Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to supporters during a campaign rally at West Allis Central High School on July 23, 2024, in West Allis, Wisconsin.
Tribune News Service
Johnson County Democrats who are going to their party’s national convention later this month find themselves in an unique situation.
The chain of events was set in motion on July 21 when President Joseph Biden announced he would drop out of the race. Shortly after, he made a swift endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris.
Biden said that it was in the interest of the Democratic Party and the country that he stand down as the nominee and focus on completing his time in the White House. The announcement came after the first presidential debate where Biden’s poor performance caused Democrats across the county to call for him to step out of the race.
About 84% of Democratic delegates have pledged support for Harris as the nominee, she remains the presumptive nominee for at least the next few days. The Democratic National Committee is holding a virtual vote Monday for the nominee ahead of the Democratic National Convention, which will take place Aug. 19-22 in Chicago. Harris submitted signatures from 3,923 delegates, about 84% of the full delegation and 99% of delegates who signed a petition, according to a DNC statement to The Associated Press.
Two Democratic delegates from Johnson County say they fully support Harris and Biden’s decision to step back.
Amanda Stevenson-Holmes, chair of the Johnson County Democratic Party, said Biden’s stepping down was not a surprise.
“For me, Biden has been an amazing public servant for 50-plus years,” Stevenson-Holmes said. “He is a smart, intelligent person surrounded by a good team. I think it was just his natural way. He’s always put country and the American people above his own ambition, and it was a natural step for him.”
Before he made the decision, Democrats had felt nervous. Since the announcement, she has felt energy behind Harris, who is much younger but is fully prepared for the position, Stevenson-Holmes said.
Another delegate Blythe Potter, who is also a candidate for Johnson County Council, said Indiana delegates have all pledged their support for Harris ahead of the vote. Potter said she was “so excited” and seeing another woman on the ballot is emotional. It is important for young women, including her own daughters to be able to see a representation of themselves on the ballot.
“Women are going to be the ones to change the world and make things better in my opinion,” Potter said. “… I’m thrilled to pieces. I’m very encouraged. And as time has gone on, it’s sunk in and there’s more support rallying behind her. I actually feel a lot better about it.”
Headed in the convention, Potter also sees energy behind Harris. In light of the Dobbs decision, climate change and political developments within the past decade, Potter said this is the “biggest election year of our lives,” though, she said she does not think a lot of America treats these issues like they matter.
“I know this is gonna sound extreme, but to a certain degree, humanity is on the line. As far as climate change goes, as far as women’s reproductive rights, especially in the states, where we are so far behind the developed other developed countries as far as health care, and women’s freedoms,” Potter said. “… It’s a hard conversation to have, especially in a red state.”
Greg Shufeldt, a political science professor at the University of Indianapolis, compared Biden’s decision to Lyndon B. Johnson’s decision to not run for a second term in 1968. However, this decision from Biden comes much closer to the election.
Johnson, who was also a Democrat, dropped out on March 31, 1968, following lackluster results in New Hampshire primary amid division and unrest in the U.S. over the war in Vietnam, along with concerns about his own health. Vice President Hubert Humphrey, also became the party’s presidential nominee via a vote at the convention after not competing in the primary, but loss the election to Republican Richard Nixon.
However, this shorter time to campaign might play in Harris’ favor, Shufeldt said. Whereas Trump has been staking his claim for the Oval Office for three years, Harris will only have to campaign for about three months. This could potentially make it possible for her campaign to sustain momentum and excitement to increase voter turnout in today’s political climate, he said.
“And if Vice President Harris were to be successful, does this have any lasting consequences given how polarized things are, given how fed up people are, given how nasty some of our politics is?” Shufeldt said. “That perhaps less is more, and a shorter window of campaigning is more sustainable for our patience?”
From a political science perspective, Shufeldt said that Biden “unquestionably” did the right thing for his party by stepping down. For voters who think a second stint in the White House for former President Donald Trump would be a threat to democracy, any way of upping Democrats’ chances would be the responsible thing to do, he said.
However, Shufeldt doesn’t think Biden’s decision will be enough to push Indiana to vote blue, he said.
