Current:Home > FinanceDemocrats turn their roll call into a dance party with celebrities, state-specific songs and Lil Jon-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Democrats turn their roll call into a dance party with celebrities, state-specific songs and Lil Jon
View Date:2024-12-23 19:47:40
CHICAGO (AP) — Convention roll call votes can be staid and cheesy, but Democrats turned theirs into the ultimate dance party on Tuesday.
DJ Cassidy stood onstage in what appeared to be a double-breasted satin suit of royal blue, spinning a special song for each state and territory awarding their delegates to Vice President Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention. What America got was a mashup of an elite karaoke night: Detroit native Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” for Michigan, Dropkick Murphys’ “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” for Massachusetts and Tupac Shakur’s “California Love” for California.
▶ Follow The AP’s live coverage and analysis from the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
Georgia brought out one of its natives in person: Atlanta’s Lil Jon striding through Chicago’s United Center to the beats of “Turn Down for What,” his song with DJ Snake.
In short, Democrats were determined to put the party in political party, part of their broader effort to project joy and positive energy even as they issue dire warnings about the need to beat Republican nominee Donald Trump.
The party last used a video roll call during the pandemic -restricted 2020 convention that famously had Rhode Island featuring its state dish, calamari, creating the pressure to do something bigger this year. (The chef holding that iconic tray of calamari later turned out to be a Trump supporter.)
This year’s roll call vote featured the party’s emerging political stars like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. Movie director Spike Lee was there for New York, while the actor Sean Astin, who starred in the Notre Dame-set football movie “Rudy,” was with the Indiana delegation.
The musical choices were something of a risk. The 1996 Democratic convention in Chicago infamously featured delegates gyrating awkwardly to “Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix)” by the Spanish pop duo Los del Río. Video of the Macarena still circulates among political diehards nearly three decades later.
Florida’s delegation played Tom Petty’s anthem to hard-headedness, “I Won’t Back Down,” in casting its delegates for Harris — a not-too-subtle jab at the state’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Petty was born in the Florida city of Gainesville. DeSantis used the song as the theme of his failed Republican presidential primary this cycle, and it was part of the name of a super PAC that spent lavishly in his losing cause.
“Florida is worth fighting for,” state Democratic chairwoman Nikki Fried declared, arguing that her state is worth national Democrats campaigning for despite it moving hard to the right and likely to go for Trump in November.
Alabama, obviously, got “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Alaska announced their backing of Vice President Kamala Harris to “Feel It Still” by Portugal. The Man, a band from Wasilla, where Republican Sarah Palin was once mayor.
Minnesota went with “1999” by Paisley Park’s own Prince. Indiana, with Astin by the microphone, went with Gary native Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough.” Nevada played “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers, the synth pop band from Las Vegas. Kansas went with “Carry On My Wayward Son” by the rock band Kansas. New Jersey went with Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA.”
“Under one groove nothing can stop us now,” DJ Cassidy said over Springsteen’s anthem.
What to know about the 2024 Election
- Today’s news: Follow live updates from the campaign trail from the AP.
- Ground Game: Sign up for AP’s weekly politics newsletter to get it in your inbox every Monday.
- AP’s Role: The Associated Press is the most trusted source of information on election night, with a history of accuracy dating to 1848. Learn more.
Despite the festive mood, the roll call announcements did contain some serious moments. Texas’ Kate Cox had her request for an abortion during a troubled pregnancy rejected by that state’s supreme court, forcing her to go to another state for the procedure. But Cox announced on the floor that she was again pregnant and the baby was due in January.
Under Democratic Party rules, only Harris garnered enough signatures to be entered into nomination. Votes for any other person or uncommitted votes were tallied as “present” during the virtual roll call earlier this month. Tuesday night’s “celebratory” vote is following that earlier roll call’s vote total.
veryGood! (7)
Related
- Colorado police shot, kill mountain lion after animal roamed on school's campus
- Tennessee officials to pay $125K to settle claim they arrested a man for meme about fallen officer
- EU Commissioner urges Montenegro to push ahead with EU integration after new government confirmed
- Venezuela’s high court has suspended the opposition’s primary election process, including its result
- Arkansas governor unveils $102 million plan to update state employee pay plan
- Joseph Czuba pleads not guilty in stabbing of 6-year-old Palestinian American boy
- Charlie Puth's tribute to Matthew Perry with 'Friends' theme song moves fans: Watch here
- Judges say Georgia’s child welfare leader asked them to illegally detain children in juvenile jails
- Tom Brady Admits He Screwed Up as a Dad to Kids With Bridget Moynahan and Gisele Bündchen
- New Missouri Supreme Court judge ensures female majority on the bench
Ranking
- Republican Scott Baugh concedes to Democrat Dave Min in critical California House race
- UN agency in Gaza says urgent ceasefire is `a matter of life and death’ for millions of Palestinians
- Federal judge orders US border authorities to cease cutting razor wire installed by Texas
- Surge in interest rates and a cloudier economic picture to keep Federal Reserve on sidelines
- Beyoncé course coming to Yale University to examine her legacy
- Why the urban legend of contaminated Halloween candy won't disappear
- Iranian teen Armita Geravand, allegedly assaulted by police for flouting strict dress code, has died
- Alabama man charged with making threats against Georgia prosecutor, sheriff over Trump election case
Recommendation
-
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Bobby Allison dies at 86
-
Police investigating death of US ice hockey player from skate blade cut in English game
-
Federal judge orders US border authorities to cease cutting razor wire installed by Texas
-
It's Been a Minute: Britney Spears tells her story
-
Chiefs block last-second field goal to save unbeaten record, beat Broncos
-
Indonesian police arrest 59 suspected militants over an alleged plot to disrupt 2024 elections
-
Phoebe Philo, former creative director of Chloé and Celine, launches debut collection
-
12 Things From Goop's $100K+ Holiday Gift Guide We'd Actually Buy