Cincinnati Democrats rally for Harris. 'The most important election of my lifetime'

Hundreds of Democrats on Sunday flocked to a rally in Cincinnati to show support for their presumptive presidential nominee.

Many signed their names to volunteer to campaign for Kamala Harris and other Democrats on the ballot.

Even though Harris wasn't there, the crowd that packed MadTree Brewing in the Oakley neighborhood of Cincinnati chanted Harris' name and waved signs with coconut trees, which have become a symbol for Harris in reference to a story from her childhood.

It was just a week earlier that President Joe Biden announced he wouldn't seek reelection and endorsed Harris, a historic reshaping of the presidential race. The Democrats who came to the rally felt the large crowd sent a message about their commitment to Harris in a state many no longer consider a swing state.

Former President Donald Trump won the state in 2016 and 2020 by eight percentage points.

That didn't discourage many of the Democrats at the rally. Democrats have increased their foothold in the urban population centers of the state, including Cincinnati and Hamilton County, a county Biden won with 57% of the vote in 2020.

"This is definitely the most important election of my lifetime," declared Rep. Greg Landsman, a Democrat who represents Cincinnati and the northern suburbs in Warren County, while addressing the crowd. Landsman and Hamilton County Board of Commissioners President Alicia Reece organized the rally on Sunday.

"We now have a couple things we didn't have. We now have the energy we need to win. We have the messenger who can set the terms of the debate," Landsman said. "As you look around this room, we have the community, the community that's going to win November."

Democrats who spoke to The Enquirer on Sunday said they think it's about time to have the first woman elected president.

"Women make up more than 50% of the population," said Char Ingram, 66. She traveled from Mason, a Republican stronghold just north of Cincinnati, to attend the rally on Sunday. "And it's about time that women take their rightful place and do what we do best, which is take care of business, bring people together and help those who can help themselves the least."

Ingram and others at the rally rankled at accusations some Republicans have made that Harris was a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hire, meaning she only got there based on race and gender. Harris, the sitting vice president, previously served as a senator, attorney general and district attorney in California.

"This is what I will say about DEI," Ingram said, "She definitely earned it, DEI."

When asked by The Enquirer about Biden and whether they think Harris is the better candidate, many of the Democrats praised Biden and his years of service.

Kim Allen, 58, of West Price Hill, said she was sad when Biden stepped down but is excited about Harris.

"She is the future," Allen said. "Biden has served his country. Oh, and he has done such a great job, you know, since he was 29. Now he's 80. He did the work. Now it's time for new and fresh."

The Enquirer reached out to the Hamilton County Republican Party about the rally. At about the same time as the Harris rally in Oakley on Sunday, the Hamilton County Republicans hosted a"Trump Club 2024" gathering of Trump supporters at Big Ash Brewery in Anderson Township.

Chairman Russ Mock responded via text, "My mother taught me when I have nothing nice to say bout someone, I shouldn't say anything."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here's why local Democrats are excited about Harris' candidacy