Kamala Harris kicked off Night 3 of the Democratic National Convention with brief remarks

Former Rep. Gabby Giffords. Democratic National Committee

Former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was shot and wounded when a gunman opened fire on one of her events in 2011, touted the needs for resilience and strength in a powerful speech Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention.

Giffords, who was shot in the dead during the deadly attack, says that she while she “known the darkest of days,” she chose to respond with “grit and determination.”

Giffords has become a symbol for the Democratic fight for stricter gun laws, founding the organization Giffords in the wake of her shooting, an advocacy organization that pushes lawmakers to pass sweeping gun laws.

The former congresswoman then related her personal fight to the current state of the country and her support for Biden.

Giffords' taped speech was introduced by a video on her life voiced by actress Regina King and featured video of the former congresswoman playing the French horn, something she did often before her shooting.

“It was an honor to help share Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ story of perseverance and courage as part of the Democratic National Convention,” King said in a statement. “Her determination to never stay silent, against all odds, should be inspiration to us all.”

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Activist Emma González appeared in a video tonight during the Democratic National Convention calling for an end to gun violence in the US.

González is a student at the helm of a pro-gun control youth movement that erupted after a shooter killed 17 of her classmates and others in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 18, 2018.

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California Sen. Kamala Harris opened the third night of the convention, urging people to create a plan for voting.

“I want to talk about the importance of voting,” Harris said, standing in what looked like the backstage of the convention set up in Delaware.

Harris will accept the Democratic Party’s vice-presidential nomination and delivers her acceptance speech later in the program.

The California senator lamented the fact that voters are hearing a lot about “obstacles” to voting, adding that she thinks it is important for people to “to ask ourselves why (Republicans) don’t want us to vote” and “why are there so many effort to silence our voices.”

Harris urged viewers to create a voting plan and closed the short message by saying, “I’ll see you a little later tonight.”

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Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers. Democratic National Committee

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers kicked off night three of the Democratic National Convention by telling viewers that "we were really looking forward to having you here in America's dairyland."

Wisconsin, one of the nation's marquee swing states, expected to host the convention in Milwaukee — but the coronavirus pandemic forced Democrats to switch to a two-hour-a-night televised version.

So instead, Evers — who defeated Republican Gov. Scott Walker in 2018 as Democrats swept statewide races in Upper Midwest battlegrounds — got an opening slot. The election, he said, is about "returning kindness, respect, empathy and stability back to the White House — and that's who Joe and Kamala are, because they know, especially during challenging times like these, the problems we face can only be solved by all of us together."

Sen. Kamala Harris kicks off the third day of the Democratic National Convention. Democratic National Committee

The third night of the Democratic National Convention has begun. Kamala Harris will take her turn in the spotlight tonight, where she will portray her story as the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants as one that can resonate with all Americans as she makes the case for electing Joe Biden.

She will say that she and Biden are committed to "a vision of our nation as a beloved community — where all are welcome, no matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we love." And one where Americans may not "agree on every detail" but are "united by the fundamental belief that every human being is of infinite worth, deserving of compassion, dignity and respect," according to excerpted remarks released ahead of her speech.

Harris will formally become the first Black and South Asian woman ever nominated to a major presidential party ticket.

Three generations of women — Harris' sister Maya Harris, her niece Meena, and her stepdaughter, Ella Emhoff — will deliver speeches virtually officially nominating the California senator as the Democratic nominee for vice president of the United States.

Harris will be joined on the program by some of the nation's most prominent women, including Hillary Clinton, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who, like Harris, competed against Biden for the 2020 nomination.

Former President Barack Obama will also make the case for his former vice president in what will be a sharp rebuke of Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the presidency in general.

Ahead of Sen. Kamala Harris' speech this evening, friend Stacey Johnson-Batiste spoke to CNN's Dana Bash about what tonight's historic moment means to her friend of more than 50 years.

"It means so much, and by this being the 100th anniversary of the women's right to vote, it's so symbolic. I mean, it just seams like, you know, the stars have lined up and everything Kamala has worked so hard for, all these decades has gotten her ready," she said.

Harris will formally become the first Black and South Asian woman ever nominated to a major presidential party ticket when she formally accepts the nomination tonight.

Johnson-Batiste added that Harris' career has prepared her to debate current Vice President Mike Pence in October.

"Kamala is fierce, and she's a fighter. And the one thing that she will not do is let, you know, let someone get away with not telling it like it, is telling the truth to the people. She won't let those types of comments to get past her," Harris' friend said. "She's going to hold him accountable, and she is going to stick to the facts, she's going to stick to the issue, she's going to educate."

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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Sen. Kamala Harris. Getty Images

At least two of tonight’s top Democratic speakers will make nods to Joe Biden’s late son Beau, who passed away from cancer in 2015.

A source familiar with Sen. Kamala Harris’ speech says Harris will talk about Beau Biden and how she got to know the former vice president through her relationship with Beau as the two became friends while serving as state attorneys general at the same time.

Hillary Clinton is also expected to talk how the former vice president dealt with the loss of his son in 2015. It’s just one of the many references during this convention to Biden’s resilience in the face of loss and the empathy he exhibits. 

Clinton will also shine some light on Harris’ humanity. Clinton and Harris both worked with a young Democratic spokesperson named Tyrone Gayle who died of cancer two years ago.

Clinton will talk about how Harris flew to be with Gayle shortly before he died as she highlights the compassion of Joe Biden’s running mate — a trait this Democratic ticket is trying to present as a contrast to President Trump.

It is not lost on Hillary Clinton that she has a unique understanding of the myriad of challenges that Kamala Harris now confronts as a woman running against Donald Trump.

The former Democratic presidential nominee plans to specifically address this in her speech tonight, according to a pointed line from it that was first shared with CNN: “I also know a thing or two about the slings and arrows coming her way,” Clinton will say about Harris. “And believe me, this former district attorney and attorney general can handle them all.” 

Clinton is, of course, no stranger to public speaking, but tonight’s speech is one that she is taking very seriously – she sees this as a moment of “passing on the baton” from Obama and herself to Harris, according to a Clinton aide. Wanting to make sure she lands the speech, CNN was told she practiced her remarks over Zoom with aides this afternoon from her office in her attic in Chappaqua. 

One last piece of color: Clinton plans on talking about her mother – and reference the fact that strong mothers were big influences for both Harris and Joe Biden, as well, according to the aide.

Sen. Kamala Harris listens to former Vice President Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware, on Aug. 12. Carolyn Kaster/AP

According to a convention planning official, Sen. Kamala Harris will open the show tonight and give brief remarks, and then will return later on in the programming to deliver her full remarks.

The official said there is incredible excitement around Harris joining the ticket, and they want the people to hear from her as much as possible.