The Illinois delegation to the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago has been meeting for breakfast every morning to go over strategy, hear speakers and inform delegates of the day’s activities. During Wednesday’s breakfast we spoke with some of the downstate delegates about their convention experiences and what they think it will take to get voters in their home counties to vote for the Democratic ticket in November.
Former Congressman Glenn Poshard
“The enthusiasm level is higher than any convention I’ve ever been to in my life. I think Michelle Obama set the crowd on fire last night.”
“I’m from a rural area and the Democratic Party is going to have to enact some policy considerations for rural areas to try to win back Democrats again. We need to pay more attention to our hospitals which have closed in rural areas. Thankfully the infrastructure improvements that the governor and the president are putting forward have been incredible. The infrastructure is really something that’s going to win some Democrats back.”
Jay Briney, Havana, first convention
“It has been outstanding, with really upbeat people. The town I come from is little, there’s like 3,400 people and two stoplights, so coming here is overwhelming.”
“Mason County is a rural farm community and farmers are usually strong Republicans. But I’ve had calls from a lot of people wanting to help who have not wanted to help before, which is good. Having a woman on the top of the ticket with this vice presidential candidate is a great team, I think they’re going to connect with the voters.”
112th District State Representative Katie Stuart, Edwardsville, first convention
“It’s spectacular, the speeches give you energy and hope and joy. I think I’ve laughed and cried during most of the speeches. I think the stories of the women and the couple sharing their fertility journey was really moving.”
“The voters of Madison County need to understand the story of what Democrats bring to them: a living wage, paid leave for all so people can take care of their families, protecting women’s rights. We have to make sure we tell the story of what we’ve done.”
Pamela Davidson, Galesburg
“My first convention was during COVID so I was at home watching it from my couch. Being here in Chicago is just mind-blowing.”
“It’s going to take us knocking on doors in Knox County - telling our stories, especially in the rural areas. We take for granted that all Republicans think the same way and they vote all Republican, and we have Democrats in the county, too.”
Vivian Robinson, Carbondale, first convention
“It’s fantastic, the power in the room, the excitement. Everybody is really fired up for this election. Seeing Barack and Michelle give their speeches and seeing Joe Biden really brought tears to my eyes. He’s such a heartfelt, good man and he’s done so much for our country.”
“Jackson County is pretty blue, our county chairman works hard for the party, and we are pretty unified. So I think Jackson County’s going to vote Democratic.”
Jimmy Naville, Rockbridge, Greene County, first convention
“People are on fire. Just being here is the most unusual thing for me. Great people have helped to get me here.”
“People are going to have to see how we are going to affect their daily lives, how they are putting food on the table. Stick with the message about creating jobs, getting grocery prices down, helping everybody take care of their families.”
State Sen. Doris Turner, Springfield
“This is my fourth convention and
this outpaces any of the others. The logistics have been great and the vibe in the convention center has been phenomenal. The presenters have been just over the moon. Everyone’s message has been on target and energizing, hopeful and joyous. This really helps send us back home to get the work done.”
“I’ve been doing this for a while in Sangamon County and it’s looking more and more purple. No one thought I would win my election, but here I am. Sangamon County was right there for me.”
Illinois State Senate President Don Harmon
“It’s been spectacular, really thrilling, to put Chicago and Illinois on display. Having President Obama and Michelle Obama back on stage was really a highlight. I think we’re ready to elect Kamala Harris.”
“What’s it going to take to turn downstate portions of Illinois from red to blue? That’s a tough one, and I’ve been wrestling with this. We really need to invest in all corners of Illinois. We’ve got great Democrats in every county, but it’s still hard. We used to elect Democrats in the Senate from downstate districts like John Sullivan’s or Gary Forby’s.”
“The Republican Party has changed, so we’re fighting that fight. We’re trying to figure out how to make sure we invest in Democrats and build the bench all across the state.”
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul
“You normally come into a convention week looking for it to give you a boost. This is a very unique situation this year where on the heels of the Republican National Convention we got a boost in the candidacy of Kamala Harris and Coach Walz. So we’re going into convention week with a boost, and getting a further boost by the type of unity that we see here in Chicago. A lot of people expected our convention to be divisive. The last one I was at in Philadelphia there was that sort of divisiveness with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.”
“I think the Republican Party has been hijacked and they’re following a guy who has no interest in any principle other than himself. I served in the legislature for 14 years and I valued my relationships with people on the other side of the aisle. That type of thing no longer exists because they have been pulled to the extreme on the other side of the aisle. I’m a Democrat but I wish to see a stronger Republican Party that’s gone back to its principles, not extremism.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, breakfast speaker
“If you told us at the last convention I was at in 2016 that a school board president would be the first Black speaker of the Illinois House and a middle school teacher would become mayor of the greatest city in the world, I wouldn’t have believed you. But that is only possible because of people in this room who understand it’s about politics and not just about party.”
“If this was just about party, the Republican Party should have been obsolete a long time ago. The only thing more painful than watching the Republican Party is breakdancing at the Summer Olympics. So we’ve got to get our politics right. It’s not beholding ourselves to a sort of arbitrary definition of what it means to be a Democrat. I’m talking about what it means to be an American.”
Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Transportation Secretary, breakfast speaker
“The simple fact is that the American people agree with us on the issues that matter. Democrats have this habit of sometimes feeling like our views must be unpopular. The reverse is true.”
“I actually think we are under-reacting to how significant Project 2025 is. It’s a policy scandal. It’s the thing that has Republicans cowering and distancing themselves.”
“Which would you rather be the party of? The party of darkness, grievance and anger? We are doing so much better.”
