The Democratic National Convention was held virtually this past week, with former Vice President Joe Biden officially accepting the party nomination to run for President with Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate.

Guthrie County Democrats Co-Vice Chair Shanda Carstens says she watched all of the convention and she thought it was very well done. She says she was impressed by the speakers and that many of the state activists she’s spoken with have said they are inspired and fired up by the convention to head toward the finish line this November. Carstens comments on the Democratic nominees, “It’s a really strong ticket, you know I had a lifelong Republican and former Trump voter from my precinct show up to caucus for Biden and he was very passionate about Biden being the right choice to unseat President Trump. And Kamala Harris, I had the opportunity to meet her at an event and she is just fabulous. She’s warm, strong, funny, and smart and the crowds I’ve seen her bring in are not the party usual activists, she brings in new excited voters.”

Carstens adds she believes the excitement from the presidential ticket flows downward to Iowa’s U.S. Senate and House races, and even further down to the county’s local races. The Republican National Convention is set to take place this coming week.