Dem
51
GOP
49
It's not easy to spend all day being a delegate and THEN to sit down and type up some thoughts. Still, for the fourth day in a row, reader A.S. in Fairfax, VA answered the bell:
To open Day Three, our neighboring senators and governor from Maryland paid us a visit and we got a preview of Governor Wes Moore's (D-MD) convention speech. Many of us in northern Virginia were affected in some way by the collapse of the Key Bridge back in March, so Governor Moore's speech definitely hit home with many in our delegation.
We had another afternoon event sponsored by Louise Lucas, our beloved President pro tem of the Virginia Senate. I really appreciate how these events allow us to get to know other delegates and elected officials from other parts of the state and build on our current relationships with other party members.
There was an effort among delegates to coordinate everyone wearing pink for night three, but I'm not sure whether it came across on the broadcast since only about a quarter of the delegates appeared to have pink on.
Night three felt like a hump day for delegates. Many of us have not slept more than 4-5 hours per night since the party started on Sunday, the arena only has the traditional concessions, so dinner options are limited, and we still have two big nights to go. So, some debated grabbing a nap and leaving for the United Center late or even allowing an alternate delegate to be seated for the night. Those that stuck with it experienced an emotional roller coaster ranging from tears of grief and sympathy for Hersh Goldberg-Polin and his courageous parents, laughter with Kenan Thompson's presentation of Project 2025, complete shock at Oprah's appearance, and tears of JOY seeing Governor Walz and his beautiful family sharing their love and emotion with all of us.
While watching Governor Josh Shapiro (D-PA), a few of us started talking about the future of the party and how crazy it is that we might have seen the next 30 years of Democratic presidential nominees, vice presidential nominees, and cabinet secretaries in just three nights. We all left the arena buzzing tonight, knowing that our current nominee is just a wake-up away.
Our hotel bar was buzzing all night and it was a great opportunity to unwind and get to know our fellow delegates and other guests and party members better, though many of us will pay for it tomorrow when we wake up in just 4 hours. We'll sleep when we're dead.
Thanks, yet again, A.S.! (Z)