CHICAGO – Minnesota political pride and perhaps momentum were served up with egg and sausage burritos and yogurt parfaits on the first day of the Democratic National Convention, where state delegates find themselves in the center of the swirl of excitement around Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.
“This is a moment when we can expect a real sea change in the trajectory of our entire country, because we are going to get to share what we do and why we have the highest voter turnout in the country year after year after year,” Attorney General Keith Ellison told more than 200 Democrats and activists over breakfast.
It’s been just two weeks since Walz joined Vice President Kamala Harris on the national ticket after President Joe BIden stepped down, and the smiling faces at the Minnesota breakfast told the tale of how the campaign requirements for delegates have shifted from dutiful support for Biden to energetic enthusiasm about a historic election in which a Minnesotan could be second-in-command to the first woman president.
Flanagan said in an interview she’s misty-eyed seeing Walz, her friend of 20 years, enjoy the spotlight.
“When you’re the second in command, your job is to be ready, and so often it’s ready for something really tragic and awful,” Flanagan said. “So to be in this moment that is so hopeful and joyful, it’s a very, very different perspective to have but it’s also just so fun to watch him have such a good time on the campaign trail.”
Flanagan is one of four DNC co-chairs, who will gavel the event open and closed every evening. She’s up first Monday at the center of the action. Her own schedule was packed with caucus sessions and fundraisers. “I’m excited to be the hype squad for Minnesota and of course for Gov. Walz,” she said.
Latonya Reeves, a delegate from Minneapolis, said she initially grieved Biden’s departure, but she’s bouncing with enthusiasm now about how Harris has seized the moment.
“She kicked the door down and went right through it,” said Reeves, a delegate who is attending the event with community members from Black Political Action - MN.