Delegates from Arizona cast their vote for Vice President Kamala Harris at the DNC
Excited delegates from Arizona cast their votes for Vice President Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention on August 20, 2024 in Chicago.
After the traditional red, white and blue balloons dropped at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, delegates from Knox County said they were eager to help by electing Vice President Kamala Harris.
William Mendoza-Euceda, the youngest delegate from Tennessee, called Knox News from the convention floor. Knoxville City Council member Debbie Helsley and local volunteer Jack Vaughan spoke with us as they left the convention after 11 p.m. Chicago time.
Here’s what they had to say:
Knox News: You just made history. How do you feel?
Helsley: I think everyone is ready to get to work. Everyone is just going to take this home and work hard (until the election).
Mendoza-Euceda: A lot of people are motivated, a lot of people are excited. I’ve talked to some people who told me they haven’t felt this way in years. I feel patriotic. … The Democratic Party has reclaimed the American flag.
Vaughan: Energized and ready to get to work. We have 75 days to do our job here in Knox County and advocate for Kamala Harris. And everyone is just thrilled to have experienced this moment in person.
You saw several Republicans on stage this week. Do you think their message reached members of your party?
Mendoza-Euceda: I think she will. There are a lot of Republicans who don’t like Trump. You know, the people who are fighting every day, the Republican Americans, she’s going to fight for.
Vaughan: I mean, I can speak to both of my parents, I grew up in a Republican household in the suburbs of West Knoxville. (My parents are) two public school teachers who voted Republican. My mom voted for Kamala and my dad voted for a Democrat for the first time two years ago. I think those are an example of two former Republicans from the suburbs who voted for (John) McCain and Mitt Romney but left the Republicans in the Trump era.
We’ve talked several times this week about Tennessee taking its place on the Democratic stage. Do you think the delegation has accomplished that?
Mendoza-Euceda: We were the first delegates in the country to give (Harris) all of our delegates, we did that. We were out there, and especially on TV, we were on TV so much. We did a good job of getting our name out there. Even though Gloria Johnson and the Tennessee Three didn’t get to speak, people knew about them. I think we’re ready.
Do you think Harris achieved what she wanted to achieve with her acceptance speech?
Mendoza-Euceda: I think that’s true, I think she said everything she needed to say. She did a good job on immigration, one of the big issues she attacked. It’s good that we can secure our border, but we can also welcome immigrants who want to live here and make life easier for them.
Vaughan: It was definitely a politically motivated speech, and of course the convention was a little bit about personality, too. So it was definitely a balance of personality… with a focus on issues like gun violence, reproductive rights, and affordable housing.
Allie Feinberg covers politics for Knox News. You can email her at [email protected] and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @alliefeinberg
