WASHINGTON – Oklahoma Democrats believe the momentum and energy from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago could filter down to the state level.
Because of a more civically-minded and policy-based approach, Oklahoma delegates and party leaders believe the messaging strategy of the national Democratic Party may energize Democratic Party voters. They believe it could even sway independents and Republicans who feel disenfranchised by former President Donald Trump.
“It seems like the Democratic Party is pretty excited for the ticket in ways they weren’t when it was still Biden,” OU Political Science Professor and Director of the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center Michael Crespin said. “There’s been a lot of positive energy with the party and they certainly carried it through the convention.”
During Vice President Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech at the convention, she focused on uniting the nation, being a president for all Americans and creating what she calls an opportunity economy.
“That is why we will create what I call an opportunity economy where everyone has the chance to compete and a chance to succeed,” Harris said. “Whether you live in a rural area, a small town or a big city.”
The policy-focused speech Harris gave is one that could resonate with voters, according to one Oklahoma delegate at the convention.
“I think what’s really interesting is that for the first time in decades, we’re having a policy debate,” Oklahoma delegate Joshua Harris-Till, of Oklahoma City, said. “We’re talking about policy issues for the first time, and people are interested in it because we’re seeing it on paper. This isn’t just about talking points.”
“This is a real policy discussion.”
Oklahoma Delegate Jeff Berrong, from Weatherford, also believes the approach will resonate with voters. Berrong attributes part of the renewed appeal to Vice Presidential Nominee Minnesonta Gov. Tim Walz.
“I think we’re going to find he was a brilliant pick because of his profile,” Berrong said. “Whenever you’re picking a vice presidential nominee, you’re looking for someone to balance the ticket either geographically or culturally, and he does both.”
Oklahoma County Democratic Party Chair Amy Warne, agrees that Walz’s profile is a boost to the Harris-Walz tickets’ momentum, especially compared to the Biden-Harris ticket that was expected to be on the ballot.
“I mean, he’s a football coach, and we love our college football in Oklahoma,” Warne said. “The shift has been truly amazing to see. It was an entirely unexpected process, and that took a little time to process. I, for one, was very excited when I saw the shift.”
In 1999, Walz was the defensive coordinator for Mankato West High School’s varsity football team and helped lead the team to a state championship after three seasons of disappointment.
Berrong said Walz’s rural background is something Oklahoma voters could resonate with.
“In order to appeal to voters, voters have to see some of themselves in you,” Berrong said. “Tim Walz is very inconvenient for the narrative they (the Trump campaign) would like to have.”
OU Political Science professor Melody Rowlett, believes with Walz on the ticket preconceived notions of what the Democratic Party represents could be dispelled.
“There’s all this talk about how Democrats are coastal elites and they’re out of touch, and they don’t know what it’s like,” Rowlett said. “When in fact, here you have Tim Walz who’s none of those things, right? He’s a hunter who’s a school teacher, who’s a white middle class guy. And so he is someone who people say, you know what? That’s who I’m like or that’s someone I can connect to. So maybe this discussion about coastal elites isn’t really representing who the Democrats are.”
Despite Walz being relatively unknown nationally going into the convention, polling data reflects Berrong’s belief that Walz is appealing to voters. On August 21, the Associated Press and the NORC-Center for Public Affairs released a poll that found 36% of American adults have a positive view of Walz while 27% of Americans have a positive view of Republican Vice Presidential Nominee, J.D. Vance.
In addition, significantly fewer American adults have an unfavorable view of Walz compared to Vance. 44% of adults have an unfavorable view of Vance, while Walz’s unfavorability is at 25%.
“Tim Walz, he’s not someone that is in the national parlance. And I think that he was introduced really well. We got to know who he was,” Rowlett said.
Walz was introduced by his neighbor and former players from the 1999 Mankato West High School football team he helped lead to a state championship.
In addition to his profile, Oklahoma Democrats are excited by Walz’s track record.
Warne, an indigenous dietician, is particularly intrigued by Walz’s policy of free school lunch for all students.
On March 17, 2023, Walz signed the “Free School Meals for Kids Bill” into law. The bill made school breakfast and lunch free for all students.
With Gov. Kevin Stitt recently denying federal funding for free summer meals for students for the second year in a row, Warne is drawn to the idea.
“Children learn better when they are fed,” Warne said.
Kevin Eagleson is reporting from Gaylord News’ Washington bureau this fall as part of an OU Daily scholarship.
Gaylord News is a reporting project of the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. For more stories by Gaylord News go to GaylordNews.net.
