Americans Will Step Up to Lead Democrats’ “Roll Call Across America”
Delegates will cast their nominating votes from cities, locations, and landmarks all across the nation
MILWAUKEE—The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) today announced some of the everyday Americans who will cast their official nominating votes for president of the United States during tonight’s “Roll Call Across America.” The roll call vote will take place under tonight’s theme, “Leadership Matters,” and spotlight those who are stepping up in this moment of crisis to play their part in the democratic process.
“A moment like this demands leadership—not just from those we’ve elected, but from all of us,” said Joe Solmonese, CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee. “All across the nation Americans are answering that call to action, and tonight we hope viewers are inspired to see their neighbors overcoming Donald Trump’s chaos and joining Joe Biden in his battle for the soul of our nation.”
Over the course of 30 minutes, the reimagined roll call process will take convention viewers to all 57 states and territories. Democrats will tell a story about the strength of the American people in overcoming the chaos and crisis of Donald Trump and fighting for a better America. Viewers will hear from delegates, parents, teachers, small business owners, essential workers, activists and elected leaders in the Democratic Party as they officially cast votes to nominate Joe Biden to become the next president. And viewers will see these votes cast not on a convention floor, but at businesses, inside living rooms, and in front of iconic landmarks in cities and towns nationwide.
Participants include:
ALABAMA
Rep. Terri Sewell will invoke the memory of Rep. John Lewis to advocate for restoring the Voting Rights Act.
ALASKA
Veteran, fisherman, and party activist Chuck Degnan will discuss the impact of climate change on tribal waters.
AMERICAN SAMOA
Party leaders Aliitama Sotoa and Patti Matila will celebrate American Samoa’s legacy of military service—and Joe Biden’s work to improve the territory’s infrastructure.
ARIZONA
Middle school social studies teacher Marisol Garcia will discuss remote learning from the perspective of teachers, parents, and activists.
ARKANSAS
Chef Gilbert Alaquinez will describe his work delivering meals prepared at the Clinton Presidential Center to local families via food trucks.
CALIFORNIA
Sec. Hilda Solis and Rep. Barbara Lee will highlight the importance of Joe Biden’s clean energy plan for communities of color.
COLORADO
Immigrant and party activist Howard Chou and his family will discuss the challenges facing working parents during the pandemic.
CONNECTICUT
Veteran firefighter Peter Carozza will explain why he and his fellow first responders trust in Joe Biden’s courage and commitment to working Americans.
DELAWARE
Gov. John Carney and Sen. Tom Carper will share a local perspective on Delaware’s favorite son.
DEMOCRATS ABROAD
Organizer Julia Bryan will offer a call to action for Americans living abroad to get involved in this election.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Mayor Muriel Bowser will issue a call for DC statehood.
FLORIDA
Gun safety activist Fred Guttenberg will describe Joe Biden’s compassion in the wake of his daughter’s murder in Parkland and commitment to defeating the NRA.
GEORGIA
State Sen. Nikema Williams, candidate for John Lewis’s seat in Congress, will urge viewers to overcome voter suppression.
GUAM
Party chair Sarah Thomas-Nededog will celebrate the 70th anniversary of Guam citizens becoming American citizens.
HAWAII
Civil rights activist Dr. Amy Agbayani will offer a special personal message to American immigrants.
IDAHO
Mayor Lauren McLean will share her city’s bold response to climate change.
ILLINOIS
Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun will discuss the Biden plan for racial justice in housing.
INDIANA
Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg will describe his city’s revitalization and the Biden plan to do the same nationwide.
IOWA
Secretary Tom Vilsack will take a moment to share best wishes for Iowans suffering after last week’s storm.
KANSAS
Fourth-generation family farmer Mark Pringle will share his concern about the future of rural America and his confidence in the Biden plan for revitalizing rural communities.
KENTUCKY
Education advocate Colmon Elridge will share a personal story about Joe Biden’s commitment to improving American health care.
LOUISIANA
Rep. Cedric Richmond and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell will visit a thriving independent art studio to highlight the importance of small businesses to cities.
MAINE
State Rep. Craig Hickman, the first openly gay African American to serve in the Maine House of Representatives, will take us inside his American dream.
MARYLAND
City Council President Brandon Scott and college student Bianca Shah will describe the Biden plan for racial justice in the economy.
MASSACHUSETTS
State Rep. Claire Cronin will highlight the Biden plan to help our economy recover from the pandemic.
MICHIGAN
Sen. Gary Peters and UAW auto worker Ray Curry will discuss how Joe Biden saved the Michigan auto industry and his plan to create a million new auto jobs.
MINNESOTA
Sen. Amy Klobuchar will discuss Joe Biden’s ability to bring people together before throwing it across the Mississippi River to St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter.
MISSISSIPPI
College president Dr. Carmen Walters will discuss the history of the HBCU she leads and the Biden plan to invest in these important institutions.
MISSOURI
Bricklayer Reuben Gill will praise the contributions of his fellow working men and women and the Biden plan to invest in infrastructure.
MONTANA
Recent college graduate Rachel Prevost will describe her senior year of remote learning and highlights the importance of rural broadband.
NEBRASKA
Meatpacking plant employee Geraldine Waller will share a personal perspective on the dangers facing essential workers during the pandemic.
NEVADA
Backed by an array of working Nevadans, Rep. Dina Titus will describe the Biden plan for putting workers first in our economy.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Gov. John Lynch will offer his personal endorsement of Joe Biden’s leadership skills.
NEW JERSEY
Gov. Phil Murphy will mark the impact of the pandemic on his state and explains why Joe Biden is the right leader to help us recover.
NEW MEXICO
Tribal member and state Rep. Derrick Lente will celebrate his state’s diversity and commitment to preserving natural and cultural resources.
NEW YORK
Registered nurse and a member of 1199SEIU Scheena Iyande Tannis will offer a raw personal perspective on the dangers facing health care workers.
NORTH CAROLINA
Longtime Democratic activist Cozzie Watkins will offer a call to action for Black women.
*NORTH DAKOTA
Tribal citizen and advocate Cesar Alvarez will discuss his unique path to college and Joe Biden's plan to open up educational opportunity.
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
Party chair Nola Kileleman Hix will describe her organizing efforts as the young leader of the party in the NMI.
OHIO
Rep. Tim Ryan and IBEW organizer Josh Abernathy will describe Donald Trump’s broken promises to Ohio workers and the Biden plan to invest in America.
OKLAHOMA
Party chair Alicia Andrews will reflect on the lessons of the Tulsa Race Massacre.
OREGON
Activist Dr. Rosa Colquitt and registered nurse Travis Nelson will discuss racial disparities in health care.
PENNSYLVANIA
Sen. Bob Casey, a fellow Scranton native, will talk about how Joe Biden’s childhood in Scranton formed his commitment to working families.
PUERTO RICO
Sen. Carmelo Rios-Santiago, will highlight Donald Trump’s abandonment of Americans in Puerto Rico.
RHODE ISLAND
State Rep. Joseph McNamara will discuss the impact of the pandemic on his state’s restaurants and fisherman and shows off the mouth-watering flavors of Rhode Island seafood.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Senate candidate Jaime Harrison will speak from the alma mater of Rep. Jim Clyburn and his late wife Emily.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Tribal activist Kellen Returns From Scout will issue a plea for forward-looking leadership.
TENNESSEE
On the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment, college student Keely Sage will visit the headquarters of the suffragists to discuss her own first vote for President and the role of women in this election.
TEXAS
Rep. Veronica Escobar will reflect on the lessons of the August 2019 massacre in El Paso.
UTAH
Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson will debunk misinformation about mail-in voting.
VERMONT
Gubernatorial candidate and Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, joined by Jane and Bernie Sanders and other Vermont activists, will speak out for justice.
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Chair Cecil Benjamin will lead a colorful tribute to Joe Biden’s leadership.
VIRGINIA
Activist Khizr Khan will reflect on the racial violence that claimed a life in his beloved home city of Charlottesville.
WASHINGTON
State Rep. My-Linh Thai, a former refugee, will share her commitment to the public schools that gave her a chance to contribute to her new home.
WEST VIRGINIA
Veteran educator and union organizer Fred Albert will discuss how teachers and parents can work together to create change.
WISCONSIN
Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes will share his personal story and a call to action for a brighter future.
WYOMING
Activists Judy and Dennis Shepherd will discuss Joe Biden’s leadership to stop hate crimes against LGBTQ Americans in the wake of their son Matthew’s murder.
