HAMPTON, Va. — Hampton Democrats on Tuesday showed their support for Vice President Kamala Harris and her newly-announced running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Voters filled Bowman's Soul-N-The Wall to watch the pair's first public campaign event together, streamed from Philadelphia.
Hampton resident Melinda Myrom is a lifelong Democrat. "The issues that have been important to me [are] the environment; I really want to see inclusion for everybody and reform for the Supreme Court," she told 13News Now.
She attended the watch party, saying she's excited about the prospect of the nation's first female president.
"I think she will be awesome, and I’m just so excited. I just wanted to be with other people to hear the speech," Myrom said.
Event organizers said they’ve noticed a shift in their party since President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the race.
"We are so appreciative of President Biden," said Gaylene Kanoyton with the Virginia Democratic Party. "He sent a message across the country of how important this upcoming election is. He stepped aside and put country first."
Hampton Democratic Committee Chair Ghana Smith said she's recently seen "energy, energy, energy. It's just amazing how excited people are."
Kanoyton and Smith remind people to be ready, as early voting begins on September 20.
Smith said, "Check your voter registration. Even if you're registered, check it. Make sure your address is correct."
"We can go out into the streets and mobilize people to make sure we get people to the polls to start voting early on September 20," added Kanoyton.
Former President Donald Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, was also in Philadelphia on Tuesday. He criticized Walz, saying he "was the guy who let rioters burn down Minneapolis" after the 2020 police killing of George Floyd. Vance also called Gov. Walz's record "a joke."