Celebrity presenters announced for each night of the DNC
Four celebrities, including Kerry Washington and Mindy Kaling, are coming to Chicago to host an evening of the DNC.
Fox – 32 Chicago
Brat Summer has arrived in Chicago, and Knox County’s seven delegates are celebrating Vice President Kamala Harris’ big moment at the Democratic National Convention.
The convention, which will feature Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, will focus on Democrats’ unique (but not “weird,” they argue) campaign messages, including memes and viral moments such as singer Chari XCX’s “brat” version of the vice president.
Delegates from Knox County say it’s exactly what the party wants.
“Kamala Harris has lit a fire in the Democratic Party,” said delegate Mark Siegel of Knoxville. “A new generation is entering the campaign.”
Knox News spoke with Siegel and fellow delegate Jack Vaughan of Knoxville as they prepared for the first session of the convention.
Knox News: It seems like the scene there is pretty optimistic. Can you tell me about that?
Mark Siegel: There have been a lot of changes in the last month and it has really worked out as well as it could.
Jack Vaughan: It’s been so electric and we haven’t even gotten into the best part of the day yet. It just feels unifying. We have 78 days, however long, to get this work done. It’s really a party for four days and then a kickoff to the work ahead.
How will you maintain the momentum to ensure this is not just a honeymoon phase?
Vaughan: Frankly, it’s been a pretty long honeymoon phase. I mean, just the history that we’re experiencing right now will be enough to keep the momentum going. We’re at a point in American history where the first African-American woman and the first South Asian woman is running for president as a major party candidate. Frankly, between now and two months ago, that’s exactly the push that the Democrats need at this moment.
When you became a delegate, you were a Biden delegate. How do you think the mood has changed under Harris?
Seal: I think most of the delegates have a strong connection to President Biden and what he’s done and who he is as a person. They can’t necessarily relate to the dynamic that came after the debate. (Harris) brought a whole new energy. I mean, those things really resonate.
Vaughan: I think the party would still have been united, but maybe the energy would have been a little different. I think this is the most energetic convention in decades. I’ve heard that from several people.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask: Does Charli XCX just play all the time? Can you tell us what you see and hear?
Vaughan: They have a Coconut Club where you can go into a Kamala Harris-themed booth with neon lights and pictures of Kamala Harris from different years. There are definitely programs geared toward younger people, toward some of these memes that they’ve picked up on.
I think the convention itself tonight will probably highlight some of those changes from two months ago compared to now. With Charli XCX singing, they’ve already done a dry run and someone will go to Sabrina Carpenter, so it’s going to be fun tonight.
What do you think about how the campaign capitalizes on the appeal of Generation Z?
Seal: We need all Americans to support our politics and our government. I’m happy to see the energy of people getting involved. My daughter and her friends are very excited about Kamala Harris, and I think that’s what has made her excited about politics in general.
Allie Feinberg covers politics for Knox News. You can email her at [email protected] and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @alliefeinberg
