DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, CHICAGO IS IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT AS DAY.

ONE OF THE CONVENTION KICKS OFF AT THE UNITED CENTER AND MCCORMICK PLACE.

THOUSANDS OF DELEGATES AND ACTIVISTS ARE EXPECTED TO VISIT THE CITY TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD.

LOCAL LEADERS ARE READY TO SHOWCASE THE CITY AND IN A POSITIVE LIGHT WHILE HOPING TO QUASH SECURITY CONCERNS ABOUT CROWDS AND VIOLENCE TO BEGIN.

TONIGHT, WE GO INSIDE THE UNITED CENTER WHERE AND DIVINITY KICKS OFF.

OUR CAN COVERAGE OF THE DNC.

AND OF COURSE, TODAY'S CONVENTION HAS BEEN A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING.

YES, THIS IS CERTAINLY, AS YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY RECENTLY SPOKE WITH A CONFIDENT THAT GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER WHO DIDN'T REMINISCING ABOUT REALLY HOW LONG THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS.

HE SAID THE BEEN PLOTTING TO TRY TO GET THE CONVENTION SINCE 2021.

AND NOW IT IS FINALLY HERE.

AS YOU WALK THE CONVENTION FLOOR IN CHICAGO TODAY AND EACH DAY OF THE CONVENTION BE PROUD OF WHO WE ARE AS ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS.

HE SAYS THAT THEY COULD BE PROUD OF THINGS LIKE POLICY SUCH AS FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE WORKER LEAVE POLICIES AND THESE ARE THE SORT OF POLICIES THAT WE CAN EXPECT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT FROM THE STAGE HERE AT THE INCLUDING PERHAPS FROM PRITZKER HIMSELF.

HE IS SCHEDULED TO SPEAK DURING PRIME TIME TOMORROW.

GOVERNOR PART IN THE CHICAGO MAYOR.

THAT IS BRANDON JOHNSON IS GOING TO BE GIVING SOME OPENING REMARKS WHEN THINGS GET UNDERWAY IN JUST A BIT HERE NOW, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, THE HEADLINER TONIGHT, PRITZKER WAS AMONG THOSE WHO GREETED THE PRESIDENT THIS AFTERNOON WHEN AIR FORCE ONE LANDED IN CHICAGO.

SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH WAS A CO-CHAIR OF BIDEN'S CAMPAIGN AND SAYS SHE RECENTLY MET WITH HIM.

IT JUST, YOU KNOW, MISTER PRESIDENT.

I JUST NEED A COUPLE MOMENTS TO GRIEVE.

I JUST NEED TO CRY A LITTLE BIT.

I UNDERSTAND.

AND I LOVE COMMON ITEM WILL BE THERE FOR, BUT I JUST NEED TO GRIEVE FOR JOE BIDEN WHO YOU ARE.

HE SAID, NO, THIS IS ABOUT GETTING THE WORK DONE.

I WANT TO GO GET OFF THE PHONE AND GO TRY TO ACHIEVE A PEACE DEAL AND GAZA.

EVEN BIDEN'S MOST ARDENT FANS ARE FULLY EMBRACING KAMALA HARRIS AS THE NOMINEE.

TOP ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS WERE THERE TO MEET HER YESTERDAY WHEN SHE FLEW INTO CHICAGO AND THAT UNION LEADER WHO CALLED BIDEN ONE OF THE BEST PRESIDENTS IN HISTORY FOR LABOR IS REALLY EMBRACING AND SAYS THAT THERE IS AN EXUBERANT SNOUT THAT HARRIS IS IN THE RACE.

THEY BELIEVE THAT SHE IS THE PARTY'S BEST CHANCE TO BEAT REPUBLICAN NOMINEE DONALD TRUMP.

THIS SEXISTS RACES DRAFT DODGING LIONS, SON OF A JUST GOT TO ONCE AND FOR ALL.

WE NOT ONLY HAVE TO WIN, WE HAVE TO KICK THEIR SAS ALL THE WAY BACK TO MAR-A-LAGO.

PUT FORK IN END AND DONALD TRUMP'S PRESENCE.

WHEN WALZ A TEACHER AND THE WIFE OF VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE, MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ, SHE TOOK A DIFFERENT TONE.

SHE GOT FOLKSY EVEN DURING A SURPRISE APPEARANCE AT ILLINOIS DELEGATION BREAKFAST THIS MORNING.

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE CITIES IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.

AND I HAVE TO SAY JUST BEING A HOP, SKIP AND A JUMP IN MINNEAPOLIS AND SAINT PAUL, WHICH IS MAKE OUR WAY TO CHICAGO QUITE OFTEN.

ILLINOIS IS VERY FIRMLY A BLUE STATE.

BUT THERE ARE TIGHT CONTEST THIS 2024 ELECTION CYCLE.

ILLINOIS'S FIRST OPENLY CONGRESSMAN.

THAT'S ERIK SORENSON OF THE 17TH.

JUST RENT IS THE MOST AT RISK OF LOSING HIS SEAT TO REPUBLICAN JUDGE JOE MACRON STORMS ALSO THE ONLY METEOROLOGIST MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

SO I CAN PROUDLY SAY THAT THE FORECAST FOR NOVEMBER 5TH IS THAT'S A COMMON SENTIMENT AMONG DEMOCRATS.

EVEN THOSE WHO ARE NOT WEATHERMEN.

BUT AGAIN, BRENDA, REMIND YOU THAT THAT WAS ALSO VERY MUCH THE FEELING LAST MONTH LEAVING THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IN MILWAUKEE AMONG MEMBERS OF THE ILLINOIS GOP BACK HIM.

AND