Virginia’s Democratic delegates are headed to Chicago next week to back Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz at the Democratic National Convention , after Harris secured the votes needed to become the nominee in early August .
Virginia will send 119 delegates and eight alternates to Chicago for the national convention kicking off on Monday. Federal lawmakers, state representatives, local leaders, and people elected by the party will make up the commonwealth's caucus as they make their way to the Windy City.
Super delegate Sen. Tim Kaine , who is up for re-election this year, said his plan is to head to Chicago for the convention late Monday morning and to return to Virginia Wednesday night, primarily so that he can spend time with the Virginia delegation.
“Being on the ballot this year, I feel like I want to rally them,” he said during a press briefing after an event in Tuckahoe on Thursday. “My plan is, on the Thursday night session where the Vice President speaks, I’ll probably watch it with a group of Democrats somewhere in the state – Democrats who couldn't go to the convention, I’ll probably gather with them.”
Kaine, a former chair of the Democratic National Committee, said he likely won’t give a speech at the convention, citing his history of attending past Democratic conventions.
“I’ve had the opportunity to speak, now I encourage others to speak,” he said, but either he or Rep. Bobby Scott, D - Newport News, may announce their delegates for Harris when Virginia is called. Though that detail was still being worked out as of Thursday, he said.
Kaine’s challenger, retired Navy Capt. Hung Cao , addressed the Republican National Convention in July .
How were Virginia’s Democratic delegates selected?
Of the 100+ delegates heading to the DNC, 65 were selected in elections that took place at Democratic congressional district conventions in May. Candidates were given the opportunity to make the case for why they should go to Chicago in speeches at their respective district conventions prior to those elections.
Delegates at the state convention in June elected 34 at-large or party leader delegates to attend the national convention along with the 65 elected official delegates.
The Democratic Party of Virginia also has 20 automatic, or “super” delegates. Virginia Democratic Party Chair Susan Swecker and Vice Chair Marc Broklawski are among those super delegates along with Kaine, Del. Josh Cole of Fredericksburg, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, Eighth District Congressman Don Beyer, Eleventh District Congressman Gerry Connolly, Fourth District Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, Seventh District Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, Tenth District Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton, Senator Mark Warner, and former Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
The Republican Party of Virginia selected its delegates to the Republican National Convention at their quadrennial district conventions , which took place earlier this year.
Who are the elected Democratic delegates?
Elected delegates from the Sixth Congressional District include Jeanne Fishwick of Roanoke, Jade Harris, Mark Lazar of Roanoke, and Brent Whittlesey of Berryville.
Elected delegates from the Fourth Congressional District include state Sen. Lashrecse Aird of Petersburg, Danny Friedman of Richmond, Hanh Deniston of Colonial Heights, Jewel Gatling of Richmond, Don Glazer of Richmond, Allison Lawrence of Richmond, Victor McKenzie of Richmond, and Randon Sprinkle of Richmond.
The youngest Democratic delegate elected to head to Chicago from Virginia is Blaizen Buckshot Bloom, 21-years-old, of Chesapeake. At-large delegates include city leaders like Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander and Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea, Sr. Former Lt. Gov. Democratic nominee Hala Ayala is also a delegate.
Several current Virginia lawmakers will also head to Chicago, including House of Delegates Speaker Don Scott, Senate President Pro tempore Louise Lucas, Sen. Mamie Locke, Del. Charniele Herring, Sen. Scott Surovell, Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, Del. Rozia Henson, Del. Kannan Srinivasan, Del. Phil Hernandez, Del. Michael Feggans, Sen. Jennifer Carroll-Foy, Sen. Saddam Salim, and Del. Alfonso Lopez.
This story has been updated to correct the name of the youngest delegate from Virginia to head to the DNC.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Take a look at who from Virginia will head to the Democratic National Convention on Monday
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