‘Who all over there?’ A rundown of New York’s Black Dems at DNC

Sign up for our FREE acclaimed newsletters!

The news mainstream media just doesn’t cover. Racial justice journalism since 1909.

Sign up

Despite severe flight delays due to weather, a whole host of Black and Brown Democrats from New York State (NYS) touched down at the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago this week. Here’s who made it for Monday’s festivities so far. 

In a historic first, Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz secured the nominations for president and vice president during a virtual roll call earlier this month. The more than 4,000 presidential delegates still held a in person roll call on Tuesday as per tradition.

NYS politicians and delegates spotted reconnecting with friends and family at the DNC’s various functions so far included Queens Congressmember Gregory Meeks, former Congressmember Mondaire Jones, State Assembly Speaker Crystal Peoples-Stokes, New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, State Attorney General Letitia James, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark; Brooklyn Democratic Party Boss and Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn as well as State Assemblymembers Brian Cunningham, Latrice Walker, and Assemblymember-elect Jordan J. G. Wright; State Senators Zellnor Myrie, Leroy George Comrie Jr., and Cordell Cleare; Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Brooklyn Borough president Antonio Reynoso; Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights President and CEO Maya Wiley, Vanguard Independent Democratic Association (VIDA) President Henry Butler, and Manhattan Party Boss Keith Wright; New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Councilmembers Kevin Riley, Yusef Salaam, Chi Osse, Nantasha Williams, Selvena Brooks-Powers, and Farah Louis. 

Ariama C. Long photos

“I am excited. This is where America moves forward and we introduce our candidate for the president of the United States—the first Black and Indian woman,” said Meeks, who traveled to Chicago with his wife, Diana Richardson. “It’s historic in nature, but more than that, she is competent and the right person at the right time to take our nation forward.”

Meeks reflected on his most memorable DNC in 2008 in Colorado, when then-candidate Obama was launched as the presidential nominee. “I’m expecting the feeling here to be exactly the same. In fact, a lot of folk feel like it’s just 2008 on steroids,” said Meeks.

Cunningham is “proud to be a delegate this year from New York,” he said. “As you can see, people are really excited about this ticket—so much love, so much hope, so much promise. But also for the last four or eight years, there’s this back and forth rivalry between parties. It’s good to have a party that is excited about their candidate, excited about the future, and excited about policies.”

Political heavyweights are scheduled to speak on each day of the DNC, including former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senate Majority Leader/New York Senator Chuck Schumer, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

This year, the convention theme is “For the People, For Our Future.” Major broadcast networks will air an hour of convention coverage at 10 p.m. EST each night. The convention will also stream in its entirety on over a dozen social media/online platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

[updated Wed August, 21]

Correction: DNC delegates held an in person roll call on Tuesday, not Thursday.