The first nights of the Democratic National Convention have been the polar opposite of what played out at the RNC. Instead of aggrieved masculinity, joyful and determined Democratic women stole the show—implicit in their presence and explicit in their speeches that this election will be a major milestone in feminist history.
The biggest DNC star was, of course, the hopeful future Madame President, Kamala Harris herself. Harris made an unexpected appearance Monday night in a tan pantsuit—perhaps a cheeky nod to Barack Obama, who set off a mini-scandal when we wore a beige suit to a 2014 press conference?
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) cemented her status as a Democratic talent with a primetime spot, less an up-and-comer than a young woman who came to Congress, moved the party left, and is now a power player flexing her political muscle. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), another rising star, teared up when she told a personal story of Harris helping her through hard days in office, Dr. Jill Biden brought her usual heart, and the three women who spoke about the necessity of abortion rights through their own devastating stories of miscarriage, near death, and surviving rape and incest made for the most poignant and important moments of convention's opening night.
