2011, addressed the Democratic convention during its final night, asserting that Vice President Kamala Harris “can beat the gun lobby.” Giffords, elected to Congress in 2006, had a promising career ahead of her before she was nearly killed in a violent incident at a Tucson, Arizona supermarket, which resulted in six fatalities and numerous injuries.
Reflecting on her past, Giffords shared, “For five years, I served in Congress from a swing district. Everybody called me a rising star.” She described the day of the shooting as “a terrible, terrible day.” Following her recovery, she resigned from Congress to focus on healing and has since emerged as a staunch advocate for gun reform. Despite ongoing challenges with speech, Giffords demonstrated significant progress during her speech, stating, “I almost died. But I fought for my life and I survived. I learned to walk again, one step at a time. I learned to talk again, one word at a time.”
Giffords expressed gratitude to President Biden for his ongoing support and referred to him as “a decent man,” while lauding Harris for her resilience and determination. “Kamala can beat the gun lobby,” she emphasized.
The convention also featured testimonies from other victims of gun violence, including a Sandy Hook survivor and the mother of a Uvalde school shooting victim. Giffords was joined by her husband, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, who delivered remarks following a performance by Pink.
Kelly humorously noted the challenge of following Giffords and Pink, praising his wife for her strength and perseverance as she addressed the audience despite her speech difficulties. He then shifted topics to foreign policy, criticizing former President Trump for his approach to international relationships and asserting the importance of national security.
In his remarks, Kelly commended Harris for her support of U.S. troops and veterans, highlighting her commitment to NATO, Ukraine, and safeguarding democratic processes. Kelly, who entered politics in 2020 and won the Senate seat previously held by John McCain, was re-elected in 2022. Though considered as a potential running mate for Harris, she ultimately chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. His name has also surfaced as a possible successor to President Biden amid discussions surrounding Biden’s electoral future.