By Laura Bray
For the “Progressive Views” column, Boerne Star, September 22, 2024
I was honored to represent Congressional District (CD) 21 at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago in August. I was elected one of five CD21 delegates at the Texas Democratic Convention in June.
The DNC was truly one of the most amazing experiences of my life. By my count, I heard speeches from:
- Three Presidents
- One Vice President
- Four First Ladies/Second Gentleman
- Five sitting or former Cabinet Secretaries
- Eleven Governors
- Eighteen U.S. Senators
- 27 U.S. Representatives, among countless others.
Visit the DNC’s YouTube channel to have another look at the speeches.
We saw performances by (among other, lesser-known artists):
- Stevie Wonder
- Patti LaBelle
- John Legend and Sheila E
- Pink
- The Chicks
From the opening gavel to the closing balloon drop, the atmosphere over all four nights was electric, and the enthusiasm overwhelming.
We all enjoyed getting to know our Vice Presidential nominee, Gov. Tim Walz, a little better, as most of us knew little about him before the summer’s surprising developments. Texans on the Convention stage included Congressman and US Senate candidate Colin Allred, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, and actress/producer Eva Longoria.
Tuesday night’s Roll Call of the States was surprisingly entertaining. Due to some screwy filing deadlines in Ohio, the DNC held a Virtual Roll Call about ten days prior to the Convention to officially designate Vice President Harris as our nominee. She won that nomination with nearly 99% of the over 4,500 DNC delegates. So the Tuesday night Roll Call was purely ceremonial. DJ Cassidy kept the energy going with his state-themed music as the DNC Secretary called on each state/territory to report its vote. When a state was called, its seating area was illuminated (a masterwork of lighting logistics), and the designated speaker appeared on the JumboTron (and your TV screens). Georgia “won” the “Best Roll Call Announcement” when they rolled out rapper Lil Jon to introduce their segment.
The days were long (credential pick-up every day at 6am at the Texas hotel, and evening speeches weren’t over until 11pm). But the energy every evening at the United Center was completely motivating. Security was predictably tight, and despite some protestors, everything proceeded mostly without incident.
I met some amazing folks from around the state and around the world, since US territories abroad—including Northern Marianas, Guam, and American Samoa–sent delegates.
US historian and blogger Heather Cox Richardson stated, “When he took office, President Biden vowed to prove that democracy worked. With laws like the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act, the Democrats directed investment toward ordinary Americans. The dramatic success of their economic program proved that it worked. On Wednesday night, former president Bill Clinton noted that since 1989, the U.S. has created 51 million new jobs. Fifty million of those jobs were created under Democratic presidents, while only 1 million were added under Republicans.”
VP Harris spoke about her plans for a new “Opportunity Economy.” In her acceptance speech, she said, “An opportunity economy [is one] where everyone has a chance to compete and a chance to succeed, whether you live in a rural area, small town, or big city. As President, I will bring together labor and workers, small business owners and entrepreneurs, and American companies to create jobs, grow our economy, and lower the cost of everyday needs like health care, housing, and groceries.”
We all came away with a renewed enthusiasm to work even harder to elect Democrats from the top of the ticket to down-ballot races this November.
If you want to vote in the November 5 election, the deadline to register is October 7. Make sure to check that your voter registration is current at www.votetexas.gov. Democrats only need to flip twelve seats in the Texas House to keep our public schools strong and our environment protected. Let’s elect those down-ballot Democrats this November.
For more information on our activities and advocacy and how to get involved, call our office at 830-331-1243 or visit www.kcdems.us.
Laura Bray is Chair of the Kendall County Democratic Party and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.
