SC Democrats gear up for 2024 DNC: York County delegates rally behind Kamala Harris

South Carolina staunchly has been a red state, for decades, but members of the York County Democrat Party say they are excited to attend the Democratic National Convention to support Vice President Kamala Harris.

Harris is poised to become the Democratic presidential nominee after President Joe Biden abandoned his bid for reelection in July and endorsed Harris. The change sets the stage with Harris against former President Donald Trump in November.

Member delegates including Chairwoman Nikita Jackson, Rep. John King, D-Rock Hill, Executive Committeeman John Holder, and second Vice-Chairman Ryan Stephens will make trip next week to Chicago for the convention which takes place at the United Center Aug. 19 - 22.

The convention will be an opportunity for first time delegates King, Stephens and Jackson to experience the event’s pageantry, as well as help Harris continue to grow her numbers in battleground states in the Midwest.

“I’m excited to be a delegate representing York County It’s exciting to have a woman of color on the ticket,” Stephens told The Herald. “It’s my first time, so I’m looking forward to partaking in the various meetings and to be a part of this campaign.”

The last time Democrats won South Carolina during a presidential election was more than forty years ago. That’s when Jimmy Carter took the state and nearly all of the south to win the election over Republican President Gerald R. Ford in 1976.

Stephens believes that the Democrats have a solid chance in South Carolina this time around.

“I believe there are definitely good areas of South Carolina that will vote for Harris,” he said, “Democrats are going to make sure we are building up the middle class, and ensuring we have marriage equality while fighting for reproductive access and healthcare.”

Democrats say the fight for women’s rights is an issue that will be addressed this election. It particularly affects the South Carolina community, partly because the state’s restriction on abortion access. Currently the state has a roughly 6-week abortion ban for most cases.

“I think the Democratic party is excited! The party is more united against Trump than ever before. But being against someone isn’t enough,” Holder, a professor from Winthrop University, told The Herald. “You have to show people what you are for, and there is a degree of enthusiasm for the Harris candidacy.”

More than 5,000 delegates will be in attendance as well as upward of 12,000 volunteers, according to the DNC website .

The South Carolina Democratic Party delegation met virtually and voted to endorse Harris for the 2024 Democratic Presidential nomination, officials said in a statement released on July 22, as previously reported by The Sun News .

“In the primaries Biden won all the votes but seven. Everyone who voted did so with the understanding she would be the vice-president.” Holder stated. “There wasn’t any controversy for the switch; people were excited about her stepping in place of him.”

Dems were worried

Concerns about Biden already were mounting following his poor performance during the June 27 debate . And at 81, his age also was worrying everyone.

Jackson told reporters the party had to stand on “our values and our democratic principles,” and support the president, even as the list of party leaders calling for him to step aside was growing.

“On July 19, I was asked ‘what can I do to energize the Democratic party,’ ” Jackson said, and then asked herself a question: “Well, who do we have left to vote for?”

That weekend, on July 21, Biden did in fact drop out the race.

“It was a sigh of relief,” she said. ”It’s been amazing to see everyone come on board to support Kamala Harris.”

Push to expand Democrat voices

To help bolster momentum, Stephens has been working with young adults, including those who identify as LGBTQ to get them engaged in the election.

Recent polls showed Gen-Z and younger millennial voters between 18-34 were not particularly enthusiastic about Biden or Trump. Some, such as the CBS News/YouGov poll, revealed a lean toward Biden, while others shift toward Trump.

Now that Harris is in the race, poll results from all groups run the gamut. Most appear to reflect an uptick in favor of the vice president , with some showing gains over Trump in swing states, The New York Times reported .

Stephen said he ensures people get out and vote and have voice in their electoral process.

“People across the board are excited about this change,” Stephens said. “Young voters are excited to see someone fresh that we haven’t seen run for president before.”

First time voter Kennedy Rouse, who is 17 and will turn 18 by election day, is the daughter of democratic campaign manager Melissa Rouse. She is looking forward to her chance to participate this year.

“I’ve done my research on the candidates. A lot of people my age don’t understand the reality of voting. They are just following what their parents say,” she added, noting that Harris is a candidate that aligns with her values.

“I believe in women’s rights. Rules against women’s rights will affect my children in the future,” she said.

Her older sister Jada Rouse, 21, voted for Biden in 2020.

“Skin color is not the only thing I see when I vote,” she said. “Character and moral values are striking differences between the two.”