CHICAGO — Speaking from Chicago where he's attending the Democratic National Convention, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg expressed optimism about the Harris-Walz ticket's chances in November, saying "now is not the time to let Trump get away with the outrage."
Nirenberg, who shared on X that he was first to speak at the Texas Democratic delegation breakfast Monday, also said he believed Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign has enough momentum on its side to overcome a late arrival the 2024 race.
"We know the agenda, we love the vision. We just have to now connect," he told Jason Whitely of KENS news partner WFAA in Dallas. "Kamala Harris as a person reflects the best of America."
Nirenberg last month endorsed Harris for the Oval Office in the wake of President Joe Biden leaving the race and has since taken on an active role on the election trail, sharing on social media that he met with voters on behalf of the Harris-Walz ticket in New Hampshire last week.
He is in the last year of serving as mayor of the Alamo City, which is a term-limited office, and will leave the seat next summer after eight years. He hasn't publicly hinted at what he might do next.
But he expressed excitement over what he called optimism in the Democratic Party for what Harris, who would be 60 on Inauguration Day if elected, can do to get young voters to the polls. Nirenberg added that connecting directly with voters about her policies – like the economic platform she unveiled last week – could help to "chip away at the red wall that we've experienced in Texas," referring to GOP leadership.
"I think now, with the enthusiasm of the next generation of leaders, with more younger voters engaging, I think the combination’s going to be fantastic for our state," he said. "I'm very hopeful it'll have an impact in Texas races up and down the ballot."
Nirenberg praised "historic investments in our infrastructure" spearheaded by the Biden administration, a tone that markedly contrasts how Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republican Texas leaders have talked about the president's policies. The mayor said a Democratic victory comes down to discussing Biden-Harris policies with independent voters who are "turned off by Trump, turned off by his extremist allies."
A clip of Nirenberg's speech at Monday's delegation breakfast referenced a de facto slogan of Harris' campaign to loud applause.
“Here’s to a little more normalcy, a lot more joy and electing the first woman president of the United States," Nirenberg says. "We are not going back."
The 2024 DNC in Chicago runs through Thursday and features a speaking lineup that includes former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Obamas, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Biden.
The convention is taking place at the United Center, the home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks which also hosted the Democratic National Convention in 1996.
The keynote speeches are expected to begin at 5:30 p.m. Monday.
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