The last time I attended the Democratic National Convention (DNC), I was a delegate for President Barack Obama in 2008 in Denver, Colorado. This year, my husband Eric was a delegate, and my son, Asher and I just tagged along. Both times. I felt like we were witnessing history: the first Black U.S. president in 2008, and the first woman, Asian American, and Black woman in 2024.
Michelle Obama summed up my feeling exactly when she said, “Hope has made a comeback.†I felt hope and joy — another strong theme. There was a resurgence of the American values of respecting each other’s differences, supporting one another in hard times, and working together so that everyone has the opportunity to prosper and thrive in life.
When President Joe Biden stepped out of the presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the nominee, he showed courage, patriotism and love for his country. He personified a true patriot.
Asher Kearney, Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff (Kamala Harris’ husband) and Eric Kearney (back) had batting practice at Wrigley Field. Photo provided 
Ohio rocks! Photo provided 
(Left to right) Gavi Begtrup, Anne Sesler, City Councilmembers Mark Jeffreys and Anna Albi, Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, Connie Pillich, former Vice Mayor Yvette Simpson, Hamilton County Commissioner Vice President Denise Driehaus, Andrew Driehaus, and former Mayor Mark Mallory. Photo provided 
Mayor Aftab and his Chief of Staff, Keizayla Fambro. Photo provided 
(Left to right) Chair of the Ohio Democrats Liz Walters, Ohio Minority Leader of the House Allison Russo, and Congressman Joyce Beatty. Photo provided 
Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce enjoys festivities with his wife, Congressman Emilia Sykes. Photo provided 
Our Union friends. Photo provided 
(Left to right) Ethan Nichols, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, Jan-Michele, and Gavi Begtrup. Photo provided 
Sen. Cory Booker takes a selfie with Eric Kearney. Photo provided 
Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo, Councilmember Anna Albi, Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, friend, Cincinnati Young Dems President Storm Boyd. Photo provided 
Eric (right) with Lt. Gov. Austin Davis of Pennsylvania. Photo provided 
(Left to right) Adrienne Lotson, Asher, Mayor Aftab, Dr. Whitney Whitis, spouse of Mayor Aftab. Photo provided 
Congressman Greg Landsman stops to chat with Asher. Photo provided 
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval was greeted with roaring applause when he addressed the packed crowd of more than 23,000 at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, August 21. Photo provided 
Balloons drop inside Union Center in Chicago after Vice President Kamala Harris gives her acceptance speech as the Democratic Party’s candidate for President in the November Election during the 2024 Democratic National Convention last week. Photo provided
If you love politics, then the DNC is the place to be. It’s like a music lover being surrounded by rock stars. When former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi walked into a party the night before the convention started, she was mobbed. The Secret Service quickly escorted her to another location. It was thrilling when Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. Jim Clyburn, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Rep. Jasmine Crocket, and so many others stopped by our Ohio Delegation breakfasts (7 a.m. daily) and other events.
When our Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval took the national stage at the DNC and spoke to a packed arena of more than 23,000, the screams were deafening. Rock star! And our own Congressman Greg Landsman floated through a multitude of events as a star in his own right.
At the end of the day, Eric and I were physically tired from all of the late, late nights and early, early mornings, but inspired to get back home and do the work: Fundraise. Register voters. Educate voters on the new ID laws so their votes would not be suppressed. It’s our democracy at work and it’s up to each of us to “do something†as Michelle Obama said Wednesday night, to keep our democracy strong and “for the People.â€