"Tonight, we’ve reached a milestone in our nation’s march toward a more perfect union," Clinton said of the historic nomination. Politics reporter Jim Brunner is sending updates from the convention. Follow along live and watch the live stream.

Share story

This is a live account of how the Day 4 of the Democratic National Convention unfolded. 

READ THE STORIES FROM THURSDAY: Clinton promises steady hand in dangerous world and Seattle-area women say Clinton nomination an emotional milestone

The basics:



Update, 8:30 p.m.

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton just finished her headlining address, bringing an end to the four-day Democratic National Convention.

Balloons rained on the crowd and stage as Clinton and her running mate Tim Kaine celebrated their nomination with family members.


Update, 7:51 p.m.

“It is with humility, determination, and boundless confidence in America’s promise that I accept your nomination for president,” Hillary Clinton told the crowd. The room erupted with applause and cheers.

In her speech, Clinton touched on the historic significance of her nomination.

“Tonight, we’ve reached a milestone in our nation’s march toward a more perfect union. The first time that a major party has nominated a woman for president,” she said.

Clinton said “powerful forces are threatening to pull us apart” and that Americans must “decide whether we’re going to work together so we can all rise together.” For text of the full speech, look here.


Update, 7:30 p.m.

Taking the convention center stage to an ovation and huge cheers, Hillary Clinton started her speech by thanking delegates, the week’s speakers and her daughter, Chelsea, for the introduction.

Clinton’s gratitude extended to her formal rival, Bernie Sanders. “Bernie, your campaign inspired millions of Americans,” she said. To that reference, some in the crowd started chanting the senator’s name.

In the speech, Clinton cast herself as leader to unite the nation during divided times. It took less than 10 minutes for her to mention Trump by name.

“He wants to divide us,” she said. “He wants us to fear the future and fear each other.”

Instead, the slogan “stronger together” should be a guiding principle for the country, Clinton said.

Throughout the speech, though, some in the crowd did not seem impressed. Some Sanders delegates sat quietly.

—The Associated Press contributed to this report


Update, 7:25 p.m.

As a video montage of Hillary Clinton’s achievements plays for the crowd — moments before the presidential nominee takes the stage — some Sanders delegates are putting tape over their mouths. They’re wearing neon shirts.


Update, 7:10 p.m.

Chelsea Clinton just gave a personal and intimate look into Hillary Clinton’s life as a mother.

Referencing her upbringing, Chelsea Clinton said she was “smiled on by fate” and grew up feeling safe and valued. And her mother, she said, wants that for every child.


Update, 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, Clinton supporters in the Seattle area are throwing parties to watch and celebrate the presidential nominee’s historic speech.

“In the political arena, it’s been a dangerous game for women to present oneself as both a strong leader and human. So this is a really big deal,” said Margaret O’Mara, an associate professor of history at the University of Washington. Read more on how the nomination is impacting local woman here.


Update, 6:45 p.m.

The Sanders campaign sent a text to its 1,900 delegates, urging calm during Clinton’s headlining address, The Associated Press reports.

The text said it would be a “courtesy to Bernie” if the delegates show respect when Clinton gives the highly anticipated speech.


Update, 6:15 p.m.

Khizr Khan of Virginia, the father of a Muslim American who died defending the country, gave testimony against Trump’s characterization of Muslims.

Retired Marine Gen. John Allen is now rallying the crowd, saying Clinton will be “exactly the kind of commander-in-chief that America needs” to defeat ISIS and opposing violence.

Many in the crowd chanted, “USA! USA! USA” in support of Allen’s comments. Others, however, started chanting, “No more war!”


Update, 6 p.m.

Waving vertical, blue “Hillary” signs, many in the crowded arena will greet Clinton with warm praise and cheers when she speaks tonight.

But some delegates, including those in Washington’s section, are donning shirts and holding signs to protest the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, among other issues, during Clinton’s big night.


Update, 5:40 p.m.

Clinton is scheduled to take the stage between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. and make her speech accepting the Democratic presidential nomination. Her daughter, Chelsea Clinton, will introduce her.

In excerpts released ahead of the address, Clinton cast herself as the leader to unite Americans during divided times. She vowed to create economic opportunities in inner-cities and struggling small towns. Also, she said terror attacks around the world require “steady leadership” to defeat a determined enemy.

“We are clear-eyed about what our country is up against,” she said in the excerpts. “But we are not afraid. We will rise to the challenge, just as we always have.”

—The Associated Press contributed to this report


Democratic women of the Senate rally

Washington Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell  joined a group of other Democratic women senators on the stage to address the Democratic National Convention. They were led by Sen. Barbara Mikulski, of Maryland, the first woman of the senate.


Convention Hat Update, 3:55 p.m.

At the Republicans’ convention, delegates donned foam tree-shaped hats, regarded by some as a bad fashion choice. So how do hats at the Democratic National Convention compare? The Cheeseheads from Wisconsin are out in force.

But what’s really the worse convention behavior, tree hats or The Wave? Vote.

The poll has expired. Thank you for your submissions.


Update, 3:05 p.m.

Three Washington state residents were among seven people arrested and charged in federal court with trying to breach the fence at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

Court documents and news reports identified the trio as Jacob Van Buskirk, 24, of Tacoma; Natalie Frazier, 27, of Forks; and Megan Munk, 27, also of Forks.

They were among the seven demonstrators arrested Wednesday night for using bolt cutters to cut through a security perimeter fence during protests that have erupted nightly outside the convention hall, according to the U.S. Secret Service.

All three were charged with a single misdemeanor count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority to do so. They face up to a year in jail if convicted.

Each was released on their own recognizance, according to the court docket.

One of the other protesters was carrying what agents described as throwing knives and may face a felony charge that carries a 10-year sentence, according to news reports.


Update, 2:40 p.m.

On the morning of the final day of the Democratic National Convention, it struck Germaine Kornegay: the birthday of her six-year-old granddaughter, Lillianah, fell on the day when Hillary Clinton’s would deliver an acceptance speech as the first female nominee for president.

“She’s a huge Hillary fan. I mean a huge Hillary fan,” said Kornegay, a delegate from Sedro-Woolley. “She comes to me and says ‘You know what they said about Hillary at school today?’ And then I show her pictures of Hillary and talk about Hillary’s history with kids.”

“I cannot wait for when I let her know today is the day Hillary accepts the nomination to be the first woman president. So I have to call her and say happy birthday,” she said.

There has been a lot of talk about Bernie Sanders supporters protesting Clinton’s speech. Kornegay hopes they don’t mar the historic night.

“Don’t ruin this for my granddaughter,” she said.

–Jim Brunner


Update, 1:55 p.m.

The final day of the convention has kicked off, and they’re testing pyrotechnics at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia ahead of Hillary Clinton’s acceptance speech later tonight.

Clinton’s daughter is expected to introduce the Democratic nominee for president. Katy Perry is slated to sing.


Update, 1:06 p.m.

Could Trump win Washington state? FYI Guy Gene Balk crunched some census numbers around the demographic — working-class white men — hurting Hillary Clinton the most. It turns out, we have a higher percentage of white men without a college degree than some very red states in the South, such as Louisiana and Mississippi.

So does Trump have a shot? It may seem inconceivable — after all, this state hasn’t gone for a Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan in 1984. But there have been some close contests in recent years.


Update, 11:28 a.m.

Our political reporter Jim Brunner has been covering the convention all week. And he’s ready to answer your questions on a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) at noon. Join him.


Update, 10:52 a.m.

Nick Vaidyanathan, a Democratic delegate from Seattle, said the party has a lot of work to do to appeal to voters of his generation.

He said the Democratic Party is not prepared to strongly support progressive platforms, such as single-payer healthcare, free higher education and opposition to trade policies such as the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership.

“We need leaders who are … strong progressives,” he said.


Update, 9:07 a.m.

It’s hot out there, politically speaking, with Hillary Clinton’s convention going full steam and Donald Trump refusing to stay quiet while Democrats put on their big show. Reality is sometimes getting warped in the process.

Here’s a look at some claims made yesterday and how they compare with the facts.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


Update, 8:50 a.m.

An Iraqi American delegate from Washington is steaming over an incident during Tuesday’s roll call of the states, when a Democratic National Committee member pulled down a pro-Palestinian rights sign he was holding.

The incident passed quickly but was caught on national TV cameras when it came Washington’s turn to formally cast its votes for the Democratic presidential nomination. Majid Al-Bahadli, a Bernie Sanders delegate, moved in close and held up a sign reading “I support Palestinian human rights” behind state Democratic Party Chair Jaxon Ravens, as Ravens recited the state’s vote.

But the sign was yanked out of his hands by Lona Wilbur, a Democratic National Committee member from La Conner.

Yesterday morning, loud boos rang out from some during Washington’s delegation breakfast as the roll-call moment was replayed on a video.

Al-Bahadli remained angry over the incident. “This is unacceptable!” he said.

Al-Bahadli said he didn’t initially see who had taken the sign but people later provided him photos. He said when he got the sign back later, it was ripped.

Al-Bahadli added his sign should have been noncontroversial and did not criticize Israel. It just sent the message that “we consider them (Palestinians) human, and they are,” he said.

Wilbur said she did not see what was on the sign when she grabbed it. “It had nothing to do with what was on the sign at all,” she said. “It had nothing to do with the content or anything like that,” saying she had “no objection” to the sign’s message.

She said she did not rip the sign and returned it later intact to an arena staffer so it could be returned.

Wilbur said she thought the sign was blocking the views of people behind it. “The sign was there. We were doing roll call. I thought it was blocking someone’s face.”

Tearing up, she said she was sorry Al-Bahadli was angered by the incident and that she had tried to apologize.

Ravens said he did not see what had happened Tuesday but that emotions are high at the DNC.

“There is a lot of passion on the floor and people get carried away with things and sometimes they act in a way that is less than respectful and not that loving,” he said. “If that happens, I hope people can talk about it.”

— Jim Brunner


Update, 7:52 a.m.

Hillary Clinton faces the nation tonight with the goal of introducing the woman that speaker after speaker, including a pair of presidents, have spent days promising the American public they’ll finally get to see: the “real” Hillary Clinton.

She’ll detail her proposals to improve the economy, boost the country’s security and unite a divided nation, aiming to strike a stark contrast with Republican nominee Donald Trump, who offered few policy specifics in a convention address that presented a picture of a diminished nation.

But Clinton’s challenge has never been her command of policy. It’s been building trust with voters by showing off her commitment to improving their lives via those policies — or, to put it more simply: coming across as human. She’s “a workhorse, not a showhorse,” her campaign manager says.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


Update, 7:42 a.m.

Michael Dukakis, the former Massachusetts governor who ran for president in 1988, and New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio spoke to the Washington state and Massachusetts delegations this morning.

Update, 6 a.m.

After Donald Trump encouraged Russia to find and make public missing emails deleted by Hillary Clinton, an instant debate exploded over hacking and his urging of a foreign government to meddle in American politics.

Shortly after Trump’s extraordinary remarks yesterday, his Republican running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, took a different tack and warned of “serious consequences” if Russia interfered in the election.

Democrats — and some Republicans — quickly condemned the remarks by the Republican presidential standard-bearer.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.