Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz were recently nominated as our party’s presidential and vice-presidential ticket at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, sparking excitement and inspiration across the nation. I feel briefly blissful and forever fortunate to know what matters to me and that I am not alone.
I will always remember the profound courage, patriotism, and humility that President Joe Biden demonstrated for us to reach this pivotal moment. I also deeply respect the decades of dedication from advocates, activists, and elected officials—from the local level to the national stage—who continue to defend against relentless efforts to roll back or undermine the rights and progress we’ve fought so hard to achieve.
As we honor Labor Day and the elections draw nearer, I’m reminded of Frances Perkins, FDR’s Secretary of Labor and the first woman to ever serve in a presidential cabinet. She was the conscience—and arguably the architect—behind the New Deal. Later in her life, while presenting a series of lectures, Perkins was asked what the New Deal really was. Her answer is one that I believe our next first woman trailblazer would wholeheartedly agree with:
“It was an attitude, an attitude toward government, toward the people, toward labor . . . an attitude that found voice in expressions like, ‘the people are what matter to government,’ and ‘a government should aim to give all of the people under its jurisdiction the best possible life.’”
Our best government isn’t driven by cruelty, fear, or division. It’s fueled by hard work, hope, and our shared values. It feels GREAT to shake off some of the fatigue, negativity, and noise as we look toward the next ten weeks and beyond, grounded in our democratic ideals.
Join the Stratford Democrats at our hopping headquarters and help us elect all of our endorsed candidates!
Go Democracy, Go Dems 💙
Kathleen Callahan
Stratford DTC Chair
