The Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia is officially underway. And Monday night was filled with speakers calling on voters to support Hillary Clinton, who is the party’s presumptive presidential nominee.
Former candidate Bernie Sanders was among them. And while he took to the stage telling the crowd he was “proud” to stand with Clinton, some Sanders supporters, including Washington state delegate Trang Nguyen aren’t ready to back her just yet. The majority of the 101 delegates from this state support Sanders, following his caucus wins in March.
"I was very, very vocal when Bernie came out," Nguyen said. "I was cheering my heart out for this man who has spent decades fighting for us. We are committed to him throughout this convention, and we're excited for the role call vote."
Sanders supporters were heard throughout the night shouting, "Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!" and "No TPP." But at an earlier event Monday, supporters were booing the former candidate. Nguyen says she doesn't think it was necessarily directed at the candidate.
"I think it was booing more ... settling. Settling for someone who didn't meet our expectations or wasn't the leader that we wanted for our country," she said.
Nguyen says she's not ready to "settle" for Clinton, even in the interest of party unity.
"What I have trouble with is throwing in the towel," she said. "And so, the talk about unity, what it sounds like to me is 'Okay, it's time to give up.' But I don't feel that way just yet."
Nguyen is calling her time at the party's national convention a "life-changing opportunity." This is the 25-year-old's first time as a state delegate.
This is part of KPLU's ongoing election series "From the Floor," focused on the Washington delegation at each of the party's national conventions.
