| CHICAGO, IL – Led with the words of Sičangu Lakota influencer and activist Chante Reddest, South Dakota State Party Chair Shane Merrill delivered our delegation’s unanimous 20 votes to nominate Kamala Harris for President of the United States of America.
Tuesday was filled with impactful caucuses as South Dakota delegates heard from Vice Presidential Nominee Tim Walz and key Democratic leaders from across the country. Then in the evening, our delegation joined a historic roll call vote to confirm the nomination of Kamala Harris for President amidst an energetic crowd with tens of millions viewers watching on TV and online. In line with the diverse representation of the South Dakota delegation, our roll call began with Chante Reddest greeting the crowd in Lakota and reminding the nation that the Seven Council Fires are still here. Then, Chair Shane Merrill spoke to the crowd about South Dakota’s “infinite variety”, acknowledging our party’s commitment to agriculture, Tribal Nations, and natural resources before casting all 20 votes of our delegation’s votes to nominate Kamala Harris for President.
The remaining speakers and programming of the evening focused on casting a “Bold Vision for America’s Future”. This includes highlighting the commitment of a Harris-Walz administration to economic opportunity, personal freedom, and an America that includes rather than divides. This is in stark contrast over the dangerous outcomes of a Trump-Vance Project 2025 America. South Dakota’s delegation had the opportunity to hear from Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and former President Barack Obama. Last night’s message was clear: VOTE!
“I was captivated by the energy that was brought to the evening, starting with the roll call and concluding with former President Barack Obama’s speech,” said South Dakota Delegate Captain Julian Beaudion. “I am honored to be a part of the delegation that is making history by nominating Kamala Harris to be the first Black and South Asian woman to be President. It was inspiring to hear from voices of the past engaging with the Democratic Party in new, hopeful ways, creating a beautiful connection between past, present, and future leadership of our country.”
Also during last night’s convention, South Dakota State Party Chair Randy Seiler, who died last year, was honored during Patti LaBelle’s moving tribute for the Democratic leaders, activists and legislatures we’ve recently lost.
Today, South Dakota delegates continue to engage in training, education, and networking with leaders and fellow delegates from across the country, representing South Dakota in the Black Caucus, Native American Caucus, LGBTQ+ Caucus, Small Business Council, and the Labor Council. With the emphasis on organizing and building momentum for the months ahead, South Dakota’s delegation is capturing the moment and bringing tangible skills back to help candidates up and down the ballot this November.
To learn more about the Democratic National Convention, visit www.DemConvention.com.
For questions, you can contact the SDDP Executive Director Dan Ahlers at dan@sddp.org or contact the state party office by phone at 605-271-5405 or 605-940-3071. |
