‘Positive energy’: Democratic stars mingle with Illinois delegates
As a host of VIPs popped into the Illinois contingent’s breakfast Monday, local delegates at the Democratic National Convention said they are energized about the election but victory is not a given.
‘Are you fired up?” Gov. J.B. Pritzker asked the crowd at The Royal Sonesta hotel in downtown Chicago.
“Here in the land of Lincoln, the birthplace of Hillary Clinton, the home state of Barack Obama, we are launching our federal candidates for president and vice president for a victory — so in just 78 days we get to say the two words we’ve been waiting to say for 248 years, ‘Madam President,’” Pritzker said.
South Elgin delegate Beth Penesis stumped for President Joe Biden in the Iowa caucuses in 2020, so his decision to end his reelection campaign and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris “was emotional,” she said.
“I truly believe in him but I’m very excited,” she said. “I think he did a selfless act to benefit us all.”
And, “I am just so grateful to Joe Biden for stepping aside and doing what’s best for the country, and setting a pathway where we can protect and save democracy,” state Sen. Laura Murphy of Des Plaines said.
DuPage County Chair and delegate Deb Conroy said the enthusiasm about the ticket of Harris and vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is “contagious.”
And with several Midwestern states up for grabs, “a lot of people in Illinois are so excited they’re willing to go to Wisconsin and knock on doors.”
Making a surprise appearance was Walz’s wife, Gwen, who called Chicago “one of my favorite cities.”
“I can’t think of a better team,” she said of her husband and Harris. “They’ve both spent their careers fighting on behalf of middle-class families. They want to give everyone a chance at the American dream.”
Also speaking was U.S. Sen. Corey Booker of New Jersey, who warned that winning the election isn’t a given and asked delegates what they’d tell their great-grandchildren about their efforts.
“Did you stand up for democracy? Did you work for a woman’s right to chose? Did you fight to protect Social Security?” he asked.
U.S. Rep. Sean Casten of Downers Grove said the Harris campaign is attracting new voters.
“The most beautiful thing I heard was 30-year-old who told me in her life she’s never been happy and joyous about a presidential election until now,” he said.
“It’s happy, its joyful, it’s people smiling, it’s funny memes — yes the future of our country is at stake but it’s so refreshing to have all of this positive energy.”
Highland Park Mayor and delegate Nancy Rotering noted “once people hear what this ticket stands for and how much they are supporting everyday people and the freedoms that we appreciate as part of this country, they're going to show up and they're going to vote for those who will protect those freedoms and not those who are going to take them away.”
Grass-roots Democratic organizers said the injection of Harris is causing a surge in volunteers.
“The energy is palpable. We are now pulling people off the sidelines and having them reengage and organize in a new fashion,” Hanover Park Trustee and delegate Yasmeen Bankole said.
“It’s unbelievable, the change in energy,” McHenry County alternate delegate Kristina Zahorik added. “People, particularly women, we haven’t seen since 2016 are coming back out and participating.”