OLYMPIA, Wash. — Delegates representing Washington voters at the Democratic National Convention said they’re excited about the direction of the party’s presidential ticket following Sunday's announcement that President Joe Biden will not seek reelection.
“You're seeing kind of this energy within the Democratic Party that we haven't seen, you know, candidly, for months, “ said state Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-White Center, one of the state’s 92 elected delegates heading to the party’s convention in Chicago next month.
Nguyen said delegates are excited, even though the party has not finalized its ticket.
Nguyen, who has previously participated in fundraisers with Vice President Kamala Harris, endorsed Harris on Sunday.
“I’m a big fan,” said Nguyen, who hopes Harris is atop the party's ticket.
“Obviously, you know, there's not a coronation by any means. She still has to earn support from all the delegations as well. But I would suspect that that's where we gravitate,” said Nguyen.
Olympia City Councilmember Lisa Parshley, a Democrat running for state Representative and an elected delegate, supports the Vice President but will not make any endorsements until she meets with fellow delegates later this week.
”I'm kind of looking at it day to day, hour to hour, because things are changing. But as the days and the hours go by, we're starting to see more and more people saying, ‘Hey, she's our candidate,’” said Parshley.
Delegate and state Representative Kristine Reeves, D-Federal Way, said President Joe Biden’s decision to not seek re-election has inspired the party.
“People are excited,” said Reeves, “People are motivated, they’re giving.”
Reeves attended the 2008 convention when Democrats backed then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.
“I don’t think I’ve seen this kind of excitement since Barack ran in 2008,” said Reeves.
According to a state party spokesperson, the national party’s rules committee is holding a meeting Wednesday to develop a framework for naming a nominee.
The state’s delegation will meet privately Thursday to discuss a potential endorsement, according to the spokesperson.
The party is sending a delegation of 135 members, but only 92 will cast votes.