Lil Jon and DJ Cassidy turn Democratic convention roll call into party

CHICAGO (AP) — Convention roll call votes can be staid and cheesy, but Democrats turned theirs into the ultimate dance party on Tuesday. DJ Cassidy stood onstage in what appeared to be a double-breasted satin suit of royal blue, spinning a special song for each state and territory awarding their delegates to Vice President Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention. What America got was a mashup of an elite karaoke night: Detroit native Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” for Michigan, Dropkick Murphys’ “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” for Massachusetts and Tupac Shakur’s “California Love” for California. DJ Cassidy speaks during Roll Call at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago. Scott Applewhite) Georgia brought out one of its natives in person: Atlanta’s Lil Jon striding through Chicago’s United Center to the beats of “Turn Down for What,” his song with DJ Snake. In short, Democrats were determined to put the party in political party, part of their broader effort to project joy and positive energy even as they issue dire warnings about the need to beat Republican nominee Donald Trump. Ohio casts their votes for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris during the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) The party last used a video roll call during the pandemic -restricted 2020 convention that famously had Rhode Island featuring its state dish, calamari, creating the pressure to do something bigger this year. Movie director Spike Lee was there for New York, while the actor Sean Astin, who starred in the Notre Dame-set football movie “Rudy,” was with the Indiana delegation. Kathy Hochul casts their vote for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris during the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago. The 1996 Democratic convention in Chicago infamously featured delegates gyrating awkwardly to “Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix)” by the Spanish pop duo Los del Río. Florida’s delegation played Tom Petty’s anthem to hard-headedness, “I Won’t Back Down,” in casting its delegates for Harris — a not-too-subtle jab at the state’s Republican Gov. AP AUDIO: Democrats turn their roll call into a dance party with celebrities, state-specific songs and Lil Jon AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports the roll call vote that made Kamala Harris the Democratic presidential nominee turned in a dance party. “Florida is worth fighting for,” state Democratic chairwoman Nikki Fried declared, arguing that her state is worth national Democrats campaigning for despite it moving hard to the right and likely to go for Trump in November. Alabama, obviously, got “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Indiana, with Astin by the microphone, went with Gary native Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough.” Nevada played “Mr. New Jersey went with Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA.” “Under one groove nothing can stop us now,” DJ Cassidy said over Springsteen’s anthem. What to know about the 2024 Election Today’s news: Follow live updates Ground Game: Sign up for AP’s weekly politics newsletter AP’s Role: The Associated Press is the most trusted source of information on election night, with a history of accuracy dating to 1848. Texas’ Kate Cox had her request for an abortion during a troubled pregnancy rejected by that state’s supreme court, forcing her to go to another state for the procedure. Tuesday night’s “celebratory” vote is following that earlier roll call’s vote total. – This Summarize was created by Neural News AI (V1). Source: https://apnews.com/35c00f31ebddf664cbfaa4b4b9eb370d