Buoyed by DNC, Georgia Democrats ready to help Kamala Harris win the presidency

Georgia delegates to the Democratic National Convention cheer on a speech from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

CHICAGO – Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party wrapped up their convention late Thursday night with an acceptance speech outlining her biography and seeking to cast former President Donald Trump as dangerous and unhinged.

Georgia played a prominent role on the big blue stage over the four-day convention, bookended with major speeches from U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock on Monday and Congresswoman Lucy McBath on Thursday, as well as a scathing condemnation of Trump from Republican former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan on Wednesday.

Georgia stole the show during Tuesday’s roll call vote to nominate Harris, when Atlanta rapper Lil Jon delivered a surprise performance of 2013’s “Turn Down for What,” leaving even most of the Georgia delegation gobsmacked.

Tolulope Kevin Olasanoye said Congresswoman Nikema Williams, the chair of the state party, deserves the credit for the impromptu concert, which became one of the convention’s most viral moments.

“I think at the end of the day, what you saw was a sort of intersection between politics and culture, having folks who are engaged in politics and who care about policies,” Olasanoye said. “But at the same time, having folks who are engaged in culture and marrying the two, that is the sweet spot, I think, of how we’d be able to communicate our message to folks who are young, who are old, who are Black, who are white, who are gay, who are straight, who are a part of all the diaspora, of all the people that we are trying to make the case to in terms of the electorate in November.”

President Joe Biden narrowly won Georgia in 2020 after years of slowly shifting leftward, but polling for the 81-year-old president became increasingly distressing to Democrats around the country after a poor debate performance against Trump in late June. Harris’ elevation to the top of the ticket relieved some of that Democratic agitation.

Harris has narrowed the polling gap that Biden faced, but the race remains close.

In speeches, meetings and private conversations, Georgia Democrats praised Biden effusively, but none denied that having Harris as nominee had greatly lifted their spirits and their prospects.

“Since this shift to the top of the ticket, there’s that same commitment that’s there, but the energy level has gone up through the roof,” said Mableton Mayor Michael Owens. “There’s people I’ve talked to that said they weren’t sure if they were even going to vote, and now they’re like, ‘I’m getting off the couch and let me know what I can do, let me know how I can get engaged, I’m going to be involved.’”

Georgia Democratic Party First Vice Chair Matthew Wilson said delegates from other states offered well wishes and offers of help throughout the convention.

“This week made clear that every other state in the country has their eyes on Georgia and Georgia on their minds, and are committed to helping Georgia Democrats push it over the top,” he said.

Few Georgians are more familiar with Democratic National Conventions than former state Rep. Calvin Smyre. This year marks his 12th DNC, and for him, the buzz that comes with the big event is nothing new.

“What we have here is a lot of energy, and I think there’s so much excitement and the wind is at our back,” he said. “But it’s a lot of work ahead. It’s always good to have some euphoria and excitement, but at some point in time, there has to be engagement and real work in the community.”

“We got a lot of new young people here, and they have to understand that you kind of have to come down off of that euphoria and that high pitch and get down into the valley where the voters are and engage, fast.”