CHICAGO — As Democrats prepare for the final night of the Democratic National Convention, Virginia 4th District Democratic Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan looks forward to what Vice President Kamala Harris has to say. Harris officially accepts the nomination for President of the United States Thursday night in what will be the biggest political speech of her career.
McClellan spoke to 13 News Now Anchor Janet Roach about what she expects to hear and the special connection she has to the Vice President. Here's a question-and-answer style recap of their interview.
What do you want to hear tonight?
McClellan: I'm excited to hear Kamala Harris introduce herself to the American people — her story, her record but more importantly, her vision for the future, which is a vision where she's fighting for the people or she wants to move us forward and build on the progress of, the tremendous progress of the Biden-Harris administration and fight for our freedom, fight for an economy that leaves no one behind and fight for our future.
Do you think her speech needs to touch more so on policy or more so on her talking about herself and introducing herself for people who still don’t know that much about her?
McClellan: Traditionally, the acceptance speech does both, and I think you will hear both from her. And frankly, most candidates, their past, their record, their perspective, shapes their policy, and so, I think you will see how her unique perspective has shaped her policies and why she makes them want to fight for the people.
You’re also going to see a very clear contrast and hear from her a very clear contrast between her vision for the future and Donald Trump‘s vision to try to take us back, by rolling back our rights by implementing Project 2025, by continuing having chaos and division and hatred in politics; whereas, she brings joy and unity and a focus on the future. You're going to hear all of that tonight.
What kind of connection do you feel to her as being the first Black woman elected to congress in the state of Virginia?
McClellan: Well, I mean, I see myself in her. I see my daughter in her but more importantly, my daughter sees herself in her, and can see first, when she was elected as vice president, she can see, 'Hey, I can do that.'
And now she will see as Harris tries to break a glass ceiling that we've been trying to put cracks in for over 200 years-- she will see that. So I feel that historic connection but I feel a personal connection. I've known her since 2012 when I was at another convention, she, as a senator, chaired a committee that I was on and we talked and I told her, "Hey I may want to run for state office one day." She kind of took me under her wing and gave me advice and introduced me to people and said 'You know, if you do it, tell them I said be helpful.'
Every time I have seen her, she has checked in and told me 'You're doing a great job, if you need anything, reach out.'
She's checked in to make sure I'm taking care of myself and she's really reached out to make sure that particularly the Black women in Congress and they're only 28 of us — that we are taking care of ourselves or taking care of each other; and we have a safe space talking to her about what it's like being — being one of the only, only 28 people in the most important body in our government.
So, I really appreciate how she has really taken the time and put into action the words, when she says that I may be the first but I won't be the last.