Texas is one of the most diverse states in the United States, and many in the audience at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago identified with the new Democratic candidate.
On the fourth and final night of the convention, Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage to accept the party’s nomination, and some told NBC 5 they hope the young, diverse candidate will live up to young voters’ expectations and lead them to victory in November.
Texas Democratic Party Vice Chair Shay Wyrick Cathy watched as her fellow members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority accepted the presidential nomination.
“This is a shared experience not only for the women of AKA, but all Black sorority and fraternity women, so it’s really cool that she gets to wear pink and green when she comes out on stage tonight,” Wyrick-Cathay said.
Democrats haven’t held power in Texas for three decades and are waiting in the hope that younger, more diverse voters will finally win statewide office.
“I think younger people think she’s under 60, so she’s Generation X. And younger voters and people of color think, if she can do it, I can do it,” Wyrick-Cathey said.
“She represents us. Not that Joe didn’t represent us, but she represents the next generation of leaders,” said Celia Israel, a former state representative and national representative from Texas.
Ms. Israel worked for the last Democratic governor, Ann Richards, in the 1990s. After watching Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lose to former President Trump in 2016, she told NBC 5, “I’m glad to see a woman running again, seeking redemption.”
“How many of us women know what it’s like to not have our voices heard? It’s time for our voices to be heard. We are very proud of that,” Israel said.
