5 Questions With: Wilton’s DNC Convention Delegates Tom Dubin and Jason Sherrick

Democrats Tom Dubin and Jason Sherrick may be at opposite ends of the political experience spectrum, but they both enjoyed serving as first-time Connecticut delegates at the Democratic National Committee‘s recent convention in Chicago.

At age 17, Sherrick, a recent Wilton High School graduate, might have been the youngest delegate at the convention (he turned 18 on Saturday, Aug. 24 after the convention finished). He got hooked on politics very young, watching “Meet the Press” with his dad when he learned about former State Sen. Will Haskell, who was elected to represent Wilton at the age of 22. Inspired, Sherrick volunteered to work for Ceci Maher‘s state senate campaign in 2022 and is now serving as outreach director/field director for Maher’s re-election campaign in the coming election. Sherrick is also proud to be the youngest member of the Wilton Democratic Town Committee (DTC).

That’s the same Wilton DTC that Dubin joined in 2014 and has chaired since 2017. Dubin is also a member of the Democratic State Central Committee, representing the 26th District, and was appointed by the CT State Legislature to be a board member of Connecticut Innovations.

GOOD Morning Wilton asked both Wilton residents to answer five questions about their experiences in Chicago during this year’s DNC Convention — just as we did for Wilton resident Annalisa Stravato after she attended the Republican National Convention as a delegate last month.

1. Describe for people who may not know what your role as a convention delegate is. What activities take place and what is your work and responsibility?

Jason Sherrick: My main responsibility as a delegate to the DNC was to cast a vote for the Democratic Party’s nominee for President of the United States. I was excited and honored to cast my vote for Kamala Harris.

Tom Dubin: I didn’t anticipate how exhausting the convention would be! There are five daily activities to think about.

1. Everyone starts at 7 a.m. for breakfast with their states. That’s where we pick up that day’s credentials and discuss logistical matters. Breakfast is also an opportunity to hear from some of our party’s leaders. 
2. Caucus meetings begin and run through late afternoon. It’s an opportunity to hear from national organizers about issues like gun safety, labor, reproductive freedoms, environment, and small business council; and regarding important constituencies like the LGBTQ, senior, Black, Hispanic, women and AAPI communities. The caucus location also hosted the best market for buying swag.
3. Lunch receptions are sponsored by different elected officials and advocacy groups. On Monday, CT’s delegates were invited to Chicago-style deep dish pizza hosted by Comptroller Sean Scanlon and Treasurer Eric Russell (billed, appropriately, as a chance to try “America’s Second Best Pizza”). Tuesday was lunch hosted by Atty. Gen. William Tong at a Chinese restaurant (Tong’s parents operated a Chinese restaurant outside Hartford while he was growing up, and he loves sharing this part of his heritage), and then a coffee reception hosted by Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas. Wednesday was a reception hosted by Sens. Dick Blumenthal and Chris Murphy on the Chicago riverfront. 
4. Of course, the most important event was each night’s convention programming. Most of us tried to leave our hotel by 4 p.m. to get to the United Center because the buses and security took a long, long time. The hall started to fill up by 4:30 p.m. and programming started at around 6 p.m. Some nights stretched to close to midnight and some finished up by 10:30 p.m.
5. Each night there were afterparties. Some were smaller events put on by a state or advocacy group, and some were large. The headliner was an event sponsored by Illinois Gov. JD Pritzker, which featured John Legend (Pritzker paid for the event himself, thank you Hyatt Hotels). I didn’t make it to a single afterparty, because everything started up again for 7 a.m. breakfasts the next day.

The convention is an opportunity to discuss the direction of our country and our party. It is also an opportunity to energize our party about the issues we care about and to generate excitement for the upcoming elections. The official business is really limited to the roll call during which each state’s delegates vote on the nomination. This year’s roll call had actually happened by conference call earlier in August, but the live roll call on Tuesday was nonetheless a focal point of the convention.

2. It’s been a unique situation for the Democrats, with Pres. Biden announcing just a few weeks before the convention that he would not run, and Vice Pres. Harris getting the nomination. How did that change the convention for you and what impact do you feel it had on the convention in general? What did it mean to be in Chicago at this point in the election and to be part of everything?

Sherrick: Although the DNC’s main programming began each day at 5:30 p.m., I would get to the United Center two hours early to walk the convention floor and take it all in. Walking around and speaking with fellow delegates, elected officials, and members of the media you couldn’t help but feel the historic nature of the moment. There was a certain energy in the room that reflected the unstoppable power of a new generation of leadership. “USA” chants filled the room, American flags were waved proudly, and the cheers were deafening. It really was an honor to be a part of a historic convention, especially at 17.

Dubin: There was an outpouring of affection for Pres. Joe Biden. His presidency included the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS Act, and of course the appointment of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. Under Pres. Biden, our international alliances are stronger and we’ve led support for Ukraine, pharmaceutical costs are being reduced, inflation is starting to decline, unemployment rates for Black and Hispanic people are at record lows, the stock market is at record highs, climate resiliency is a priority, and illegal border crossings are currently lower than when Donald Trump left office. Nonetheless, there was an increasing sense that Pres. Biden should pass the torch to someone from the next generation, and I am glad that he decided to do so. Kamala Harris is exactly the right person to lead the US at this point in time. She is smart, experienced and focused on the freedoms that hopefully will define our next decades. The convention timing meant that our party is still riding a wave of excitement for her candidacy, and the convention built that wave higher and higher.

So many friends have commented about watching the energy and excitement from home and have asked about the energy in person. It was absolutely electric. The party did an amazing job of coordinating a stellar group of speakers and performers, and built the experience to Thursday’s crescendo when Kamala accepted our nomination. I think all of us (Democratic, Republican, and others) will look back at this convention as having established a high-water mark that all future conventions will aspire to. I’m just hoping that when Democrats renominate Kamala Harris for a second term in 2028 we’ll have time to include Beyonce and Taylor Swift.

3. There have been protests outside the convention hall and reported division within the party, primarily over the War in Gaza. How did that impact your participation and can you share anything about the experience in Chicago considering that factor?

Sherrick: During the DNC I encountered protestors from many sides over the War in Gaza. Although I didn’t have much interaction with either side of protestors, from my limited viewpoint everyone protesting practiced their First Amendment rights peacefully and civilly. During the final night of the convention one of the loudest moments within the United Center was when Kamala Harris pledged continued support to Israel, the lone democracy in the Middle East, as well as a permanent ceasefire deal to end the reprehensible suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza. The message from Kamala Harris and other leading Democrats resonated, and the general atmosphere of the Democratic Party I saw was unified, fired up, and ready to go.

Dubin: There were polite protests regarding many issues in Chicago. That included pro-life protests, anti-capitalism protests, and support for peace in Gaza and throughout the Middle East. I’ve heard that there were a handful of arrests away from the convention venue but the very few protesters I saw were civil and respectful. Despite security concerns before the convention, I think a delegate could have spent the entire four days without bumping into an actual protest.

Several delegates were eager to keep Gaza top of mind, and a few delegates wore keffiyehs during the convention. I sat next to one of those delegates on a bus ride to the United Center and we had a good conversation about his concerns and how best to move the party forward with unity. I’m sure many wished that Gaza had been more of a focus, but it shouldn’t be lost that President Biden stated “those protesters out in the street, they have a point,” and that “a lot of innocent people are being killed on both sides.” Kamala Harris called the situation in Gaza “devastating” and “heartbreaking” and she emphasized “we cannot look away in the face of those tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering and I will not be silent.” Both repeated their unwavering support for Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, and highlighted the urgent need to agree on a ceasefire and lasting security for all.

4. Who did you meet at the convention that was unexpected or a high point? (Any other anecdotes you’d like to share would be great…) What has been the most exciting thing to happen or for you to have been a part of during the convention so far? And what are you looking forward to before it ends?

Sherrick: There were many high points during convention week. Notably, I had the privilege of standing alongside Gov. Ned Lamont, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, and U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes as Connecticut cast its votes for Kamala Harris. The roll call was not only historic but exciting, and it was an honor — although I’ll admit I initially froze when I appeared on the broadcast, I didn’t know what to do with my arms!

Additionally, last summer I was selected to participate in Rep. Jamie Raskin’s “Democracy Summer” program where I listened to guest speakers and learned about both campaign organizing and the historic struggle for democratic freedoms, and the program left me inspired. Because of my participation in Democracy Summer, I was invited to Jamie Raskin’s post-gavel reception on Tuesday night. When I introduced myself as both a 17-year-old delegate as well as an alumni of his program, Jamie greeted me proudly with a big excited hug. I shared how appreciative I was to have participated in his program, and it was incredibly surreal to talk shop and get advice from Rep. Raskin, someone I admire and respect deeply. I left the reception once again inspired, excited and ready to get to work.

Dubin: Connecticut’s delegation hosted an amazing group of breakfast speakers. We met Wes Moore, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren, James Carville, Tish James, and others.

Perhaps the most surprising thing to me was to have the “Central Park Five” participate. That was a bold choice and reminded the country of Donald Trump’s call for the death penalty in their case. Despite the men having been only 14-16 years old at the time, and completely exonerated in 2002, Trump has never apologized for that.

The single most exciting thing for me is to see and feel the unity among delegates from all states. We are a remarkably diverse group with many different priorities, but there is a cohesion around the notion that “we won’t go back.” That notion reflects our party’s desire for a President who is competent, compassionate, forward-looking, beholding to facts, and capable of world leadership.

5. How was the 2024 convention different from what you expected it to be like?

Sherrick: This past week in Chicago, I was proud and moved to see the Democratic Party embrace the American flag and redefine what it means to be a “patriot.” On the third night of the convention, former Republican Lt. Governor of Georgia Geoff Duncan addressed the convention and said, “If you vote for Kamala Harris in 2024 you’re not a Democrat, you’re a patriot.” The room erupted to chants of “USA, USA, USA” as delegates and guests waved American flags and held up red, white and blue “USA” posters. That moment struck me because the term “patriot” has been often used by [Pres.] Donald Trump to describe those who attacked the capitol at his direction on Jan. 6 — individuals who flew the American flag alongside Trump flags, Confederate flags, and even Swastika banners. More importantly, the term “patriot” has been used by Donald Trump to describe the individuals who attempted to overturn a free and fair election, the same individuals he now promises to pardon if reelected. During the DNC, both the American flag and the term patriot were rightfully reclaimed before massive audiences. 

A patriot is someone who believes in the best of America and all it has to offer. Someone who stands up for the ideals of our founding and understands the sacred importance of our freedoms and representative democracy. The American flag is the enduring symbol of the greatest nation this world has ever seen. A nation that triumphed against all odds over a tyrannical king, defeated fascism in World War II, and now presently boasts of the greatest economy, military, and people anywhere in the world. Patriots are Democrats, Republicans and those who may find themselves somewhere in the middle, all pledging allegiance to the same stars and stripes. Nobody talks down and degrades America quite like Donald Trump, and quite frankly, I’m sick of it. According to his assessment from Mar-a-Lago, we are a third-world country under invasion from within. That’s why it was refreshing at the DNC to hear from an exciting new generation of leaders like Kamala Harris and Tim Walz who rightfully recognize America as the envy of the world, respect our country’s historic greatness, and are ready to protect our democracy and fundamental rights.

Dubin: Honestly, I didn’t expect the convention to be so rousing, unifying, and well-produced. The quality of the speeches has been amazing. Headliners like Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, and Oprah Winfrey rose to the occasion and established the energy that will propel us through the next few months. Tim Walz established himself as the perfect VP candidate with his character and substance. And some of the other speakers like Coach Steve Kerr, UAW President Shawn Fain, and “Saturday Night Live”’s Kenan Thompson were unforgettable (not to mention Stevie Wonder, Maren Morris, John Legend, P!nk, and Tim Walz’s championship high school football team).