(LAT)

I’m Christina Bellantoni, here with your Essential Politics guide to the Democratic National Convention.

Tonight’s theme is &ldqduo;A lifetime of fighting for children and families.” The big event is a state-by-state roll call vote as convention delegates prepare to officially nominate Hillary Clinton.

It’s a moment, not so different from what we witnessed last week in Cleveland, that will allow Bernie Sanders’ supporters to show their support for the runner up in the primary. As Chris Megerian previews, the choreography has been carefully considered in hopes of pleasing Sanders delegates while also providing a show of unity for Clinton.


Speaking of the word, let’s not forget the perfectly coordinated roll call vote in 2008, when Clinton took to the floor in Denver to make then-Sen. Barack Obama’s nomination official. Two sides that had been bitterly divided for months were suddenly holding signs that said “Obama” or “Clinton” on one side and “Unity” on the other (I nabbed some later as souvenirs and still keep them in my office). The protests eight years ago were nothing like the loud displays we saw Monday in Philadelphia, but make no mistake that bringing those two candidates together at one point had seemed impossible.

Also ahead for tonight: former President Bill Clinton, and mothers of black boys and men who have been shot and killed. Cathleen Decker takes a look at what the White House might look like with a former president returning to live there.

Below is our quick look at what happened on Day 1 as speaker after speaker attempted to bridge the party’s Sanders-Clinton divide. Or check out the video version. We’ll have a gavel-to-gavel livestream that will go live at 1 p.m. Pacific and robust live coverage round-the-clock on Trail Guide. Don’t miss a moment.


I’ll present the best of the rest with a series of headlines.

YOUR GUIDE TO CONVENTION NEWS

— Defying unity theme, Democratic convention opens amid shower of boos led by dissenting Sanders backers

— Trump takes lead over Clinton as GOP convention generates a bounce for its nominee


— As Sanders delegates ponder protests, California’s huge delegation takes lead role

— Dreamer Astrid Silva emerges as a new face of Democratic leadership ready to take on Trump

— Trump running mate Mike Pence gets hammered hard by DNC speakers right out of the gate

— Mother-daughter duo who could be separated by deportation try to humanize immigration issues at DNC


— New Hampshire grandmother puts prime-time spotlight on drug addiction epidemic

YOUR GUIDE TO THE CONVENTION FLOOR

— Watch Sanders’ full convention speech

— Read the transcript of Sanders’ address


— A blunt message from Sarah Silverman

— Bernie Sanders lays out the policy rationale for supporting Hillary Clinton

— Michelle Obama’s stunning convention speech: ‘When they go low, we go high’

— See the images from inside the convention hall


— Watch Elizabeth Warren go after Donald Trump, advocate for Hillary Clinton

— John Podesta, Clinton campaign chair, speaks at the Democratic National Convention

— California state Senate leader: ‘We don’t manufacture fear’

— Watch Sanders backer Rep. Raúl Grijalva talk about why he now supports Clinton


YOUR CONVENTION PROTEST GUIDE

— More than 50 cited in civil disobedience outside Democratic convention: Reporter Matt Pearce’s journal

— See the images from the streets of Philadelphia

— Forget unity: Sanders himself is booed by his loyalists


— Angry Sanders delegates drown out California speakers

SO, WHO’S THE GOVERNOR?

Every time Gov. Jerry Brown leaves the state, even if it’s a day trip to the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, someone else becomes governor.

This week, Brown and nine of the 10 statewide officials who can serve in his place are all in Philadelphia. So who’s the acting governor?


Supt. of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson is the last one standing, under the provision dating back to 1849 that says a governor only has power when inside state lines.

“You’re in safe hands,” he told John Myers on Monday, for a story on how efforts to change the law have rarely done more than add to the list of names for who can temporarily sit behind the desk in the corner office.

WHAT WAS LORETTA THINKING?

A White House spokesman on Monday said he isn’t exactly sure of what to make of Orange County Rep. Loretta Sanchez’s comments last week about President Obama endorsing her U.S. Senate rival, state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris. When asked about why Harris received the endorsement, Sanchez mentioned that both Harris and the president are black. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said it’s hard to know what Sanchez “intended to imply.”


Harris on Monday called for Sanchez to apologize to the president for her remark. Meanwhile, Sanchez made a cameo on the convention stage Monday alongside her sister, Rep. Linda Sanchez, but she didn’t speak.

Watch the video.

YOUR CONVENTION BINGO CARD

From “Love Trumps Hate” chants to mentions that Clinton is a grandmother, we have you covered.


WATCH THE CONVENTION WITH THE L.A. TIMES

Join me, Sacramento bureau chief John Myers and columnist Robin Abcarian at a free convention watch party on Thursday in downtown Los Angeles. The free event runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Pacific and we will be playing bingo. RSVP here.

TODAY’S ESSENTIALS

— The FBI is investigating whether Russians hacked the Democratic Party’s emails to help Donald Trump.


— Brown signed new laws aimed at more humane treatment of unclaimed stray animals and fighting dogs facing euthanasia.

— He also vetoed a bill by the late Sen. Sharon Runner (R-Lancaster) that would have allowed the governor to cancel an election to fill a vacancy in the Legislature if only one candidate makes the ballot.

— Who will win the November election? Give our Electoral College map a spin.

LOGISTICS


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