Candidates take the stage

Democrats' Senate candidates take the stage

Incumbents seeking reelection in competitive seats also spoke.

Anthony Adragna

Five candidates key to Democrats’ hopes of keeping the Senate amid a brutal fall map made the most of their prime-time DNC slots to highlight key issues and urge the country to support Kamala Harris.

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), who’s seeking the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), vowed to continue efforts to support the nation’s veterans — and said the Harris-Tim Walz ticket would do the same.

“We put country over politics,” Gallego said as several dozen veterans, including many lawmakers, took the stage. “We stand united as veterans, Democrats and patriots to fight for everyone who served.”

He added: “Let's elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, who don't just respect our service but revere it.” Chants of "USA” erupted following his remarks as attendees waved signs saying “USA” in the crowd.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), who's seeking the open Senate seat in Michigan, highlighted her national security background and urged Democrats to lean further into their patriotism.

“I want you to proudly claim your patriotism: you are here because you love your country,” Slotkin said. “Do not give an inch to pretenders who wrap themselves in the flag but spit in the face of the freedoms it represents.”

“We are the damn United States of America — we lead,” she added. (The expletive, according to the text on the teleprompter, was improvised.)

Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) said “now I’m the guy who’s going to turn Texas’ Senate seat blue.” He's one of the party’s few opportunities to go on offense this year — against Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). His remarks prompted loud chants of “Beat Ted Cruz” from inside the arena among the DNC faithful.

Incumbents seeking reelection in competitive seats also spoke. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) highlighted his efforts to crack down on shrinkflation, the practice in which companies reduce the size of their products while keeping the prices the same.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) highlighted her efforts to protect Social Security and Medicare from deep cuts.

A trio of endangered Senate Democrats — Jon Tester (Mont.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio), and Jacky Rosen (Nev.) — are not present in Chicago as Harris prepares to accept the nomination.