Hillary Clinton Makes History as Democratic Nominee
The roll call vote followed an opening night overshadowed by protests.
— -- Hillary Clinton made history Tuesday night as the first female major party nominee in the country’s history — after her rival, Bernie Sanders, threw his support behind her and nixed the roll call vote.
The moment was marked with cheers, tears and anger from some Sanders supporters who were dissatisfied with the primary contest — including the votes controversially given to hundreds of superdelegates — and its outcome.
More than 1,800 delegates — short of the 2,382 needed to clinch the nomination — cast their votes for Sanders, who surprised observers with strong showings early on and built a movement of supporters with his grass-roots campaign, built on small donations and railing against Wall Street.
The final delegate tally was 2,838 for Clinton, 1,843 Sanders and 55 abstentions. Vermont’s 22 delegates for Sanders and four for Clinton were not included in the count because Sanders moved to end the vote early.
Moments earlier, when Clinton reached the magic number, she marked the occasion with a single-word tweet.
Before she won the historic vote, speeches for both candidates, including calls for unity, were met with rollicking applause from the audience.
Tulsi Gabbard, a Sanders delegate from Hawaii and a vocal supporter of his throughout the race, spoke before the start of the roll call vote about the potential legacy of Sanders’ campaign, calling it a “movement of love.”
Some Sanders supporters raised their fists in solidarity while Gabbard spoke. A woman waved a sign that read, “Hey DNC save the party — nominate Sanders.”
“I am truly honored to nominate Bernie Sanders for president of the United States,” Gabbard concluded.
Gabbard was the first of several Sanders supporters to sing his praises at the start of the roll call. He could be seen smiling warmly while listening to them.
Sanders supporters in the crowd could be seen weeping during the testimonials.
Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, a prominent Clinton backer and civil rights activist, said, “We are not going back. We are going forward,” in endorsing his candidate and called her “one of the most qualified candidates to ever run for president.”
Competing chants of “Bernie” and “Hillary” broke out as states announced their votes. Larry Sanders, the brother of Bernie Sanders, spoke emotionally of his brother and their family when Democrats abroad announced their tally.
Bernie Sanders appeared to well up while listening to his brother speak.
When it came time for the Vermont delegation to speak, Sanders grew emotional a second time. He reached for the microphone and endorsed Clinton again, saying that all votes be moved to her total.
Competing cheers for both candidates broke out on the convention floor, and many celebrated feelings of unity. But amid a sea of jubilation, some Sanders supporters walked out of the arena.
The opening night of the Democratic National Convention on Monday was a rowdy one, underscored by disagreements between supporters of the two candidates.
Delegates and supporters of Sanders jeered at several speakers, including perceived progressive allies like Sen. Elizabeth Warren and even Sanders himself for voicing their support for Clinton.
Outside the convention yesterday, protesters voiced anger with the Democratic National Committee and Clinton over a number of issues, including the environment, legalized drugs and the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Some observers viewed today’s roll call as the final opportunity for Sanders supporters to voice their displeasure with Clinton. Both Clinton and Sanders were up for the nomination at the convention — largely considered a symbolic gesture for Sanders supporters.
Meghan Keneally and Ryan Struyk contributed to this report.
Hillary Clinton through the years
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