The 2024 Democratic National Convention commenced Aug. 19 in Chicago with hats sporting “Demo(b)rat” and speakers ranging from President Joe Biden to SNL star Kenan Thompson. Thousands of delegates, organizers and voters flocked to the windy city, packing Chicago’s United Center in a four-day celebration.
In Alachua County, Democrats are clear on what’s needed to win the upcoming November election: higher voter turnout. With workshops, caucus meetings and networking opportunities, the DNC was the place for those in the weeds of voter registration to learn new strategies.
Since Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee, 33,000 new volunteers have become involved in the Florida Democratic Party, said Florida’s 25th Congressional District delegate Charles Horowitz.
The 21-year-old UF political science and classical studies senior hopes these new volunteers will help break the Republican supermajority and bring the momentum to turn Florida blue in November.
“We know that when we fight, we win,” he said.
For Horowitz, the best part of the convention was leading 14 delegates during the DNC as the youngest Florida whip. Whips are in charge of guiding fellow delegates during the convention and are elected by their congressional districts to represent the primary voters' presidential pick at the DNC every four years.
With less than 100 days to the election, Horowitz hopes the party will continue to fight for a Democrat in the White House. At the DNC, Horowitz was inspired by the enthusiasm he saw from delegates, especially those from Florida.
At times, the convention looked more like a concert than a conference, with performances by P!nk, Stevie Wonder and John Legend. During the roll call, each delegation danced to a different song to recognize their state; Florida’s was Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down,” a UF staple always played in between the third and fourth quarter of home football games.
“Bill Clinton used to say that Republicans fall in line and Democrats fall in love,” Horowitz said. “Over the past week, we've seen that both are possible at the same time. We are the party of joy, we are the party of discipline, and we're going to make sure that we win.”
Voter registration in Alachua County
On the final day of the DNC, Harris officially accepted the Democratic nomination. During her speech, she advocated for a ceasefire in Gaza and a peaceful return of all hostages held by Hamas. Horowitz said he appreciated the clarity Harris brought on her stance towards the issue, especially with the conflict being a topic that resonates with younger voting bases.
But not all were satisfied with Harris’s statement. Protesters lined the streets outside the United Center each day of the DNC, holding signs and yelling names of Palestinians killed during the conflict. Activists demanded a delegate in favor of a ceasefire to have a speaking slot during the convention, but their requests were denied.
Millions watched Harris’s speech at the DNC from the comfort of their homes. One of those constituents was Vice Chair of Alachua County Democrats J. Maggio, who said the passion and messaging brought from the DNC has made his job canvassing in Alachua County easier.
Since Harris was made the nominee, Maggio has seen more people volunteering with the Democratic Party in Alachua County, mirroring statewide trends. A new sense of excitement has also arrived along with those volunteers, he added. As the general election gets closer, Maggio hopes this enthusiasm will continue to grow.
“It's not quite 2008, but it feels a whole lot more like it than when Biden was on the ticket,” Maggio said.
As of Aug. 25, 158,417 people are registered to vote in Alachua County. Despite this, the Aug. 20 primary polls saw a turnout of only about 22%, with less than 36,000 ballots cast.
At the DNC, there was an abundance of red, white and blue, with flags draped from lamp posts and signs reading “USA.” The patriotic messaging shows that Harris is a way for everyone, including students, to reclaim what it means to be an American, said 20-year-old UF political science junior Nathaniel Pelton.
In the 2016 election cycle, Pelton said the Republican Party tried to take patriotic symbolism away from the Democrats, which he hopes to re-incorporate while canvassing. Pelton, who also serves as the National Organizing Director for Dream for America, hopes the Democratic party continues to reshape patriotic values into a progressive future.
Dream for America is a Gen-Z-led non-profit focused on mobilizing young voters across college campuses. The organization participates in voter registration drives, promotes student engagement in politics and canvasses for local and national candidates.
“Harris' campaign presents a vision for the future where we can look beyond our ideological differences and unify as one America,” he said.
Contact Morgan Vanderlaan at mvanderlaan@alligator.org. Follow her on X @morgvande.
Morgan Vanderlaan is a second year Political Science major and the Fall 2024 Politics Enterprise Reporter. When she's not on the clock she can be found writing, reciting, and watching theatre!
