Night 2 of the Democratic National Convention will get started a half-hour earlier than originally scheduled to help prevent the event from going late into the night, as it did Monday, Alex Hornbrook, director of the Democratic National Convention Committee, announced Tuesday morning.

What You Need To Know

  • Night 2 of the Democratic National Convention will get started a half-hour earlier than originally scheduled

  • The announcement comes after scheduling issues forced President Joe Biden to speak much later than initially scheduled and several speakers -- and a performance from singer-songwriter James Taylor -- were cut from the lineup

  • In a statement, organizers blamed “the raucous applause interrupting speaker after speaker” for the program getting off-track

  • Former President Barack Obama headlines the list of speakers Tuesday; also addressing the convention will be former first lady Michelle Obama; second gentleman Doug Emhoff; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.; Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker; New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham; and Mesa, Arizona, Mayor John Giles

The program will now start at 5:30 p.m. Central time. 

On Monday, President Joe Biden had been scheduled to speak around 9:50 p.m., but his speech began around 10:30 p.m. and concluded nearly an hour later. That meant East Coast viewers would have had to stay up past midnight to listen to Biden’s remarks in their entirety.

And it would have been even later if organizers hadn’t cut singer-songwriter James Taylor’s performance and several planned speakers from the lineup.

In a statement, organizers blamed “the raucous applause interrupting speaker after speaker” for the program getting off-track.

“We had so much energy and enthusiasm for our president and our ticket from our speakers and the audience reaction that we recognize that did put us a little bit behind schedule, but we made some real-time adjustments last night to ensure we could get to what the delegates and the viewers really came for, which, of course, is President Biden," Hornbrook said. "And we're working with our speakers and making some other adjustments for this evening, including beginning at 5:30 to make sure that we stay on track for that tonight.”

Former President Barack Obama headlines the list of speakers Tuesday. Also addressing the convention will be former first lady Michelle Obama; second gentleman Doug Emhoff; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.; Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker; New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham; and Mesa, Arizona, Mayor John Giles. 

The night will also include a ceremonial roll call vote. The Democratic National Committee held a virtual roll call vote earlier this month to beat Ohio’s ballot deadline, meaning the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz ticket already has been officially nominated.

The vote “will be rooted in some of the most beloved traditions of our roll call, giving every state … and territory a chance to shine,” Hornbrook said.

Tuesday’s theme is “A Bold Vision for America’s Future.”