The Democratic National Convention, which kicked off Monday in Chicago, is being hosted by a star-studded lineup including Tony Goldwyn, Ana Navarro, Mindy Kaling and Kerry Washington.
The first night of the convention saw surprise appearances from notable figures in both politics and Hollywood.
Among the notable attendees were California Governor Gavin Newsom, former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, director Spike Lee, actor Sean Astin from The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars icon Mark Hamill.
Sean Astin
Sean Astin is an American actor known for his roles in The Goonies, Rudy and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He also works as a producer and director.
Astin actively supports the Democratic Party and engages in political and social causes. He advocates for voter registration and other progressive issues, showing his alignment with Democratic values through his public endorsements and activism.
Stephen Colbert
Paul Sancya/AP Photo
Stephen Colbert is an American comedian, television host and political commentator who hosts The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Colbert frequently critiques and satirizes political figures and policies, aligning with progressive and Democratic viewpoints. Through his show and public appearances, he endorses Democratic candidates and causes.
At last night’s convention, Colbert performed a skit with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, portraying a hot dog vendor named Donny Frank dressed in Chicago Bulls attire.
Tony Goldwyn
Brynn Anderson/AP Photo
Tony Goldwyn, best known for his role as President Fitzgerald Grant on ABC’s Scandal, kicked off the convention on Monday night. Goldwyn, who has been an active participant in political campaigns over the years, has previously shown his support for Democratic candidates, including Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020.
Goldwyn currently stars as Manhattan District Attorney Nicholas Baxter on Law & Order and continues his advocacy work, notably with The Innocence Project.
Mickey Guyton
Paul Sancya/AP Photo
Mickey Guyton, the Home Movies singer’s attendance represented a successful Black woman who trailblazed her way into country music, which has long been considered to be run by white men.
“There’s so many people — women, Black women, Indigenous, Latinx, LGBTQIA+ — that have a unique story that’s important to be heard and when you’re not giving people that platform, that is just flat out wrong in my personal opinion,” she told E! News in 2021.
“That’s why representation matters, because there’s a little 7-year-old girl out there that looks like me that has these dreams, and when she doesn’t see herself, she doesn’t get to pursue that and she doesn’t get to live a life that could have been destined for her.”
A few hours later, the country star performed “All American”, a song featuring lyrics about how “we’re different in a million ways,” but still together.
Mark Hamill
Mark Hamill is an American actor, voice actor, and writer best known for his iconic role as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise. Hamill has actively used his X account to endorse the Harris campaign while making digs at former President Donald Trump.
Hamill commented on the former president’s claims Vice President Kamala Harris had faked photos of crowds.
Reposting an image of this comment on X, formerly Twitter, Hamill wrote: “Based on this sane, rational, fact-based statement, do you think there’s any chance if he loses on 11/5 he’ll claim it was a “RIGGED ELECTION”? A) Absolutely NOT B) 100 %”
He also appeared in a video last night with DNC Chair Jaime Harrison, stating, “Don’t go to the orange side.”
Jason Isbell
Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle/AP Photo
Jason Isbell is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist known for his work in country and Americana music. His music often explores themes of personal and social issues, including recovery, relationships, and Southern identity.
Isbell wrote about suffering under a Donald Trump presidency in his 2017 songs White Man’s World and Hope the High Road. He told The Independent in February he feels “as bad as you could possibly feel” about a possible second Trump term.
“Scared and angry and disgusted, and that’s it,” he told the outlet.
Isbell also took to the stage, performing his song “Something More than Free”, a song about his father working hard day after day.
Amy Klobuchar
Paul Sancya/AP Photo
Amy Klobuchar, who was on the DNC floor yesterday, is the U.S. Senator from Minnesota, a position she has held since 2007. As a Democratic Party member, she has concentrated on healthcare, infrastructure, and technology.
She currently holds a double-digit lead over a pair of Republicans in her bid for a fourth term in the U.S. Senate.
Steve Kerr
J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo
Steve Kerr is an American former professional basketball player and current head coach of the Golden State Warriors in the NBA. Kerr has used Steph Curry’s famous “night, night” celebration against Donald Trump.
The Golden State Warriors and Team USA coach took to the lectern on the first night of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago.
Speaking about how he would be backing Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in November, Kerr told the DNC crowd: “After the results are tallied that night, we can, in the words of the great Steph Curry, we can tell Donald Trump: ‘Night, night.'”
James Taylor
J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo
James Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and musician renowned for his folk and soft rock music
Taylor was set to be the final performer on Monday night, but he was bumped due to the event running over schedule. For the 2012 DNC, he performed Carolina In My Mind, You’ve Got a Friend, and How Sweet It Is from the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“I’m a lifelong Democrat, and I pay a lot of taxes, and I want a government that I paid for,” Taylor has previously said, per THR. “I do feel as a citizen, I just feel compelled to respond when I’m asked for support.”
Spike Lee
Brynn Anderson/AP Photo
Spike Lee is an American filmmaker, director, producer, and actor renowned for his impactful work in cinema. His films often tackle social, racial, and political issues, with notable works including Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, Inside Man, and BlacKkKlansman. Celebrated for his distinctive style, Lee contributes to advancing conversations on race and inequality through his storytelling.
On the first night of the DNC, Lee attended and expressed his support for Vice President Kamala Harris. “Once again a sista comes to da rescue,” he wrote on Instagram.
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