PHILADELPHIA — Hillary Clinton was officially anointed the Democratic nominee for president on Tuesday and becomes the first female to lead a major party ticket.
Her nomination was a formality, but the convention proceeded with a roll call vote. Bernie Sanders , who has urged supporters to back Clinton, appeared at the end of the vote and asked that Clinton’s nomination be approved by acclamation. The crowd in the arena roared in approval.
The atmosphere was a contrast to Monday, when Sanders delegates chanted “Bernie! Bernie!” and booed at moments when speakers mentioned Clinton and the need to unify behind her.
There were still delegates holding Sanders signs — and a few anti-Hillary ones — but the oppositon was overshadowed by the historic moment.
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) drew loud applause as she placed Clinton’s name into nomination.
“On behalf of all the women who’ve broken down barriers for others, and with an eye toward the barriers still ahead, I proudly place Hillary Clinton’s name in nomination to be the next President of the United States of America,” she said.
Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who seconded Clinton’s nomination, also noted the importance of the moment.
“Eight years ago, our party nominated and elected the first person of color to ever serve in the White House not just for one, but two terms,” he said. “Tonight we will shatter that glass ceiling again.”
After the convention nominated Clinton, dozens of his supporters filed into the media tent, located adjacent to the arena, to protest. According to the Los Angeles Times , the protesters chanted “We the People!” and “This is What Democracy Looks Like.”
Sanders has urged his supporters to back her and, on Tuesday morning, admonished them for some of the booing and jeers that were heard on the convention’s first day. “It’s easy to boo,” he said in remarks to the California delegation.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D- Hawaii ) drew loud chants of “Bernie! Bernie!” as she placed his name into nomination.
During the roll call, Sanders appeared moved as his brother Larry, from the overseas delegations, tearfully cast his vote.
A number of entertainment figures are in Philadelphia for the convention, including Ashley Judd , who said that “it is very important for me personally.
She noted the presidents who were elected to office when she was growing up — “a succession of white men, that is my childhood, and how different it is today.”
“When I woke up yesterday morning in my little airport hotel room, I was weeping,” Judd said. “I think my brain and body knows on a level beyond my intellectual cognition that this is a big deal. I think we will all reach for words to emphasize how important it is.”
Ted Johnson © 2016 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC