SHATTERING THE GLASS CEILING It was standing-room only in the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia Pennsylvania on July 28 2016 A huge screen hung behind a stage bedecked with digital American flags Professional politicians in suits mingled with Americans of different ages races and ethnicities some in jeans and T-shirts others sporting patriotic bling These delegates had gathered at the Democratic National Convention to watch history being made Since 1832 members of the Democratic Party have met every four years to choose a presidential candidate The difference in 2016 was the gender of the person being selected For the first time in US history a major political party nominated a woman Hillary Rodham Clinton Hillary Clinton accepted her nomination at the Democratic National Convention on July 28 2016 5
FEEL THE BERN In It to Win It Clinton’s nomination was a moment that had begun more than a year earlier On April 12 2015 people from all walks of life appeared on a video on Clinton’s website They discussed their future plans have a baby start a business go to college At the end of the video Clinton announced I’m getting ready to do something too I’m running for president 1 So began her 2016 campaign Clinton’s first challenge Bernie Sanders an independent senator from Vermont gained a large following among progressive voters He built his campaign around economic and political reforms including a higher minimum wage free college tuition and an end to the close relationship between politicians and Wall Street lobbyists When Clinton secured the Democratic nomination for the presidency Sanders used the momentum of his campaign to influence the Democratic Party’s platform at the national convention The platform included many of the reforms Sanders had promised during his campaign such as a higher minimum wage and free college tuition for some students was to win her party’s nomination At first she had five competitors all men But within eight months only Clinton and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders remained standing Sanders gave Clinton a fight she had not expected His call for a political revolution 6 ESSENTIAL LIVES
Over the course of the primary season Clinton and Sanders debated nine times appealed to many young adults and progressives in the Democratic Party Despite Sanders’s popularity with these groups of voters Clinton’s early lead in the popular vote was too large for him to overcome Even before the primary season ended Clinton had clinched the Democratic nomination Sanders endorsed her on July 12 2016 Running Mate The choice of a running mate is one of the first presidential decisions a candidate makes On July 22 2016 Clinton selected Virginia governor Tim Kaine as her vice-presidential pick HILL ARY CLINTON 7
