The Democratic National Convention kicks off with an appeal to interparty unity to unseat President Trump. 

Monday evening marked the first night of the 2020 DNC, with its schedule of speakers designed to signify the ideologically diverse coalition of voters Biden hopes to bring together to beat Trump in November. Attendees heard speeches from those as far left as Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and as far right as former Republican Governor of Ohio John Kasich with a common theme of rising above political differences to defeat a president viewed as dangerous and divisive. 

In his speech, Kasich argued that Republicans must look past party labels and vote against their party’s candidate.

“I’m a lifelong Republican, but that comes second to my responsibility to my country,” said Kasich. “Joe Biden is a man for our times, and our time calls for us to take off our partisan hats and do what’s best for our nation.”

Other prominent Republicans, including former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman and Congresswoman Susan Molinari, appeared in prerecorded video addresses denouncing Trump and urging voters to choose Joe Biden. 

Although the event was originally planned to be held in Milwaulkee, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted party organizers to digitalize the entire event. All speakers appeared live via videoconference, with only the control room still located in Milwaukee. 

Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Andrew Hitt latched onto this fact in a press release criticizing the convention.

“Joe Biden isn’t just hiding in his basement this week, he’s hiding from Wisconsin,” wrote Hitt. “While Biden is nowhere to be found, President Donald J. Trump is showing Wisconsin that he is committed to building the economy and creating jobs.” 

The evening also featured speeches from former the brothers of George Floyd, First Lady Michelle Obama and a performance from Maggie Rogers. 

The DNC will continue through Thursday night, on which Biden will accept the Democratic nomination for president of the United States.