Politics
Blowing off the Windy City: Some Democrats give Kamala and the DNC a cold shoulder
To some Senate Democrats facing competitive reelection bids, Chicago is not their kind of town.
Prominent Democrats from battleground states like Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., all gave the city of big shoulders the cold shoulder, as their party convenes the Democratic convention in Chicago.
“Every candidate’s going to make their own decision as to where they should be. And certainly, some candidates would much rather just be in their state talking to voters in their state,” said Sen Gary Peters, D-Mich. Peters chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), in charge of getting Democrats elected to the Senate.
Democrats are trying to cling to their slim Senate majority this fall. There are currently 51 senators who caucus with the Democrats and 49 Republicans. The Senate battlefield favors Republicans with a host of Democrats up for re-election in red or swing states. It’s an uphill climb for Democrats to knock off Republicans who are up this cycle like Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Ted Cruz, R-Tex. Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.V., is retiring. That seat is almost destined to turn red. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., is retiring. The race between Democratic nominee Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and GOP standard-bearer, former Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., is tight.
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So Democrats are ducking Vice President Harris and distancing themselves from progressives who take the stage at the convention, like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.
Better to blow off the Windy City when you can campaign back home and not face tough questions from the national press. Or, if you’re a moderate, get your photo snapped with someone who is too far to the left. Or is controversial when it comes to the war in the Middle East. Or get asked about your take on President Biden dropping out, something Vice President Harris said or the military service of Democratic vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D).
Jon Tester scratched Chicago for Pearl Jam.
The band’s bassist, Montana native Jeff Ament, headlines a fundraiser for Tester in Missoula, Mont., in the middle of the convention.
Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her daughter Christine Pelosi hold “We Love Joe” signs as he speaks on the first day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on August 19, 2024. Vice President Kamala Harris will formally accept the party’s nomination for president at the DNC which runs from August 19-22 in Chicago. (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
If Tester wins, he scores a fourth term in the Senate. Or, as Pearl Jam might sing, “Come Back.”
Democratic leaders applauded their colleagues who stayed away from Chicago.
“I think it will help Jon,” said Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill. “Jon is running as a Montana Democrat. Not a national Democrat.”
Rosen is keeping her distance from Chicago as she seeks a second term in the swing state of Nevada. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., barely won reelection in 2022 by less than 8,000 votes. Cortez Masto’s race was the last one called. Her victory preserved the Senate Democratic majority. President Biden bested former President Trump in the Silver State in 2020 by fewer than 35,000 votes. Even though Rosen is staying clear of Chicago and Harris, the senator’s allies believe a win by the vice president in Nevada could boost Rosen. The Senate contest tilts slightly in favor of Rosen right now. The Cook Political Report shifted it from a “toss-up” to “lean Democrat.”
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However, some Democrats from swing states who are on the November ballot aren’t shunning Chicago.
Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., is attending. He’s running for the Senate against GOP nominee Kari Lake. Sen. Kyrsten Sinem, I-Ariz., who caucuses with the Democrats, is retiring.
And then there are sitting Democratic senators from competitive states: Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., and Bob Casey, D-Penn., surfaced in Chicago.
The Keystone State’s other senator, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., is not up this fall. But Fetterman skipped the convention. He said he had other things to do. Fetterman has sparred with the left over his positions on immigration, the border and the Middle East.
(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
However, this cohort of Democrats aren’t the only ones who have been no-shows at their respective party conventions.
Former Sen. Clarie McCaskill, D-Mo., faced a competitive re-election bid in 2012 when Democrats convened their convention in Charlotte. Tester and Manchin faced challenging re-election bids that year, too. Same with then-Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.V. All ducked the convention. And all won their races. Hard to argue with that strategy.
Many Republicans weren’t enamored with former President Trump. So they dodged the GOP’s 2016 convention in Cleveland and the pandemic-curbed convention in 2020.
Former Sens. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Pat Toomey, R-Penn., weren’t on hand for 2016.
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Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Mitt Romney, R-Utah, sat out the 2020 show.
In some cases, prominent political figures have even spoken at the convention of the opposite party.
Late Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga., addressed the Republican convention in New York, renominating President George W. Bush for a second term as he tangled with the Democratic nominee, former Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.
Former Republican Ohio Gov. and Congressman John Kasich spoke at the Democrats’ quasi-convention (due to COVID) in 2020. This is especially interesting since Kasich ran for president as a Republican in 2016.
Late Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., came to the Senate as a full-fledged Democrat in early 1989. But after losing his 2006 primary – but winning re-election – Lieberman declared himself an “independent Democrat.” Still, Lieberman caucused with the party at the end of his career. He was Al Gore’s running mate in 2000. But Lieberman spoke on behalf of 2008 Republican nominee and late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at the GOP convention in St. Paul. The move almost prompted Democrats to bounce Lieberman from the Senate Democratic Caucus. Especially since the nation elected President Obama – who at the time was Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
Tracking the political taxonomy of former Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., is nearly as complicated as that of Lieberman. Crist was elected governor of Florida in 2006 as a Republican. He then lost the GOP Senate nomination to Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., in 2010. However, Crist still ran for Senate as an independent that year. Rubio won. Crist then spoke to the Democratic convention in Charlotte in 2012. Crist joined the Democratic Party later that year. He ran for governor as a Democrat and lost in 2014. Crist then ran for the House as a Democrat and won in 2016. He then ran again for governor in 2022 as the Democratic nominee. But Crist lost to Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Michael Bloomberg had been a lifelong Democrat but ran as a Republican for Mayor of New York in 2001. As mayor, Bloomberg even scored the 2004 GOP convention for New York following 9/11. However, Bloomberg spoke at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. And he ran as a Democrat for president in 2020, losing to President Biden.
In another era, it’s possible that the Democratic loyalists attending the convention might send those back home a postcard reading “wish you were here.” But if Democrats truly want to hold the Senate, Brown, Tester and Rosen wouldn’t receive one of those “which you were” here postcards. Because frankly, the best chance Democrats have to retain the Senate is to keep those lawmakers as far away from Chicago as possible.
new video loaded: Gen-Z Delegates Push for Change at the D.N.C.
transcript
transcript
Gen-Z Delegates Push for Change at the D.N.C.
The Harris campaign has unlocked a wave of enthusiasm among young voters. But how do Democrats plan to fix the real-world problems impacting their lives? We spoke to four young delegates about the issues driving Gen-Z.
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“I have never voted in a presidential election before, and this one is pretty consequential. We hear a lot of ‘we will fight, we will win,’ which I think is awesome. But I think we also need to dig deep into the issues that are plaguing our country.” “Right now, not only are houses too expensive for people to buy, but rent is too high. It’s a work or die economy. And so we need there to be greater regulations on the housing and the renting market. We need rent caps. We need people to understand that if you can’t afford to put a roof over your head, if you can’t afford food on your table, then there’s no way that you can argue that we’re free in this country.” “My most important issue, especially for me and for my friends, is abortion rights. Not just abortion rights, but reproductive rights as a whole. There was one maternity ward left in my congressional district that just closed in January.” “The one thing that’s most important for Kamala Harris to get the youth vote is that she bans arms sales to Israel and that she also stops giving Israel military aid.” “C.E.O.s are making tens of millions of dollars while they’re paying their cashiers less than minimum wage in some states still. So it really is important for us to tackle corporate greed. I would be really aggressive with those kinds of changes if we wanted to see progress in those areas.” “I have queer family members. I have so many queer friends and they are living their life just fine now. And it says in Project 2025, they would lose the right. They could be fired at their job. They could lose their housing. Trans people are in danger all the time. And this would just make them so much worse off.” “There are definitely a lot of issues in the party and a lot of things all of us youth don’t agree on. But I think one thing we can agree on is that there’s hope about our future and beating back a potential president who could be really harmful, and who could be a dictator and could be a threat to our country.”
Recent episodes in 2024 Elections
A search warrant served at an Inglewood home to bust a retail theft ring uncovered not only hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise, but also a father-daughter duo behind some of the crimes, authorities said.
Last month, the California Highway Patrol’s Organized Retail Crime Taskforce served a search warrant on an Inglewood home where investigators suspected stolen goods were stored before being sold at Roadium Open Air Market in Torrance. When investigators searched the premises, they found merchandise such as designer shoes, purses, and perfumes sold under authentic brand names.
The 41-year-old homeowner, Jose Cuadra, was arrested as the suspected lead of the operation. According to law enforcement, retail thieves also known as “boosters” were seen entering his home to resell items they had stolen.
Cuadra was booked on suspicion of two counts of receiving stolen property, one count of selling counterfeit goods and one count of organizing retail theft with two or more people.
The investigators also arrested Johny Arciniegas-Cortes, 46, and his daughter, Paula Arciniegas, 28, last week. The duo is accused of stealing $10,000 in retail items in several robberies across Southern California. The two were booked on suspicion of two counts of grand theft, one count of planning to commit a crime and four misdemeanor counts of shoplifting items under $950, according to the California Highway Patrol.
According to CHP public information officer Jim Bettencourt, Cuadra’s retail theft ring is still under investigation and there may be more arrests.
This wasn’t the first time law enforcement officials have found a family at the center of a theft ring.
In May, Riverside County officials uncovered a different family retail theft operation and arrested four members on suspicion of stealing $7,000 of items from stores across Southern California.
The Organized Retail Crime Taskforce, created in 2019, is part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s efforts to crack down on retail crime this year. Just last week, Newsom approved 10 laws that address property theft — allowing indefinite prosecution of retail theft and increasing penalties on shoplifting and the possession and sale of stolen goods.
As of July, the aggressive push to curb retail theft has resulted in 717 arrests and $6.8 million recovered stolen goods in what Newsom’s office has called “a record pace” that surpasses all previous years.
The California Budget & Policy Center’s aggregated data show that property crime inched higher between 2020 and 2022, but rates of theft have decreased since then; the current crime rates are still well below the historical peaks in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
With the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week, we spoke with 65 party members, leaders and legislators, all attending the convention as delegates or alternates, to gauge their enthusiasm and opinions going into the election.
We talked to them about their views on Kamala Harris, the issues that drive them, what they’ve seen change, formative political moments, their favorite Democrats and who they think represents the future of the party.
Here’s how 65 Republicans answered the same questions.
1/6
How would you describe your feelings or level of enthusiasm about Kamala Harris as the nominee?
Nearly all the delegates surveyed — from self-described moderates to progressives — were very enthusiastic about Ms. Harris’s nomination. Many said that they felt she was the right candidate for the moment and that they had seen a spike in engagement within their local parties, especially among young people.
“I am so excited, I am tired now from my excitement.”
Pat Spearman, “I’m not trying to be corny or anything here. She just seems to be the person for the moment that we need when it comes to so many issues facing American families today.” Tim Drea, “Our country doesn’t have the best reputation for elevating women and elevating minorities. So I was a little scared. But then the young people in my life started texting me — my kids, my nieces and my cousins.”
Crystal LaGrone,
69, Nevada
state legislator and minister
66, Illinois
president of the Illinois A.F.L.-C.I.O.
51, Oklahoma
I.T. professional
Sam Skardon, the chair of his county party in Charleston, S.C., recalled the early hours of Ms. Harris’s candidacy: “We took a vote in that first meeting, that night that the president withdrew, on whether to endorse Vice President Harris as a delegation. I believe the vote was 58 to 4,” he said. “It’s a testament to her and her strength and her leadership that she consolidated the party so quickly.”
Many delegates said they were inspired by the potential of electing a Black and Asian American woman and talked about what that representation meant for them and their communities.
“I never thought the president would have an Indian name. It’s so special.”
Kavya Nair,
19, Minnesota
student
“All of the people that look like me making a difference, it makes me want to work harder. It makes me realize that hey, the American dream does include me.”
Shawnté Rothschild,
46, Arizona
pharmaceutical manager
Just a handful of delegates surveyed provided caveats to their excitement, saying that they needed to see Ms. Harris take a stronger position on ending the war in Gaza.
In addition to thousands of protesters outside the convention, a small number of convention delegates plan to remain “uncommitted” — representing Democratic primary voters who cast uncommitted ballots to protest President Biden’s Israel policy.
“I do not want another Trump presidency, another disastrous Trump presidency. None of us who are uncommitted want that. But we need to see more from Harris.”
Inga Gibson, “In order for me to be enthusiastic about her candidacy, I need to hear from her that she will both support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an arms embargo.”
June Rose,
52, Hawaii
policy consultant
29, Rhode Island
chief of staff for city council
Delegates were chosen before President Biden stepped down from the race and endorsed Vice President Harris. Many praised Mr. Biden’s legislative accomplishments and his sacrifice in stepping down.
“History is littered with examples of powerful men clinging to power even when they know they are going to lose,” said Taylor Sappington, a 32-year-old delegate from Ohio. He added that Mr. Biden’s actions felt liberating in a “pessimistic, hate-filled era of politics.”
2/6
Is there a particular issue that drives you toward or excites you about the Democratic Party right now?
Forty percent of respondents, across ages and genders, said that reproductive rights was a motivating issue for them. They expressed fear and disbelief over the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade and described how the ruling had affected them personally.
“My grandchildren, granddaughters, will not have the same rights as I had growing up, so that’s my biggest concern right now.” Lenora Sorola-Pohlman, “I told my husband, this is the hill I choose to die on. This is worth fighting for.”
Karmyn Seaberg,
69, Texas
business owner
66, Texas
retired registered nurse
In 2019, Robert Kahne and his wife made the decision to terminate her pregnancy after discovering at 20 weeks that their fetus had a fatal anomaly. “It was really a devastating moment,” said Mr. Kahne, who is attending the convention as a delegate for Kentucky. “I think about it almost every day.”
Since then, a near-total abortion ban has taken effect in Mr. Kahne’s state: “This issue isn’t an abstract thing to us. This is a real thing to us that we needed, and it’s no longer a right that families who need it have.”
“It is not very pro-life to be anti-I.V.F., and anti-paid leave, and anti-child care and public education, and all these things that the Republican Party stands for right now.”
Kylie Oversen,
35, North Dakota
attorney
“I am really proud to be in Illinois, where I have been able to vote on pretty landmark legislation protecting reproductive freedoms. But it’s scary to think that they could be attacked on a national level.”
Katie Stuart,
53, Illinois
state legislator
More than a quarter said they were worried about maintaining democracy and basic freedoms. Some said they were concerned about Project 2025, a set of conservative policy options that Mr. Trump has distanced himself from but that align with many of his priorities.
“I am from a background where democracy changed every few years and became a dictatorship, so we constantly have to fight. I value democracy more than anything else.”
Salauddin Choudhury,
54, Arizona
tech worker
“In Florida and North Florida, we feel like we’ve almost been the guinea pigs of Project 2025 in the way that Governor DeSantis has governed the state.”
Daniel Henry,
32, Florida
procurement professional
“The foundations and institutions and the rule of law that make our country what it is are under serious threat if Donald Trump gets elected.”
Nathan Soltz,
27, Oregon
chief of staff for state senator
A handful mentioned the economy. In a speech last week, Ms. Harris presented a series of economic proposals, including expanding a tax credit for parents, banning price gouging at grocery stores, spurring more affordable housing and lowering the cost of prescription drugs.
“Even though I believe we have a strong economy, sadly it’s been dominated by a select few.”
Simón Carlo, “Something that makes me most hopeful is the conversation around helping people get ahead, both in lowering price gouging and advocating for working people.” Izzy Dobbel, “Affordable housing. There’s a lot of people in my generation that can’t afford a home, even here in the Midwest.”
Ryan Granger,
36, Puerto Rico
attorney and accountant
26, Illinois
political director at the Chicago Federation of Labor
36, Missouri
regulatory analyst
Many respondents offered more than one issue. Education, climate change, gun control, health care and the rights of immigrants and other groups were cited several times.
“I was the mayor of Parkland before becoming a state representative, so gun violence prevention is incredibly important to me.” Christine Hunschofsky, “Public education for me, personally, is an issue that is just so important. I come from a small-town, working-class environment, and I had the world open up.”
Mike Woods, “My grandfather was a nationalist who fought against communism, and my grandmother had to flee. That’s why I’m in this country. For people that stir up this rhetoric about criminals coming into this country, they don’t know anything about what they’re talking about.”
Howard Chou,
54, Florida
state legislator
70, Oklahoma
retired college professor
49, Colorado
political consultant and strategist
A handful of delegates mentioned the war in Gaza, with some emphasizing the plight of the Palestinian people and others calling for continued U.S. support for Israel in its fight against Hamas.
3/6
Is there something you’ve seen change in the party?
Some respondents focused on the most immediate change — Ms. Harris’s replacement of Mr. Biden at the top of the ticket.
“There’s that famous quote, ‘If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution.’ I think the last month or so has been a great time.”
Alex Bores, “A lot of us got very depressed for several years. When Kamala and Tim Walz stepped in, the excitement just came back.”
Kathy Jensen,
33, New York
state legislator 
71, Nebraska
retired teacher
The most common response was that the party has grown more diverse, particularly in positions of leadership. Several reflected on how the party has changed when it comes to L.G.B.T.Q. rights and inclusion, and with promoting younger members.
“I can see a shift in the gay rights movement. Even in 2012, when Obama came out supporting L.G.B.T.Q., it took him a long time to come out with that support.”
Tan Pham, “When you have folks like Maxwell Frost and AOC, and you have Nancy Pelosi giving the reins over to minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, that all kind of signals to folks that there is a pathway for young people.”
Raumesh Akbari, On Kamala Harris: “If you go back to a Democratic convention 20 years ago, you don’t see any of the people in leadership roles like her or like myself.”
Neil Makhija, “I feel like with our vice president being our nominee, it opens up the party to more diversity. I still feel like there are a lot of gatekeepers.” Angela Romero,
39, Massachusetts
marketing director 
40, Tennessee
state legislator and lawyer
37, Pennsylvania
county commissioner
50, Utah
state legislator, community program manager
Some noted a shift toward progressivism, or a return to more populist roots. Others described their experiences as Democrats in Republican-leaning states, pointing to leaders like Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky as models for the party’s future.
“At least here in Minnesota, I think that people are really waking up to the possibility of really strong and smart progressive policies.”
Quentin Wathum-Ocama, “In the past we’ve not done great by our Democrats that live in the red states, but I think maybe we’re turning a corner and seeing the value of propping them up.” Crystal LaGrone, “There has been a recent change in the party to return to our roots, and to bring back the Democrats that we may have lost over the years when they felt that the Democratic Party left them.”
Michael J. Zagrobelny,
33, Minnesota
kindergarten teacher, president of Young Democrats of America
51, Oklahoma
I.T. professional
55, New York
labor relations specialist
4/6
Has there been a particularly meaningful or formative political moment in your life?
Nearly a quarter of respondents cited the 2008 election of Barack Obama. (Mr. Obama was the first Democratic president many of those surveyed had been able to vote for.)
“That was key to me. Just seeing somebody who looked like me be successful in an arena where Black folks haven’t truly been successful, especially on the national stage.”
Kevin Ford Jr.,
34, Maryland
real estate and cannabis entrepreneur
“It was seeing then-senator Obama give a speech. I can tell you it was just like, I can assume, seeing John F. Kennedy back in the day.”
Daniel Mulieri,
35, Florida
legislative director
“It brought so many new people into the party, and the excitement, hope and optimism. And by the way, that’s what I’m seeing now.”
Marlon Kimpson,
55, South Carolina
lawyer, Biden trade committee appointee
Some described other meaningful campaigns and movements.
“My dad said: ‘You’re little. Make your way to the front. Go squirm your way to the front so you can see Jimmy Carter up close.’”
Sophia Rodriguez, “I took a leave of absence my freshman year to work on Ted Kennedy’s campaign. I guess that would be where the bug started.” William Eddy, “It was very telling the kind of responses that Donald Trump received and what he invoked as a candidate. Prior to that I was actually very much a moderate Republican.”
Aaron Sims, “After Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed, and Roe v. Wade was overturned, and Louisiana enacted a strict abortion ban, I ran for office. I was seven months pregnant and filmed my pregnancy and birth in my campaign ad.”
Katie Darling,
57, Ohio
educator
Massachusetts
executive director of a trade association
32, Nevada
accountant
38, Louisiana
director of partnerships
The rest cited personal moments or national or world events that helped shape their political views.
“The 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. October 11.”
Glenn D. Magpantay, “What really got me to be actively involved was when George W. Bush was lying to America and the world about weapons of mass destruction.”
Kristan Peters-Hamlin, “When Joe Biden went on ‘Meet the Press’ and was one of the first really prominent national figures to endorse same-sex marriage.”
Jeremy Moss, “I got involved in political campaigns in 1972, and it was really an outgrowth of opposition to the war in Vietnam.”
Jeffrey Dinowitz, “One of my sisters and I were among the first people to go to an integrated school in Alabama — Holtville High School. They did not want us there.” Pat Spearman,
55, New York
attorney, commissioner to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
Rhode Island
writer and lawyer 
38, Michigan
state legislator
69, New York
state legislator
69, Nevada
state legislator and minister
5/6
Which Democratic figure do you consider your favorite, or think aligns most closely with your positions?
Barack Obama was the most common favorite, mentioned by one-third of the delegates surveyed.
“The way he was able to inspire hope, to bring people together when so many in society were fighting to push people apart is something I deeply admire.”
Alex Bores, “My uncle passed away in 2008, but he was actually able to vote absentee from his hospital bed for President Obama. He passed away literally about a week or so after the election was called, so he died knowing that first African American president had been elected.”
Kyler Gilkey,
33, New York
state legislator 
24, Tennessee
government employee
Several Democrats were mentioned by at least three people:
On Hillary Clinton: “Doggone it, that was so sad. We came so close to getting her elected president, and it didn’t happen. It was a real devastating feeling to me.”
Kathy Jensen, “I met Joe Biden on a train 15, 20 years ago, and he bought me a cup of coffee. And the first time you meet Joe Biden, you love Joe Biden.”
Lou Grossman, “I love Kamala Harris. I love the fact that she can be positive while remaining tough. It’s not a bad thing for a woman to be assertive and strong.”
Gini Ballou, “Politicians of all parties propose solutions as if we were dealing with smaller problems, and I think AOC and Bernie Sanders meet the moment.” June Rose,
71, Nebraska
retired teacher 
73, Florida
public relations counselor
64, Idaho
sales manager
29, Rhode Island
chief of staff for city council
The respondents named 53 favorite Democrats in all.
On former Representative Shirley Chisholm: “After watching the Netflix movie, I admire her even more than I did before.”
Mark Kelly Tyler, “I very much liked George McGovern when he ran his what turned out to be ill-fated campaign. Though two years later when Nixon was being impeached, you couldn’t find anyone who voted for Nixon.” John W. Hedrick, On Ann Richards, former governor of Texas: “She was brave and bold and charismatic and stood up for her values at a time when many women didn’t hold positions of power at all.”
Rayellen Smith,
58, Pennsylvania
senior pastor
69, Florida
retired attorney
68, New Mexico
retired C.P.A.
6/6
Aside from Kamala Harris, which Democratic figure do you think represents the future of the party?
Pete Buttigieg, the secretary of transportation, was the most popular answer.
“If somebody said, ‘Andy, you now have to be in a debate against Pete Buttigieg,’ I’d say: ‘I decline. I‘m not doing it. I’m not going to do that. Why would I do that?’”
Andy Josephson,
60, Alaska
state legislator
“Has a way of sort of breaking through the noise, giving information, but at the same time, not relinquishing any power when he speaks.”
Crystal LaGrone,
51, Oklahoma
I.T. professional
Other common choices were several Democratic governors, including Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan; Tim Walz of Minnesota (a handful of these interviews took place before he was announced as Ms. Harris’s running mate); Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania; Wes Moore of Maryland; and Andy Beshear of Kentucky.
“Gretchen Whitmer is sort of pushing back and saying: Actually government can do good things.”
Adam Goldwyn,
43, North Dakota
professor
On Tim Walz: “He served in the army. He comes from a working-class background. He was a teacher. I think the future of our party are ordinary people.”
Alan Cai,
18, Massachusetts
student
“Josh Shapiro has an amazing way of bringing people together across parties. The way that he responded to the assassination attempt of former president Trump was absolutely spot on.”
Michele L. Kidd,
46, New Jersey
political consultant
On Wes Moore: “He ran away a bunch of times and got in a lot of trouble, but eventually he dialed down. He started focusing on academics, he attended Oxford, and he attended Johns Hopkins University, and now he’s the sitting governor of Maryland.”
Landiran Kern Jr.,
18, Wisconsin
student
“Andy Beshear is able to be progressive on every issue without alienating anybody. He shows this leadership that isn’t really ideological.”
Robert Kahne,
38, Kentucky
data scientist
Several Democratic members of the House were also mentioned.
“I love the boldness of Jasmine Crockett. I want to see us be willing to stand up and say, ‘No, you can’t treat us like that.’”
Gini Ballou, On Representative Ro Khanna of California: “I think he presents a very thoughtful vision on progressive values and policies that also makes sense to everyone, whether you work in Silicon Valley or on Main Street.”
Sungkwan Jang, On Representative Jennifer McClellan of Virginia: “She is a very quiet but powerful leader, and I would keep my eye on her.”
Pat Spearman,
64, Idaho
sales manager
34, New Jersey
consultant
69, Nevada
state legislator and minister
Overall, participants named 44 Democrats they thought represented the party’s future.
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