Democrats turned roll call into a dance party with celebrities, state-specific songs and Lil Jon
Josh Bork
CHICAGO (AP) — Convention roll call votes can be drab and stale, but Democrats on Tuesday turned it into the ultimate dance party.
DJ Cassidy took to the stage in what appeared to be a royal blue double-breasted satin suit to perform a special song awarding delegates from each state and territory to Vice President Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention. What America heard was a mash-up of elite karaoke nights: Detroit native Eminem's “Lose Yourself” in Michigan, Dropkick Murphys' “I'm Shipping Up to Boston” in Massachusetts, and Tupac Shakur's “California Love” in California.
Georgia saw a home-grown artist make an appearance in person, as Atlanta native Lil Jon stomped through Chicago's United Center to the beats of his track with DJ Snake, “Turn Down for What.”
In other words, Democrats were determined to embed themselves within the party as part of a broader effort to project joy and positive energy, even as they issued stern warnings about the need to defeat Republican nominee Donald Trump.
The party last used a video roll call during the pandemic-restricted 2020 convention, when Rhode Island famously featured its state dish, calamari, creating pressure to do something bigger this year. (The chef holding the iconic tray of calamari later turned out to be a Trump supporter.)
Participating in this year's roll call vote were some of the party's rising stars, including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, as well as film director Spike Lee from New York and actor Sean Astin, star of the Notre Dame football movie “Rudy,” from Indiana.
The musical choice was something of a risk: At the 1996 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, delegates infamously swayed awkwardly to Spanish pop duo Los del Rio's “Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix),” a video of which still circulates among political enthusiasts nearly 30 years later.
Florida's delegation played Tom Petty's stubbornness anthem “I Won't Back Down” while selecting delegates for Harris, a blatant jab at the state's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, who was born in Gainesville, Florida, and used the song as his theme song during the GOP presidential primary, and it also became part of the name of a super PAC that has lavishly funded his defeat.
“Florida is worth fighting for,” state Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried declared, arguing that the state is worth campaigning for national Democrats despite its steep rightward shift and a strong chance of Trump winning in November's presidential election.
Alabama, unsurprisingly, chose Lynyrd Skynyrd's “Sweet Home Alabama,” while Alaska announced it would endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for “Feel It Still” by Portugal the Man, a band from Wasilla, where Republican Sarah Palin once served as mayor.
Minnesota performed “1999” by Paisley Park native Prince. Indiana, with Astin at the mic, performed “Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough” by Gary native Michael Jackson. Nevada performed “Mr. Brightside” by Las Vegas synth-pop band The Killers. Kansas performed “Carry On My Wayward Son” by rock band Kansas. New Jersey performed “Born in the USA” by Bruce Springsteen.
“Under one groove, nothing can stop us now,” DJ Cassidy said, playing the Springsteen anthem.
Despite the celebratory mood, there were some serious moments in the roll call announcements. Rep. Kate Cox of Texas, who had sought an abortion during problems with one pregnancy but was turned down by the Texas Supreme Court, forcing her to travel to another state for the procedure, announced on the floor that she was pregnant again and due in January.
Under Democratic Party rules, only Harris had the signatures needed to nominate her. During virtual voting earlier this month, votes for other people and independents were counted as “present.” Tuesday night's “celebratory” vote will be based on the vote totals from the previous polls.
