SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Vice President Kamala Harris will accept the Democratic nomination for president late Thursday night, and top Illinois Democrats say Harris is more than qualified for the job.
Many Americans know Kamala Harris was the California Attorney General before she became a U.S. Senator and later joined President Joe Biden in the White House. However, Sen. Dick Durbin got to know Harris well after she joined the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the Democratic National Convention Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Durbin told the Illinois delegation Thursday morning that Harris quickly gained respect in Washington D.C. Harris was the most junior member of Durbin's committee and frequently waited hours before she could ask questions during hearings.
"Without fail, there was a crowd waiting for her questions," Durbin said. "Why? Because they were always smart and tough and she didn't back down. That's exactly the kind of qualities we need when it comes to debating Donald Trump."
Gov. JB Pritzker and other top candidates for vice president, like Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, also speak highly of Tim Walz. Beshear said he is glad to see an educator will be able to teach Sen. JD Vance what true leadership looks like.
"While Tim Walz is out there trying to bring us together, speaking with kindness, JD Vance is throwing out names to anybody he can," Beshear said. "Calling adults that have chosen not to have children psychopaths and sociopaths, pretending he's from my state. Well, let me tell you this about JD Vance. He ain't from Kentucky. He ain't from Appalachia, and he ain't gonna be your vice president."
Others said they cannot wait to turn United States history into "herstory" with Kamala Harris. Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza said Harris is qualified, experienced and ready to lead the country.
"We've had 250 years of male presidents," Mendoza said. "Now, as we're on the verge of electing our first woman president, Trump and Vance are offended."
Although, Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-Illinois) told Democrats that they need to work harder to connect with downstate voters. The Central Illinois lawmaker told the Illinois delegation that Democrats need to show up in rural communities.
Budzinski said organizing can start off with a group of women sitting together with a bottle of win writing postcards to undecided voters. She noted that her supporters have already written well over 10,000 postcards this election cycle.
"We gotta meet folks where they are and engage them where they want to be engaged and where we can engage them," Budzinski said. "As I often say, if they're gonna come in and write a postcard, then my next conversation is would you be willing to take a phone list? Would you be willing to walk a canvas packet? That's where it starts."
Former congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) is scheduled to speak during the DNC programming Thursday night. Harris will speak to the nation when she accepts the Democratic nomination several hours later.
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