MILWAUKEE — Tuesday night was supposed to be the big night for delegates at the Democratic National Convention, but instead of a large gathering to officially nominal Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee, most delegates watched the event from their homes.
Noel Ray-Ortega had a completely different idea in mind for her first DNC delegate experience.
“It just does feel really removed,” Ray-Ortega said.
What’s typically a vibrant moment on a world stage for delegates, Ray-Ortega’s participation in the roll-call vote was limited to watching coverage on her TV.
“I feel sad I don’t get to have what the typical experience is because yeah, we’re just like watching from home and tuning in as we feel like it,” she said.
Ray-Ortega said she mailed in her ballot a week ago sending her delegate vote to Bernie Sanders. As Joe Biden is officially voted the democratic presidential nominee, Ray-Ortega said he still has work to do to earn her vote in November.
“I think they need to make some decisions that they’re going to have progressive policies for the people of this country,” she said.
Fellow Milwaukee delegate Chris Walton had a similar set up inside his home Tuesday night.
“Me facing my laptop watching the show go on,” he said.
Walton is a Biden delegate and he’s excited about the presidential nominee’s vision.
Walton was hoping to wear a cheesehead among Wisconsin’s delegation which is a tradition of years’ past, but he understands why that couldn’t happen this week.
“I’m glad we’re listening to the scientific experts and we’re listening to the public health experts telling us what is best for everybody,” he said.
Both Ray-Ortega and Walton said they plan to participate again in four years when they hope the DNC returns to Milwaukee.