Tucson Mayor Regina Romero greeted Democratic National Convention delegates in Spanish as she moved for adoption of the partyβs national platform in the opening minutes of the convention Monday.
βBuenas Noches DemΓ³cratas,β Romero said as she started her short speech as co-chair of the partyβs platform committee along with Mitch Landrieu, former mayor of New Orleans.
The platform is a 92-page non-binding document that outlines the Democratic National Committeeβs priorities for the next four years.
On the economy, the platform includes sections about expanding tax credits for working people, but it doesnβt go as far as Harrisβ proposal for a $6,000 tax credit for middle-class and working families with newborn children, according to CNN.
And while the platform criticizes companies for keeping prices high even as their costs have come down, it doesnβt include Harrisβ proposal for a federal ban on price gouging on groceries, the network reports.
The platform also makes the case for a ceasefire deal, which it says βwill lead to a more secure Israelβ and βallow for Arab nations and the international community to help rebuild Gaza in a manner that does not allow Hamas to re-arm,β CNN says.
Romero noted the platform was adopted July 16, before President Joe Biden βpassed the torch in an act of love and patriotism.β
βVice President Harris is now carrying the torch. And she and Governor Walz are committed to delivering results for the American people,β she said to loud applause.
She then slammed former president Trump.
βThen you have Donald Trump,β she said to the crowd gathered at the United Center in Chicago. βHis extreme agenda is working against everyday Americans. He is fighting for big oil, big pharma, big banks; but most of all, most of all... He is fighting for himself.β
βΒ‘Cuando, luchamos, ganamos!β she said in closing, using a Spanish form of the political slogan βWhen we fight, we win.β
Monday morning, Romero spoke at the Native American Caucus and plans to speak on a panel Thursday with Ai-jen Poo of Care in Action and MarΓa Teresa Kumar of Voto Latino, said Charlene Mendoza, her political director and chief of staff.
Later Monday evening, UA basketball alum and current Golden State Warriors head coach, Steve Kerr, was scheduled to speak at the convention. The United Center, home to the Chicago Bulls, is where Kerr won the first three of his five NBA championships. He also just coached the American team to a gold medal at the Olympics.
Romero and Landrieu were followed by Minnesota Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota Peggy Flanagan, who is poised to take over for current Governor Tim Walz, if he and Harris are elected, said party Chair Jaime Harrison.
President Joe Biden was to be Monday nightβs keynote speaker, according to the Associated Press. First Lady Jill Biden, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez also were scheduled to speak.
Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are expected to speak on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, according to NBC Chicago. Former First Lady Michelle Obama is set to speak Tuesday.
VP candidate Tim Walz will speak Wednesday, and Harris is set to accept the partyβs nomination on Thursday.
Pima Democrats will be hosting a watch party for Harrisβ speech Thursday night, at Brother Johnβs Bourbon and Beer, 1801 N. Stone Ave. The watch party is set for 6 p.m.
In April, Vice President Harris visited Tucson shortly after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that an 1864 law criminalizing nearly all abortions is enforceable by the state.
βHere in Arizona, they have turned the clock back more than a century on womenβs rights and freedoms,β Harris told an audience gathered at El Rio Center on Tucsonβs west side. βThe overturning of Roe was a seismic event... And this ban in Arizona is one of the biggest aftershocks yet.β
Earlier this month, Harris stopped at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale for a campaign rally shortly after Walz was announced as her running mate. She promoted a border security bill that a bipartisan group of senators negotiated earlier this year, which Republican lawmakers ultimately opposed en masse at former Trumpβs behest, the Associated Press reported.
