PENNSYLVANIA, USA — Grace McGregor Kramer has served as one of Pennsylvania's delegates to the Democratic National Convention in two elections, using her vote to nominate Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020.
When she travels to Chicago next month, only one name will be on her mind.
"When I saw Joe Biden, I saw it on Instagram of him officially endorsing Kamala Harris, thinking again that we might have another woman as president is incredible and is something that is so historic, and I feel so lucky to be a part of it again," said Grace McGregor Kramer.
By voice-vote, Pennsylvania's delegates to the convention unanimously threw their support behind Harris as the Democratic party candidate. It'll be a highly unusual convention because, typically, such an affair is meant to formalize the candidacy of the person whom voters selected during the primaries.
That had been President Joe Biden until he announced he would not seek reelection following weeks of questions about his fitness raised by last month's presidential debate.
Who will replace Biden is still an open question, but Democratic party officials in Pennsylvania are lining up behind Harris.
Kramer tells Newswatch 16 that no one raised another name for contention during a call with the state's other delegates, "I think that now is the perfect time to redirect the message back to the issues and capitalize on this enthusiasm and momentum that we're feeling for Kamala Harris and take it right to the convention and beyond to November."
After the delegates met by Zoom Monday, state party Chairman Sharif Street said: "Vice President Harris will be able to take the historic success of the Biden-Harris Administration and carry it forward under her leadership, vision, and intellect."
Andrew Cutillo is another of the delegates traveling next month from Scranton to Chicago to cast a vote nominating Harris.
"I know that Kamala Harris shares Scranton's values. That's why Joe Biden picked her to be on the ticket, that's why she's gonna make a great choice in November, that's why she's gonna make a great choice at the convention," said Andrew Cutillo.
Lackawanna County Commissioner Matt McGloin, another of the local delegates to the convention, tells Newswatch 16 that he plans to back Harris, saying, "I think at this point in time, the most important thing is that we remain together and that we stick together throughout this process."
The Democratic National Convention opens on August 19. Pennsylvania's Democratic party says it is sending 185 delegates.