VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS
Reporting from the Republican and Democratic National Conventions
Photo Essay by McLaren Reed
August 27, 2024, 3:34 p.m. — Festivities fill the United Center with bright lights and anticipatory energy. As attendees flood the floor they are eager to unite with Harris as she accepts her nominee.
Article by Eleanor Shaw and Abby Allard
August 23, 2024, 10:28 a.m. — Democrats ‘thrilled’ to have Harris as their presidential nominee, say electing Trump again would be ‘devastating’ for women and people of color.
Story by Alexa Bonilla
August 23, 2024, 8:57 a.m. — Virginians ‘super excited’ after DNC to work on electing Harris in November
Archives
Our public stories.
Story by McKenna Schonbrun
August 23, 2024, 8:16 a.m. — Young Democrats in Chicago emphasized different issues but preserving the environment and curbing climate change was at or near the top of all of their concerns.
Story by McKenna Schonbrun
August 22, 2024, 10:44 a.m. — Union members and leaders have made their presence felt at this week’s convention, and Democrats are clear that they need organized labor's support in order to win this fall.
Article by Eleanor Shaw
August 22, 2024, 10:31 a.m. — Young voter turnout is low, particularly in Virginia, sparking initiatives at both national conventions aimed at engaging youth in the political process.
Story by Abby Allard
August 21, 2024, 10:05 p.m. — A next generation of Democratic voters is leaning into ‘How politics is supposed to be.’
Story by Alexa Bonilla
August 21, 2024, 8:48 p.m. — Harris is proving ‘inspirational’ to Democrats, while Republicans say they are drawn to the party's values and policies.
Article by Eleanor Shaw
August 21, 2024, 8:18 a.m. — VP nominee Walz emphasizes the direct impact of climate change, abortion access and education costs on this generation of voters
Story by McKenna Schonbron with additional video from Abby Allard and Jordan Cooper
August 20, 2024, 5:50 p.m. — Some Democratic delegates said they initially wished Kamala Harris had chosen someone other than Tim Walz to be her running mate. But, as one delegate put it, the Minnesota governor’s folksy charm has won them over.
Story by Abby Allard with additional reporting by Eleanor Shaw
August 20, 2024, 8:53 a.m. — Groups and activists upset about U.S. policies and actions regarding the war in Gaza have been voicing their demands in view of Democratic delegates in Chicago.
Story by Eleanor Shaw with photos by McLaren Reed
August 20, 2024, 7:15 a.m. — Groups hailing from a variety of states protested in solidarity with Palestinians on Monday, aiming to inspire action from Democratic leaders and delegates.
Story by Abby Allard, additional video and reporting by Jordan Cooper and McKenna Schonbrun
August 19, 2024, 10:05 a.m. — Delegates from Virginia are looking forward and embracing the Harris-Walz ticket as the 2024 Democratic National Convention gets underway.
Article by Eleanor Shaw
August 19, 2024, 8:09 a.m. — Biden’s departure has changed the dynamics of the presidential race, and Democratic delegates are excited about the “energy” of their new ticket.
Photo Essay by McLaren Reed
August 19, 2024, 8:02 a.m. — Delegates, arena staff, Police, and Chicago residents, alike, prepare for the upcoming week of busy streets and long days at the United Center. Hanging on for positive politics ...
RNC coverage July 15-19
Article by Eleanor Shaw
July 20, 2024, 11:02 a.m. — Virginia Republicans during last week's national convention were eager to talk about their devotion to Donald Trump and how they're getting used to the idea of Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance as the vice presidential candidate. As for discussing President Joe Biden, though, ...
Photos by McLaren Reed
July 19, 2024, 1:47 p.m. — Throngs of Republicans in cowboy hats and costumes. Lights, balloons and decorations. A party atmosphere for the party. The Republican National Convention was like Comic Con for conservatives.
Story by McKenna Schonbrun and video by Jordan Cooper
July 19, 2024, 9:02 a.m. — With the Republican National Convention wrapped up, Virginia delegates recount their biggest takeaways.
Story by Abby Allard with video from Jordan Cooper
July 19, 2024, 8:33 a.m. — Fresh faced Republicans said they hope their generation will embrace Donald Trump in November.
Story by Alexa Bonilla with additional video by Jordan Cooper
Posted 8:50 a.m. July 18, 2024
Story by McKenna Schonbrun and Abby Allard with additional video by Jordan Cooper
Posted 8:02 a.m. July 18, 2024
Story by Eleanor Shaw
Posted 5:44 p.m. July 18, 2024
MILWAUKEE — Just a few blocks from the Republican National Convention’s buzzing partisan energy, former U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp and college students pursued one mission: turn down the temperature of American political discourse.
Story by Alexa Bonilla with additional video by Jordan Cooper and Abby Allard
Posted 8:29 a.m. July 17, 2024
By Eleanor Shaw, photos by McLaren Reed and additional reporting by McKenna Schonbrun
Posted 8:12 a.m. July 17, 2024
MILWAUKEE — After Virginia turned shades of purple in recent years, Republicans say they foresee the commonwealth going red this fall, as former President Donald Trump gathers momentum. Throughout the first two days of the Republican National Convention, Virginian Republicans — many who donned stars and stripes — have emphasized economic issues as part of their case. “Just look in your pocketbook from today to four years ago,” said Darrell Smith, an alternate delegate and Arlington resident. “Was it more now? Or was it more then?”
By Alexa Bonilla
Posted 9:16 a.m. July 16, 2024
By Abby Allard with video by Jordan Cooper
Posted 7:75 a.m. July 16, 2024
By Eleanor Shaw
Posted 10:38 p.m. Monday, July 15, 2024
MILWAUKEE — With a click of security gates’ disengagement, a crowd of crimson cowboy hats and MAGA caps trickled into the Fiserv Forum early Monday afternoon, just before the Republican delegates’ roll call. One question was buzzing through the congregation: Who will be former President Donald Trump’s running mate? “We are all anxiously awaiting that decision,” said Darius Mayfield, the Republican nominee for New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District. “It’s between people like Tim Scott, Doug Burgum, Marco Rubio and probably J.D. Vance.” Turns out, Mayfield was right on the money, as Trump announced Ohio Republican Sen. J.D. Vance would be his vice presidential candidate just after 2 p.m. “I think [Vance] is an outstanding VP choice,” former Republican presidential candidate and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy said soon after the news broke. “I think he is a rarity in American politics … he’s smart, he’s energetic but he also has a clear ideology, which we are often missing.” Denise Ballew, a cowboy-hat-wearing Texan and alternate delegate, is also confident in Trump’s decision — particularly because she trusts Trump’s competency. “Excited” was the word she used to describe both her feelings for Trump’s new runningmate and the Republican National Convention. “This is a critical time in America,” Ballew said. “We were founded on God-given principles, and we have to fight for these principles.” In both Ballew and Mayfield’s views, Trump is the ideal candidate to uphold their party’s values. “My morals just line up with the Republican Party, and I do think that Donald Trump is the only one who can get us out of the mess that we’re in,” Ballew said. Mayfield emphasized the importance of staying civically engaged to ensure the government upholds voters’ values. “Vote for the person, not the party,” he said, adding that he has been impressed by the number of members of Gen Z attending the convention, rallies and events “As young people, it’s time for us to take our politics back and it’s time for our politics to represent who we are,” Mayfield said. “I’m encouraged to see so many young people getting involved.” One of these first-time voters attending the RNC is 18-year-old Emma Tunnell, an incoming Liberty University student. She said she plans to major in political science and dreams of being a congresswoman who inspires people her age — especially after circulating through the convention. “It’s amazing,” Tunnell said with a toothy smile. “I finally get to meet people who have a lot of the same political ideas as me.” Tunnell said she will vote for Trump this November for the same reasons as other attendees: to preserve the conservative values important to her. And her message to other young voters was straight forward: Get involved. “I feel like people my age, we need to step up as conservative people,” Tunnell said. “My generation is very smart, and … there are a lot of people who could make a breakthrough.”
By Abby Allard with additional video by Alexa Bonilla and Jordan Cooper
Posted 10:00 p.m. Monday, July 15, 2024
By Eleanor Shaw
Posted 11:54 p.m. Sunday, July 14, 2024
MILWAUKEE — As security borders rise around them, former President Donald Trump’s supporters say they feel reinvigorated and united in supporting their candidate’s campaign following Saturday’s assassination attempt. “I think this is going to fire everybody up,” said Eddie Fire, an Arizonian attending alongside his wife Sophia Fire. “It’s going to be nice to be around like-minded people.” An expanding swath of downtown Milwaukee is sequestered by concrete and metal barriers. Law enforcement agencies expanded the RNC’s perimeter Sunday morning. Delegates, media and attendees still must pass multiple security checkpoints to reach the convention floor — and those checkpoints now start further away from the Fiserv Forum where the party’s business will be conducted this week. Law enforcement hailing from numerous states — including, but not limited to, California, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Mississippi — patrolled the area’s interior on horseback, bicycle, motorcycle, motor vehicle and boat. During a press conference Sunday afternoon, the Secret Service, FBI and Milwaukee officials said they “did not anticipate” these security measures would change in reaction to Saturday’s shooting, and that the protocols currently in place had been planned during an “18-month process.” The aftershock of Trump’s attempted assassination has distressed supporters who have arrived in Milwaukee. “It seemed like [the video] was in slow motion,” Sophia Fire said of the filmed shooting. “It was really, very stressful. I felt like crying.” But any anxiety hasn’t shaken supporters’ confidence. The Fires’ relief for Trump’s safety eventually overpowered their initial anger, and Eddie Fire said he wasn’t surprised and “wouldn’t put it past someone to do this with the state of our politics right now.” “[Trump] has a lot of enemies,” Sophia added. “Wonderful people have enemies just as well as some more challenging types, so no, I’m not surprised.” Manny Garcia, a former Marine from Texas, said Trump’s apparent willingness to put his life at risk demonstrated a commitment to the United States. “I know [Trump’s] heart is in the right place,” Garcia said, punctuating each word with a pointed finger. “Why else, if you’re a billionaire, would you risk your life, would you be willing to put your money and your family at risk?” Reporters Alexa Bonilla and Abby Allard contributed to this report