CHICAGO — On Monday, the Democratic National Convention kicked off in Chicago, with many local delegates in attendance; including Tanisha Harris, a national delegate for the state of Washington, and Tom Karwaki, an alternate from Oregon.
Following a late speech by President Biden, each reflected on the first day and shared their thoughts with KGW.
"I think what you're seeing is just the party coming together. The delegates — they're energized, they're excited," said Harris. "And really, there's a mission at hand to defend democracy, protect civil rights, voting rights, reproductive rights, labor rights, workers' rights, and knowing that we have to defeat Donald Trump once and for all ... that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz is the team to do it, and ... as President Biden said tonight, he loves the job of being president. But he loves his country more."
"I met Joe in 1972 when I was working at the DNC as a volunteer in the finance office and the youth office, and he came in and he was just a young man and no one expected him to run, let alone win," added Karwaki. "And he's just done such a great job for his whole career, and that's what he saw today."
Both delegates regarded the President's speech as heartfelt and optimistic.
"He honored the working man, he honored the middle class. He honored so many parts of America, and he honored our troops," Harris said Monday, "I think that was important and I think if you could been here in the, you know, arena tonight, you would have felt that he was speaking directly to you and your family and your values and beliefs, and really America's values."