CHICAGO — State lawmakers from across the country met Monday at a meeting of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee as part of the Democratic National Convention and overwhelmingly agreed that Harris-Walz’s fresh presidential candidacy has energized the party’s base.
“I think there’s a collective opportunity to get across to a whole bunch of new Democrats and voters in general how important their state legislatures really are, and to build that for a future where voters better understand why their representation in their state legislatures is so important,” said Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, in an interview with States Newsroom.
Democratic lawmakers from states that typically lean Republican, such as Iowa, Tennessee and Oklahoma, said they, too, have seen a surge in volunteer numbers since Vice President Kamala Harris entered the race as the fresh Democratic presidential candidate. President Joe Biden withdrew from his re-election bid after a disastrous debate performance and pressure from leading Democrats.
Tennessee Rep. John Ray Clemmons, chairman of the Democratic Caucus in the House of Representatives, said he sees volunteers not only nationally, but also in the Tennessee House of Representatives elections.
“With this new energy comes new enthusiasm and people feel a new sense of hope and purpose,” he said.
He said the presidential campaign felt similar to former President Barack Obama’s campaign in 2008.
Pam Jochum, Democratic leader in the Iowa State Senate, said she has seen an augment in the number of people wanting to volunteer.
“Iowa residents are very excited,” she said. “It has led to more fundraising, and we actually have people calling us and asking, ‘How can we help?'”
State lawmakers added that enthusiasm for Harris’s vice presidential candidacy increased even further after she nominated Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
“We haven’t felt this kind of hope and energy in a long time,” Jochum said, adding that Walz “brings common sense and a real passion for our democracy and freedom and compliments Kamala. [Harris] really, really good.”
Oklahoma State Senator Carri Hicks said it was refreshing to see Walz on the ballot, “showing a different face of masculinity, embracing and supporting women … which I see as true kindness and compassion in his leadership style.”
Hicks said Harris’s advocacy for reproductive rights since the overturning of Roe v. Wade and Walz’s recurrent references to his daughter Hope, who was born through in vitro fertilization, have resonated with voters in her state.
“In my Senate district, health care is the primary economic driver for the district that I represent,” she said. “So when you think about access to reproductive care, about the ability to raise a family, I think it humanizes the story that so many of my constituents have gone through, that so many Americans have gone through.”
In the swing states, the reactions were largely similar.
Robert Reives, Democratic leader in the North Carolina House of Representatives, said issues related to reproductive rights such as abortion, in vitro fertilization and contraception played a major role in voter turnout.
“What you definitely see, especially in urban areas, is a realization by women of all ages that there is a war on women,” he said. “All the rights and opportunities that women should have have suddenly disappeared.”
Joe Tate, speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, said the energy surrounding Harris and Walz’s campaign was a “boost to the arm.”
“I think we’re going to continue to see an increase in this trend among Democrats, from the top of the ballot all the way down,” Tate said, adding that he hopes to expand Democrats’ influence in the state legislature and make Michigan a Democratic contender for Harris.
Since Harris entered the race: The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter several swing states moved – Arizona, Georgia and Nevada – from “leaning Republican” to “undecided.”
And even though there are less than three months until November, Harris and Walz have already aggressively targeted the swing states. At a Monday breakfast with delegates from Wisconsinanother swing state, Walz encouraged delegates to continue campaigning until Election Day.
“We have 78 days of hard work ahead of us,” Walz said. “We can sleep when we’re dead.”
