Image source, Getty Images

The crowd is emptying out of the arena after the DNC chair officially gavelled the night to a close.

If you're just joining us, here's what happened tonight:

• We heard from several speakers on the final and most important night of the Democratic convention, which culminated in a speech from Harris
• Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bob Casey and Mark Kelly spoke alongside his wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords
• Policy topics for the night included reproductive rights, gun violence, the economy and immigration
• Music stars Pink and the Chicks performed for the gathered delegates
• Other celebrities in attendance included actress Kerry Washington as the night's host, while actress Eva Longoria spoke as well
• Other important presenters included Governor Roy Cooper, Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Republican Adam Kinzinger
• Harris gave the most important speech of her career, talking about a broad vision for her potential presidency presidency and including a call for voters to be "guided by optimism"

Is Harris right about nationwide abortion ban?published at 05:23 British Summer Time 23 August 2024

05:23 BST 23 August 2024

In her speech, Kamala Harris claimed Donald Trump "would... enact a nationwide abortion ban”.

This is misleading because during this campaign, Trump has said that he would not sign a national abortion ban, and that he believes the issue should be left to individual states.

As president, Trump appointed three justices to the Supreme Court who voted to overturn Roe v Wade - which had protected the fedearl right to abortion for nearly 50 years.

As a result, 22 states currently ban abortion, external or restrict the procedure to earlier in pregnancy than was set by Roe v. Wade. In 14 of those states, abortion is banned in almost all circumstances with 10 not even making an exception for rape or incest.

Image source, Getty Images

The Democrats have had much of the attention today, but President Donald Trump has been busy too.

Earlier Thursday, the former president was in Cochise County visiting the US frontier with Mexico.

“What Biden and Kamala have done to the families here with me and so many others, thousands and thousands of others, not only killed, but also really badly hurt, badly hurt to a point where they’ll never lead a normal life again. It’s shameful, and it’s evil,” Trump said.

The situation at the southern US border has become a flash point in the 2024 election, with Republicans slamming what they see as Democrats' inability to reduce the number of migrants crossing into the country. Numbers reached record highs during the Biden presidency but have come down significantly in recent months.

Courtney Subramanian
Reporting from the convention

Harris has delivered countless speeches over her career and on the campaign trail. She's even appeared on the Democratic convention stage before - first as California attorney general for Barack Obama's re-election in 2012 and later as Joe Biden's running mate four years ago.

But Harris has never experienced a moment quite like this and expectations were soaring for what she would say. The speech, sometimes interrupted by rapturous applause, appeared to be well-received by those in the arena but it hardly showcased her as an orator.

Image source, Truth Social

Trump has clearly been following Harris's speech, considering how many short, one-sentence, posts he has made on social media critiquing her performance.

"Too many 'Thank yous,' too rapidly said, what’s going on with her?" he wrote as Harris first came on stage and thanked the crowd, her supporters and her family.

"Walz was an ASSISTANT Coach, not a COACH," he wrote about her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

He mocked her for sharing the details of her childhood and claimed she "allowed" 20 million illegal immigrants into the United States.

Trump also posted that he planned to record an interview with Fox News after Harris finishes her speech.

"They’d like to know what I thought of it — I will be very honest in my assessment!" he wrote.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the convention floor

I just spoke to Colby Duhon, a young Texas delegate and self-described strong supporter of the Palestinians.

I asked him how he felt about Harris's comments about Israel and Gaza during her nomination acceptance speech - and he said he liked what he heard.

"I think Vice-President Harris is going to be better on this issue, quite frankly, than the president," he says.

"I'm heartened to hear her words tonight."

"I believe she is more malleable on this issue from her moral core," he adds.

Brandon Drenon
Reporting from the convention

The economy is one of the key issues this election. And according to some polls, it is one of Democrats’ greatest weaknesses.

It was something multiple delegates and DNC attendees today told me they would be listening for in Harris’s speech.

Illinois delegate Mah Theresa says Harris delivered on the economic front.

Harris made her feel as though the nominee “cares about what happens to middle class people, understanding at a deep level the struggles that people face every day”.

Was Harris right about $4,000 'Trump tax'?published at 04:37 British Summer Time 23 August 2024

04:37 BST 23 August 2024

In her speech, Kamala Harris referred to Donald Trump's pledge to impose tariffs on all US imports, describing the policy as a "national sales tax... a Trump tax... that would raise prices on middle-class families by almost $4,000 a year”.

This figure comes from analysis by the left-of-centre think-tank the Centre for American Progress, external, which looked at the proposal to increase tariffs on all imported goods to 10-20% and to a higher 60% on Chinese imports.

They took the amount the US buys in goods from abroad annually – estimated to be around $3.2 trillion – and figured out how much the new taxes on these goods would be under Trump's plan. They then divided this figure by the number of households in the US.

It works out at $4,600 per household, but when you look at “middle-income” families who buy fewer goods than average, this gives you a figure of $3,900 a year.

Separate analysis from other independent organisations also suggest that tariffs would have a major impact on prices but by a smaller amount., external

For instance, the Peterson Institute estimates the impact would be closer to $1,700 a year.

Trump has disputed the extra costs for Americans and says the impact of his tariffs would be felt by foreign countries instead.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the convention floor

Among those who thought who Harris did a good job tonight is Adam Green, the co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee.

Headed out of the venue, Green told me he was particularly impressed with the line that Trump "isn't a serious person, he's a serious threat".

"She did a great job welcoming Republicans in," he said.

Phil McCausland
Reporting from the convention

The Harris-Walz campaign has released viewership data each night, and they have had a huge success on that front.

Tens of millions of people have watched every night of the DNC so far, and the television viewership numbers have regularly been higher those for Trump's celebration at the Republican National Convention last month.

There was a huge amount of excitement for this final night of the campaign, which was in part buoyed by the rumours that pop stars like Beyoncé or Taylor Swift would appear.

While neither megastar was here, it is hard to argue that the rumours likely ensured some extra people tuned in.

I'm sure the Harris-Walz campaign is hoping that Beyoncé fans won't hold the musician's absence against them.

Caitlin Wilson
Reporting from the convention

We had a great view of the balloon drop up here in the press box of the United Center.

I took a few pictures from our vantage point.

Though the main programming of the DNC is over, stick with us - we'll have lots more news and analysis to bring you.

Image source, Caitlin Wilson / BBC

Image source, Caitlin Wilson / BBC

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the convention floor

Beyoncé fans are still hoping the star will appear.

A man next to me has only one thought after Harris's speech: "so, no Beyoncé?"

Her song Freedom did play, but there was no Beyoncé on stage.

Phil McCausland
Reporting from the convention

The stage is covered with balloons as Harris and her family and running mate Tim Walz celebrate the finale of the convention. The screen behind them features numerous watch parties from cities across the country.

The air is filled with cheers, the sound of popping balloons and confetti.

It's hard to tell whether the party is finishing up or is just getting started.

Phil McCausland
Reporting from the convention

A Democratic organiser who remained sceptical that Harris could lead the Democratic Party against Trump texted me after Harris concluded her acceptance speech.

"Ok, I buy it now," the text reads.

It seems this moment of party unity may be having an effect, at least for one party member.

We'll see if it lasts until November.

'New way forward' but not much new materialpublished at 04:17 British Summer Time 23 August 2024

04:17 BST 23 August 2024

Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent, reporting from the convention

Kamala Harris’ speech neatly summed up the key points her campaign wanted to hit – her personal story, her calls for unity, her middle-class-oriented economic and social policy goals and her criticisms of Donald Trump.

She also promised a “new way forward” for America, but for those who have followed her campaign for the past few weeks, not much in the speech was new. It was just a new way to reach the largest American audience she has ever spoken to.

Phil McCausland
Reporting from the convention

Image source, Reuters

As Harris closes her speech, several large American flags are waving in the crowd.

Her husband Doug Emhoff has taken the stage and given her a kiss to huge cheers.

Beyonce's Freedom is blasting over the loudspeaker, though the pop star herself remains absent - despite rumours that she would take the stage.

Tim and Gwen Walz joined them shortly thereafter, lift their arms in the sky as balloons tumble down on the cheering crowd.