Will ‘electric’ enthusiasm for Kamala Harris boost NC Democrats in down-ballot races?
Local elected officials and party organizers say Vice President Kamala Harris’ new status as Democrats’ likely nominee is generating a surge in local support that could make the difference in down-ballot races.
After President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he’s dropping out of the 2024 race and endorsing Harris, all 168 North Carolina delegates to the Democratic National Convention agreed to support her. Harris also received the pledges of enough delegates to become her party’s nominee. Her campaign raised over $100 million since Biden’s exit from the race, and prominent North Carolina Democrats endorsed her, too.
Drew Kromer, the chair of the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party, described the surge of enthusiasm behind Harris as “electric.”
“Half the country’s gonna have an opportunity to elect someone that shares their same gender,” he said. “55% of the registered Democrats in Mecklenburg are Black. And you know, this is an opportunity to elect the first Black woman to be president of the United States. It’s incredible.”
About 65% of Democrats wanted Biden to drop out of the race, according to a AP-NORC survey published July 17, three days before his exit.
One sign of the new enthusiasm: since Biden’s endorsement of Harris, a proliferation of memes about the vice president have gained traction on social media, engaging millennial and Gen Z voters. Those memes, which started appearing before Biden dropped out, focus on a speech Harris gave last year where she quoted her mother’s advice that young people didn’t just fall “out of a coconut tree.”
Meme-makers are also embracing pop singer Charli XCX’s support of Harris and creating videos with songs from the singer’s new album “Brat.” Chappell Roan’s “Femininomenon” is another popular backing track.
Energizing important voter groups
Since Biden endorsed Harris, Kromer said his phone has been ringing constantly, with people asking how to volunteer and get involved with the campaign. He said people are excited about what Harris could bring to the presidency.
Rep. Alma Adams, a Charlotte Democrat, said young people concerned about Biden’s age are pleased the Democratic nominee could be someone more than 20 years younger than the current president. Harris is 59 and Biden is 81.
“I think young people are going to be energized because they do see now, at least some of them, that this is a clear path for them,” Adams said.
Like Harris, Adams is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
State Sen. Rachel Hunt, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, said Harris is a leader on issues affecting families, including access to child care and reproductive rights, as vice president. Focusing on issues that affect everyday Americans is helping Democrats get their message across, Hunt said.
Caleb Theodros, the Democratic N.C. Senate nominee for Mecklenburg’s District 41 , added that the backbone of the Democratic party, especially in Mecklenburg County, is Black women. And it’s important for people to see themselves in the candidates they vote for, Kromer said.
“I think Kamala Harris represents something very powerful to a lot of Americans,” he said.
Down-ballot races
U.S. Rep Jeff Jackson, a Democrat running for state attorney general, didn’t directly address a question about whether Biden or Harris gives him a better chance in his race against Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop. But Jackson said she’ll bring enthusiasm that’ll help all Democrats.
“Vice President Harris is the former prosecutor we need to make the case to our country about the stark choice we face in this election,” he said. “She will bring a level of energy and generational contrast to the race that will help up and down the ballot.”
Theodros also said Harris at the top of the ballot instead of Biden may be advantageous for down-ballot Democrats’ chances of winning. Someone like Harris at the top of the ticket will not only encourage people to vote, but also energize them to learn more about the other candidates on their ballots, he said.
Among Charlotte Democrats, that could include Jackson; Hunt; Braxton Winston, who’s running for labor commissioner; and Nicole Sidman who’s running against Republican State Rep. Tricia Cotham.
“There’s no replacement for having an exciting presidential candidate,” Theodros said.
Kromer noted Mecklenburg County’s turnout rates have been “razor thin” for the past few elections — a point of frustration for Democrats hoping for a boost from North Carolina’s largest city and second-largest county. In 2020, turnout was 75.35% across North Carolina and 71.90% in Mecklenburg County. The 2022 midterm elections had 51.14% across North Carolina and 45.13% in Mecklenburg County. During those elections, North Carolina Democrats notably lost the U.S. Senate race. Republicans also won the presidential race in N.C.
But, when people are more excited, turnout will likely be higher, he said.
Kromer also said people are excited about the possibility Gov. Roy Cooper could be a vice presidential candidate. While enthusiasm is not completely dependent on Cooper’s appearance on the ticket, it’s a testament to how strong of a vice presidential candidate he is, Kromer added.
“There is nothing that would excite North Carolinians more than having him as vice president,” Hunt said.
This story was originally published July 23, 2024 at 11:10 AM with the headline "Will ‘electric’ enthusiasm for Kamala Harris boost NC Democrats in down-ballot races?."
