Politics
Six Questions We Asked 65 Democratic Convention Attendees
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.