High-profile speakers, musical acts, and celebrity hosts will take part in the celebrations throughout the Democratic National Convention, which will take place from Monday to Thursday in Chicago.
This year’s convention marks a significant shift as the party will finalize its nominee and platform about a month after President Joe Biden suspended his reelection campaign. The Democrats quickly rallied behind Vice President Kamala Harris, who selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate.
The evening programming is scheduled to start at 6:15 p.m. ET and conclude around 11 p.m. ET each night. The celebrity hosts, all known for their support of the Democratic Party and their involvement in candidate campaigns, will play a key role.
Tony Goldwyn, known for his role as a Manhattan district attorney on “Law & Order,” will host the event on Monday. He has significant television experience, including seven seasons on “Scandal” where he portrayed the U.S. president. Goldwyn also co-created a legal drama called “The Divide” and directed “Conviction,” which tells the story of Kenny Waters, who was wrongfully convicted. He is involved with the Innocence Project, which aims to exonerate the wrongfully convicted using DNA evidence. Goldwyn has actively supported Democratic candidates over the years, including Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.
Ana Navarro, a political commentator and co-host of “The View,” will take the reins on Tuesday. Although a Republican, Navarro has backed Democratic candidates since Donald Trump’s rise in politics and has expressed her intention to support Harris in the upcoming election. Originally from Nicaragua, Navarro has a history of advising various campaigns and serving as a National Hispanic Co-Chair for several presidential runs.
Wednesday’s host, Mindy Kaling, is a prominent actress and comedian recognized for her work on “The Office” and “The Mindy Project.” With multiple accolades to her name, including a Tony Award and Emmy nominations, Kaling has also engaged with Harris on cooking videos celebrating their Indian heritage, which gained attention recently due to Trump’s criticism of Harris.
Kerry Washington, who will host on Thursday, is an actress and political activist. After speaking at the DNC in 2012 and hosting in 2020, she became increasingly politically active post-2016, advocating for various causes and collaborating with Stacey Abrams to combat voter suppression. Washington’s engagement with grassroots organizations aims to empower diverse communities, and she publicly expressed her support for Harris during her campaign launch.