Local delegates focusing on 'get out the vote' after witnessing historic nomination

“She absolutely wanted to live to see a woman President.”

As Duval County delegate John Parker officially signed his name to vote for Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention, he says he was thinking about his mother.

“She was very disappointed in 2008 when Secretary Clinton did not become the nominee. And I know she was watching from above, very proud to see me there,” he says.

His mother passed five years ago, but Parker still got to share this experience with his wife- another Duval delegate Lisa King- and his teen daughter, who came to the Convention to volunteer.

“It isn’t about being a title or being a boss, it’s about being a servant,” King says, of why she supports Clinton.

They’re some of many in the crowd that felt like they were a part of history, as Clinton became the first woman to accept a major party presidential nomination Thursday night.

“This is history, and I’ll be able to tell my grandkids that I was there when the first female was the nominee,” says Hillsborough County volunteer Joan Thurmond.

Thurmond was at the DNC when then-Senator Barack Obama was nominated as the first African American to secure a major party ticket. After being present for this new milestone, Thurmond says she doesn’t plan to go to a convention again any time in the future.

“What else is there?!” she says.

Many Florida delegates wanted Clinton to not just inspire them, but speak to some of the big issues facing the country. She didn’t disappoint, according to Bay County delegate Mark Lipton- Clinton speaking on children and family issues, the military, the economy, and much more.

“The importance to me is immeasurable, it’s monumental,” he says.

While there’s no question Clinton captivated the vast majority of the crowd, there were also pockets of demonstrators in the Convention Hall. While she spoke about military action, a large group in the California section started chanting “no more war”. That was quickly met with a booming response of “Hillary, Hillary” from other delegates around the arena. Earlier in the evening, the same group chanted “no more war” while hearing from Retired General John Allen- the response from the Arena was bursts of “USA, USA”. A demonstrator in the Florida section was blocked by several other delegates, who held up the State flag, when he continued his chanting in to the next speaker, who is a Medal of Honor recipient.

The demonstrations are largely a show from Bernie Sanders supporters who are unwilling to get behind Clinton. That commitment is in part fueled by recent email leaks which show the DNC was apparently biased toward the Clinton campaign during the primary process.

Duval County delegate Vincent Cameron believes there were already gains made in unifying the party just over the course of the week, but they are going to make sure any consequences don’t spill in to the future.

“All the negativity causes people to back away from the table, and so we’ve got to find that message to reach out to all these generations,” he says.

Many Sanders delegates have told us they’re considering not voting at all because they don’t like either candidate. Duval delegate Duke Nguyen believes that would be a mistake.

“It’s not about what box I checked the other day, it’s about moving politics in the right direction,” Nguyen says.

He’s one of the undecided Sanders supporters, wherein he’s unsure how his vote will land in November. He’s sure, however, that there will be a vote.

“Going out and not voting is one of the worst things you could possibly do,” he says.

Lori Vrochopolous, a Sanders delegate in the Orlando area is in a similar boat.

“Get voters out and get them registered. No matter who, just vote,” she says.

President Obama made it clear Wednesday night when, during his Convention address, he mentioned Donald Trump and people started booing.

“Don’t boo, vote,” he responded.

It’s a message that was hammered home by many speakers, both at the main stage and delegation level.

In addition to the voter outreach, local delegates also want to bring connections and ideas back to their home counties. Above all, they feel like they have a sense of energy to channel on the road to November.