Ohio Democrats rally behind Vice President Harris at the DNC

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — Less than three months until this November’s election and the Democratic National Convention has officially kicked off.

“Since we changed candidates, it’s been unbelievable,” Ohio delegate Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) said. “Democrats are coming together, they’re fired up.”

The DNC is being held in Chicago this week, and Democrats said they are rallying behind their messaging and new presidential candidate, VP Kamala Harris.

“If this had not changed, I think it would actually be a very different tone,” Democratic strategist David Pepper said. “Energy and excitement and everyone’s got their Kamala Harris hats or shirts. And I think it actually could have been a real disaster in terms of an open convention.”

While the presidential race might be tough to turn blue in Ohio, Pepper and DeMora said more Democrats being enthused and coming out to vote could help other races swing in their favor.

“The energy that we’ve gotten the last several weeks is going to help everybody up and down the ticket,” DeMora said.

For example, both delegates pointed to the three open Ohio Supreme Court seats.

“[It] could actually put the Supreme Court races in play in a way that maybe people don’t feel like they would be in play just a few weeks ago,” Pepper said.

“Everybody here mentioned the Supreme Court because everybody talked about reproductive rights,” DeMora said. “Everyone here knows that even though we passed issue 1 last year, if we don’t flip the Ohio Supreme Court, that that’s all in jeopardy.”

One notable Ohioan will not be at the DNC this year, Sen. Sherrod Brown, who is in a critical battle against Bernie Moreno for the U.S. Senate seat. Whoever wins that race could determine the party balance of the U.S. Senate. Instead of being at the DNC, Brown is campaigning in Ohio this week.

“I would say that people respect that that’s what he’s doing,” Pepper said. “It’s clearly close. And you’re not winning votes in Chicago as an Ohio senator, you’re winning votes in Mansfield or in Cincinnati or in Springfield.”

This week will include an official party platform being adopted for this year’s election, some talk about the only statewide ballot initiative in Ohio this year, and campaign strategies to bring back to the state.

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