Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday became the first Black and Indian women to accept a major party presidential nomination.
She received a standing ovation from members of the Democratic Party, both in person and online.
"On behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on earth, I accept your nomination to be president of the United States of America," Harris said.
The Florida Democratic Party held watch parties across the state Thursday night for Harris' supporters who couldn’t make the convention.
“I’ve never seen the Democratic Party so aligned and so united," said Jayden D'Onofrio, a voting rights advocate and Chairman of the Florida Future Leaders PAC.
D'Onofio,19, attended the DNC Watch Party in Tallahassee to show his support for Harris, and to send a message to young people in Florida: Get out and vote.
“The youth want to get involved," D'Onofrio said. "They are seeing the opportunities to get involved. I only expect that to grow."
Juanda Beck-Jones, the president of the Democratic Club of North Florida, said she’s voting for Harris because “she doesn’t just think of herself."
State election officials expect an increase in voter turnout this November. And after years of Republican leadership in Florida, Florida Democrats are hoping the Harris-Walz enthusiasm, will help flip Florida blue again.
“Everything is possible in this election," Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried told WFSU just days before the convention.
It’s an honor to stand in the trenches with my fellow state party chairs! State parties will deliver this win in November. @abreezeclayton pic.twitter.com/eN4RDcBMUX
— Nikki Fried (@NikkiFried) August 23, 2024
"We are seeing the polls significantly change with Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket, that’s why we filled every house, every senate [and] every congressional seat.”
In Florida, registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by a million voters. But Fried and others are hoping they can gain momentum as Harris surges on.