CHICAGO, IL (WZMQ 19 News) — On the third day of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, high-ranking Democrats gathered around Vice President Kamala Harris.
Former President Bill Clinton, Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg were among those motivating delegates and attendees at the United Center on Wednesday night. Influential Democrats, including Oprah Winfrey, also cheered on the crowd before Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), the Democratic vice presidential nominee, addressed the nation.
“It’s been an exciting week,” said Tony Tollefson, a Michigan delegate from Marquette who represents the UP in Chicago.
WZMQ 19 News caught up with Tollefson at a Michigan Democratic Party breakfast Wednesday morning. He said he looks forward to building support for a positive, forward-looking campaign.
“It’s very clear – people have a choice. And what’s happening with the Harris-Walz ticket is that we’re looking forward, it’s going to be positive. People want things that are normal, that they understand, instead of chaos and division. I think that’s a very clear choice,” Tollefson said.
Speakers at the breakfast paid tribute to Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow, who will retire after more than two decades in the U.S. Senate.
Stabenow spoke to our team at the convention about the election and getting Democrats on every ballot in November.
Stabenow, the first woman from Michigan to be elected to the Senate, told our team it was time for the first female president of the United States.
“I think it’s time,” Stabenow said. “When I started, we opened the basic doors at the beginning,” Stabenow said. “I hope that we’re at a point now in Michigan where the leadership of the state is all women, and that we move beyond the question of should it be a woman. And we say, ‘Are they smart? Are they capable? Do they have the right values?’ And the answer to all of those questions is yes,” she added.
Stabenow told WZMQ 19 News that Kamala Harris is qualified to lead the nation and unite Democrats and the nation.
“Kamala is empathetic, she listens, she knows there are different opinions and she respects that very much. There are some very sensitive issues, deeply felt issues, but she is the one who deals with them,” Stabenow said. “She is well prepared for her job as vice president. She has the right values. I worked with her as a senator, she always talked about how we need to focus on the things that keep people up until 3 a.m., like their homes and jobs and their children’s health care and education,” Stabenow added.
Harris will officially accept her party’s nomination on Thursday evening.
