Hillary Clinton, speaking at the Democratic National Convention, expressed her hope that Kamala Harris will finally shatter the “highest, hardest glass ceiling” in America by becoming the first female president. Reflecting on her own experience as the first woman to secure a major party nomination for president, Clinton emphasized that each barrier broken paves the way for others.

Drawing on the significance of her 2016 campaign, which ended in defeat to Donald Trump, she urged the crowd in Chicago that it’s time to pass the torch. “Together, we’ve put a lot of cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling,” Clinton stated. “On the other side of that glass ceiling is Kamala Harris raising her hand and taking the oath of office as our 47th President of the United States.”

While Clinton’s gender was a focal point in her campaign, female delegates and politicians at the 2024 DNC noted that Harris has chosen a different approach. Whether this strategy will help Harris achieve the nation’s highest office remains an open question.