'Nothing was more moving': Mayor Owens on Day 2 at the DNC

Editor’s note: The following is a report on the Democratic National Convention in Chicago from delegate Michael Owens, mayor of Mableton.

I woke up excited for the first full day of the convention, ready to dive into all the activities ahead. My day began with picking up my credentials and enjoying the delegate breakfast. I’m thankful that the Democratic Party of Georgia (DPG) is providing us with a free breakfast every day while we’re here.

I spent the morning doing some work at the hotel before setting out to attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors Luncheon and had the pleasure of dining with (Montgomery, Alabama) Mayor Steven Reed. A fun fact: Mayor Reed used to live in the Six Flags/Riverside area of Mableton before moving to Montgomery, AL. During the luncheon, I also had a chance to chat with Stephen Benjamin, assistant and senior advisor to the president. I made sure to bend the ear of the former mayor and White House insider about how the city of Mableton missed out on ARPA funds and the pressing need for federal support. Additionally, I spoke with Secretary Pete Buttigieg about the transit needs we have in Mableton, which will only increase with our plans to build a city center.

Later, I popped into the Labor Council meeting, where I met a group of lovely ladies wearing "Nurses for Kamala!" shirts. They were from National Nurses United (NNU), the nation’s largest union of registered nurses, with nearly 225,000 members nationwide. They told me they are supporting Vice President Harris, in part, because of her vote for the Inflation Reduction Act, which reduced prescription drug prices.

Afterward, I found the line for the free shuttle and made my way to the United Center for the first night of the convention. The security and coordination here are incredible! The 30-minute trip from the McCormick Center to the United Center took us through a maze of dedicated lanes and subterranean passageways, getting us there without much delay. Security at the United Center is tight—very tight. The Chicago Police Department and Secret Service are everywhere. With an established perimeter, everyone feels very safe.

Being on the convention floor is an amazing experience. This is where the Chicago Bulls won NBA championships! Now, it’s been transformed into a blue sea of excitement. I’ve never been on the floor at a delegation, and it’s a true wonder when you look around at the thousands of people from across the country gathered in the same building. Georgia having our delegation on the floor is a sign of how important the national Democratic Party views our state. After the formal opening of the meeting, driven by hunger, I found myself deep in the bowels of the United Center and ended up in a location where I had the opportunity to have dinner at a table adjacent to Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and his family. It wasn’t planned, and I probably wasn’t supposed to be in that section, but I struck up a conversation with Yusef Jackson, one of Rev. Jackson's sons. We all enjoyed a good chat before I rejoined the delegation on the floor just in time for the surprise speech from Vice President Harris.

The night was full of emotions, with moments of fiery inspiration from the speeches of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York, Jasmine Crockett from Texas, and our own U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock. There were also somber moments, including three women who spoke about their life-altering experiences in the ongoing struggle for reproductive freedom. Our delegation particularly enjoyed Secretary Hillary Clinton’s speech, with many feeling that this time we’ll put a woman in the White House.

Nothing was more moving than the speech from President Joe Biden. The outpouring of love from the delegates was unmistakable. The moment felt like a fitting tribute to his time in office, with the theme of the night signaling a true changing of the guard—a passing of the torch. As President Biden wrapped up his address, I looked around, and I won’t say I was crying, but there were definitely tears among the Georgia delegation.

With the president’s speech not ending until around midnight, we were late to our own party. The "Southern Soul Party," featuring Georgia’s own Lil Jon as the special DJ, was the most coveted after-party of the convention, according to Politico magazine. The party was full of notable political faces from around the country, again symbolizing Georgia’s energy on the national political landscape—and because ATL is known across the country for throwing great parties!

A quick shuttle ride back to the hotel wrapped up the night, and now it’s time to get some sleep and get ready for day three of the convention!