The Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia got off to a rocky start Monday as thousands of delegates still bitter over Bernie Sanders’ defeat booed everything from the invocation to the speech by the last-minute replacement for resigned chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

Hillary Clinton and her team have a lot of work ahead of them if they want her speech to be well received Thursday despite unrest in the party.

Mike Maday, a delegate for Sanders from Colorado’s 5th Congressional District, said he thinks the party will come together.

“I will be backing Clinton in about 48 hours,” Maday said Monday after hearing a Sanders speech that attempted to rally support behind Clinton. “I’m voting for Bernie, but the reality is he ain’t going to win and then I’ll be backing Hillary Clinton.”

Maday, a long-time activist in the Colorado Springs Democratic Party, said he thought the boos and chants for “Bernie or Bust” represented a vocal minority at Sanders’ first event Monday.

“The people who don’t yell or scream aren’t heard,” he said.

Wellington Webb, former Denver mayor and long-time Clinton supporter, received his fair share of boos as he urged support of the Unity Reform Commission report, a joint effort between Sanders and Clinton delegates to reform the nominating system. The report recommends changes and lays the groundwork for “assessing and improving our super delegates, caucuses and strategies for opening up our system even more,” Webb said.

“The primaries brought together some issues we need to address as a Democratic Party and that is exactly what we should do,” said Webb, who was mayor for 12 years.

Webb said Sanders and Clinton are the party’s champions.

“They both deserve our cheers,” he said. “If you would do this for me … let’s show Donald Trump we can work together. Let’s all cheer for Bernie when he takes the stage and let’s also cheer for Hillary when she takes the stage on Thursday.”

Rick Palacio, chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, said Monday he was losing his voice from cheering with the Colorado delegation.

Palacio, a super delegate, said the proposed reforms to the nominating system are important.

“There have been a lot of voices talking about reforming the super delegate system for quite some time and I think it’s important for people to understand that the Democratic Party is capable of growing and that we are capable of listening to concerns from all our members,” he said. “I expect by the end of the week that you’re going to see a lot more of this energy coalesce around Secretary Clinton.”

Sanders was the headline speaker Monday night.

Gov. John Hickenlooper, who made the media rounds Monday, is scheduled to speak at the convention, but no details were available Monday. Hickenlooper was a finalist for Clinton’s running mate but ultimately Clinton selected Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine.

Colorado House Democratic leader Crisanta Duran is scheduled to speak between 5 and 6 p.m. Thursday, the final day of the convention.

Duran is a potential candidate for Speaker of the House in 2017 since the current speaker has reached term limits.

“It’s very exciting,” Duran, who was elected as a delegate for Clinton, said Monday. “There is a lot of momentum.”

Duran believes the majority of delegates are ready to support Clinton.

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Contact Megan Schrader: 286-0644

Twitter: @CapitolSchrader

Denver Broncos quarterbacks Mark Sanchez, front, and Trevor Siemian, back left, and rookie Paxton Lynch during an NFL football practice Tuesday, May 24, 2016, at the team’s headquarters in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

David Zalubowski