CHICAGO — A total of 46 delegates are representing Iowa on the national stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
The Democratic delegates represent every part of the state and come from virtually every walk of life. Some are elected officials, union members, farmers and even teachers.
“They are excited to be the ones to be part of what is going to be a historic election process,” delegate and Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart said.
This year’s Democratic National Convention is historic because it won’t have a roll call vote to formally nominate Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee as that took place virtually earlier this month.
“We are very strong in knowing that this is a process that is going to work for people all over the United States of America,” Hart said.
Delegates from Iowa say they’re thrilled to throw their support around Harris and her running mate Tim Walz.
“We're fired up and ready to go like we haven't been in a long time,” Iowa Democratic delegate C.J. Petersen said. “It's really a great place, and a lot of joy and happiness right now.”
The delegates are eager to first hear from Walz, governor of neighboring Minnesota.
“Iowans honor public service,” Sen. Janice Weiner (D - Johnson County) said. “They honor veterans. They appreciate the fact that not just Gov. Walz but his wife are also long time public school teachers”
The delegates hope Harris will speak on issues that directly affect Iowans in her speech on the final day of the convention.
“We all want the freedom to make decisions about our own lives,” Petersen said. “We don't want people to tell us what books to read or what to do with our bodies or who we can love."
Hart hopes that by the end of the convention there will be even greater excitement around Harris and Walz.
She wants that excitement to encourage people to get involved and use the next several weeks to elect a Democratic president.
Local 5 reached out to the Iowa GOP for a response. The party gave the following statement:
"This week, as accidental presidential candidate Kamala Harris officially secures the nomination, Democrats will have their progressive agenda on full display. Thousands of Hamas sympathizers are already protesting, abortions and vasectomies can be received on demand in the convention zone, and far-left Democrats will be taking the stage throughout the week to speak. Meanwhile, Americans are struggling to make ends meet while costs and inflation skyrocket thanks to reckless policies from the Harris/Biden Administration. It's clear what the priorities of the Democratic Party are."