Hillary Clinton spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. She expressed hope that Kamala Harris can break the “highest, hardest glass ceiling” by becoming the first female president. Clinton made history as the first woman to win a major party nomination for president.
Together, we will fight for the promise of America’s future. Tune in now to watch the first night of the Democratic National Convention. https://t.co/FFbmGUzAOS
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 19, 2024
Dones i política. El behind the scenes de Kamala Harris i Hillary Clinton https://t.co/U0HSksPz5N via @NYTimes
— Núria Jar (@nuriajar) August 19, 2024
She said, “When a barrier falls for one of us, it clears the way for all of us.” Despite her historic bid, Clinton lost to Donald Trump in 2016. Now, as Democrats aim to place the first woman in the White House, Clinton believes Harris is poised to take the helm. “Together, we’ve put a lot of cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling,” she remarked.
"Hillary Clinton, who came achingly close to becoming the nation’s first female president, will pass the torch to a woman nearly two decades younger, in a moment that friends say comes with a mixture of bittersweetness and pride" @anniekarni @katiegleuck https://t.co/67rnAID9jJ
— Katie Rogers (@katierogers) August 19, 2024
“On the other side of that glass ceiling is Kamala Harris raising her hand and taking the oath of office as our 47th President of the United States.”
Female delegates and politicians at the DNC noted that times have changed since Clinton’s presidential bid. Back then, her gender was central to her campaign—a strategy Harris appears to have avoided. Minyon Moore, the chair of the Democratic National Convention Committee, said, “It’s not easy.
We’re trying to shift the mindset of people.” Women politicians shared experiences with sexist remarks.
Clinton endorses Harris for president
Mallory McMorrow, a Michigan state senator, recalled being questioned about her motherhood plans.
“She told me to my face, this is not a job for a mom,” McMorrow said. She became the second Michigan senator to give birth in office. Judy Mount, the first African-American female chair of the Florida Democrats, said, “People just do not want to see a woman in charge of anything.”
Clinton’s 2016 loss sparked women’s marches and a record number of female candidates in 2018.
Today, 28.5% of the House is female, up from 19.1% in 2017. Fewer Americans now believe men are better suited for politics than women. Harris has focused her campaign on her record, not her gender.
McMorrow noted, “Since then, we’ve seen more women running and winning at every single level all the way up that allows us more freedom and flexibility to be ourselves.”
For some Democrats, like congresswoman Debbie Dingell, Harris’s rise shows women’s progress in politics. But Dingell emphasized the need to ensure no demographic feels left behind. “As a country, I think that’s something we’ve got to continue to work at,” she said.
As the DNC continues, attention remains on how Harris and Democrats will position themselves against Republicans in the coming months.
