PA pols make their presence felt at DNC

The Democratic National Convention might be taking place in the Windy City, but the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a starring role at the four-day gathering at Chicago’s United Center.

Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor spoke at the DNC, while other political heavyweights from the Keystone State are making appearances throughout the week. Below, City & State walks through some of Pennsylvania’s political highlights from the first two nights of this year’s Democratic National Convention.

Lt. Gov. Davis talks infrastructure

Lt. Gov. Austin Davis spoke on the first day of the convention, looking to draw a contrast between former President Donald Trump’s administration and President Joe Biden’s administration on infrastructure policy. Referencing Biden’s signature bipartisan infrastructure law. “President Trump promised us infrastructure week over and over again. He really didn't care, though, and it never happened – but President Biden and Vice President Harris are on our side. They brought together Democrats and Republicans to get it done,” Davis said. Davis, who also serves as vice chair of the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association, also highlighted infrastructure improvements within the commonwealth, including the repair of a collapsed portion of I-95 in Philadelphia and the rebuilt Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh. Davis, in his brief speech to the convention, said Harris has a forward-looking approach to infrastructure in America. 

“She's committed to keeping our infrastructure safe and modern. When I think about the future, I think about my daughter, Harper, and all of America's children,” Davis said. “Investing in them means investing in our infrastructure. It means replacing millions of lead pipes. It means providing clean air, clean water, and safe roads and bridges, not just for us but for generations to come.

PA-listers spotted at the DNC

A who’s who of Pennsylvania politicos have been spotted at the DNC, both in person and from the comfort of your screen. In addition to Gov. Josh Shapiro and Davis, a number of Pennsylvania political heavyweights have been making appearances at the convention. 

Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair Sharif Street is in Chicago, as is U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, state House Speaker Joanna McClinton, Democratic nominee for auditor general Malcolm Kenyatta and several other state and local officials, including Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and state Reps. Emily Kinkead and Dan Frankel, among others. 

However, not all Pennsylvania Democrats are in the Second City: Democratic nominee for attorney general Eugene DePasquale said Monday he would not attend and would instead be campaigning in Pennsylvania. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman also chose not to attend.

Pancakes and politics

The convention features all types of events, not just the evening speeches, which draw a lot of media attention. 

The DNC schedule includes trainings, panels, briefings and other types of events, including daily breakfasts featuring public officials and other Democratic leaders from all over the country. Monday’s Pennsylvania delegation breakfast saw appearances from Shapiro and Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz, according to Washington Post reporter Dylan Wells.

Shapiro also stopped at a Tuesday morning event hosted by the South Carolina delegation, according to a post from South Carolina Public Radio reporter Maayan Schechter and SCETV’s Gavin Jackson. 

Kenyatta says it’s time for the younger generation to make history

Kenyatta, a Democratic state representative from Philadelphia who is the party’s nominee for auditor general, spoke at the DNC on Tuesday night, criticizing Project 2025 – a collection of conservative policy proposals for the federal government that was organized by the Heritage Foundation – while also calling for a new generation to make their mark this November. 

“In 2019 my grandma, a civil rights warrior, called me, her voice cracking, and she said, ‘I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so sorry. I thought my generation had fixed things, and here you are fighting the same battles.’ But I want to tell you tonight, my friends, what I said to my grandma. I said, ‘It’s okay, Grandma, it’s just our turn,’” Kenyatta recalled. 

He then turned his attention to November: “It’s just our turn to stand up for working people and to stand up for our nation’s promise. It’s just our turn to defend our rights and to ensure that democracy doesn’t die on our watch. It’s our turn to make history, my friends, by electing Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States of America.”