Carroll Countians Share Takeaways from Party Conventions

compiled by Kym Byrnes

Carroll Countians Share Takeaways from Party Conventions

This summer was a roller coaster of activity leading up to the presidential election in November. The Republican National Convention occurred July 15-18 in Milwaukee, and the Democratic National Convention was held Aug. 19-23 in Chicago. Tens of millions of viewers tuned in to hear from the 2024 presidential candidates, Republican nominee Donald J. Trump and Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.

Today’s political party conventions are more of a celebration of a predetermined candidate than a decision-making event, but they weren’t always that way. According to History.com, political parties started hosting conventions during the early 19th century and presidential primaries during the early 20th century. Conventions were the main method for selecting candidates until 1972, when new rules shifted power to the primaries.

Fast-forward to 2024: Carroll Countians Corynne Courpas (D-Carroll County) and Del. Christopher Tomlinson (R-House of Delegates-District 5), who attended the conventions, share their observations from this summer’s party conventions.

Corynne Courpas, Chairperson
Carroll County Democratic Central Committee

Democrat Corynne Courpas with U.S. House of Representative Jamie Raskin

How were you selected to attend the DNC? Was this the first DNC that you have attended?

In January, I filed for Convention Delegate. I was chosen by the Biden/Harris campaign to appear on the Second Congressional District ballots in the May primary. Of course, we had an extra step when President Biden withdrew. The MDP stepped up with a Zoom for the 118 members of our delegation, and the DNC provided secure online ballots for all 3,949 pledged delegates. This is my eighth convention but only my second as a delegate. I have served as a volunteer and guest at the others.

Can you describe the overall feel of the convention? What was the mood, the attitude, and the vibe of those presenting and those attending? How did you feel personally? 

I think joy is the best answer. I felt it throughout the arena and in the many messages I received from home and friends around the country. There was such an atmosphere of optimism for the future. I saw an amazingly diverse group of Americans, but the highlight for me was the many young people. Carroll County native Henry Snurr was among them. Henry started as an intern here in Carroll and is now president of the Maryland Young Democrats. Each night had a theme. To sum them up, we Democrats represent all Americans in our quest for freedom and a bright future: “We will not go back.”

What were some of your key takeaways from the convention? What do you feel is important for Carroll County residents to know coming out of the convention? 

It’s so important to recognize that our very democracy is on the line this November. The right to vote and continue our tradition of the peaceful transfer of power, the right to educate your children as you choose, the right to practice your personal faith, and the right of women to manage their own health care are all at stake. I must include the existential threat that climate change presents to our planet. America needs to remain a world leader in this and other issues. These are the issues addressed at the convention and the issues that all voters should consider.

Corynne Courpas with John Willis, former Maryland Secretary of State

Looking beyond November, I am so thrilled to have been part of the convention that “passed the torch” to the next generation. We paid tribute to Joe [Biden], Bill [Clinton], Hillary [Clinton], Elizabeth [Warren] and Bernie [Sanders]. But we introduced the country to a whole new generation of leaders that included Maryland’s own Wes Moore and Angela Alsobrooks. Our “bench” is deep, and we are proud of it.

What was your favorite moment and part of the convention? Why?

There were so many highlights. But we showed the nation that one party cannot lay claim to the love of our wonderful country. Throughout every moment, I felt an incredible sense of all being ready to serve their country. I was inspired when the stage was filled with democratic veterans currently serving in Congress.

Corynne Courpas with Henry Snurr (left) and Greg Pecoraro, former president of the Westminster Common Council at the Democratic National Convention.

I was moved by the families sharing their trauma caused by limited access to reproductive health care but inspired by the number of families that shared the joy that IVF brought to them. And I shared a few tears with Gus Walz and his pride in his dad. My dad will always be my inspiration. His pride in my involvement has helped keep me on this roller coaster.

What do you hope will be top of mind for Carroll County residents in the weeks before the election?

Please do your homework. Who will create more jobs and protect your Social Security and Medicare? Who will continue to negotiate lower prescription costs and lower taxes for middle-class Americans versus millionaires? Who will protect our planet for future generations? And, here in Carroll County, who will support our teachers and students and return valuable books to our school libraries? Vote for the candidates who best represent your morals and values.

Christopher Tomlinson
State Delegate for District 5

Republican Delegate Chris Tomlinson with NCAA All-American Athlete Riley Gaines

How did you get selected to attend the RNC? Was this the first RNC that you have attended?

Yes, this was my first RNC Convention. I worked really hard back in 2019 and 2020 to get elected to serve as a delegate to the 2020 RNC Convention, but, unfortunately, it was canceled due to the pandemic. In many ways, this convention was five years in the making. There are two ways to get elected: You can file to run to represent your congressional district, and you’ll appear on the ballot in the primary election, or you can run as an “at-large delegate” at the Maryland Republican Party’s spring convention, and the voting body is the 300-plus members of all 24 Republican Central Committees from around the state. I received the Trump campaign’s endorsement, ran as part of a “Team Trump” slate at the spring convention and won.

Christopher Tomlinson

Can you describe the overall feel of the convention? What was the mood, the attitude, and the vibe of those presenting and those attending? How did you feel personally? 

I was in BWI preparing to board my flight when news broke that Trump had been nearly assassinated. That completely changed the feel of the convention. Everyone was so grateful that the convention was still happening and that our nominee was still alive. Despite popular belief, those in attendance were incredibly positive and not full of rage. Personally, I was thankful that Trump’s life was spared and that his confidence was not shattered one bit. In addition, for the first day or two, the main conversation point was, “Who will his vice president pick be?”

What were some of your key takeaways from the convention? What do you feel is important for Carroll County residents to know coming out of the convention? 

Unity. The convention was all about bringing the GOP back together again. I think Trump’s near-death experience helped with that. Many of us were happy to see Nikki Haley speak and show her support for our nominee. In many ways, I think the Republican Party is more united than the Democrats at this point. We did not have Republicans protesting, rioting and burning the American flag outside of our convention. The Democrats cannot say the same. Coming out of the convention, Carroll County residents should know that the Republican Party is not the party of hate or divisiveness. We’re the party of opportunity and hope, and we believe in American exceptionalism.

What was your favorite moment and part of the convention? Why? 

As a lifelong pro wrestling fan, seeing Hulk Hogan electrify the crowd! Outside of seeing the Hulkster, I thoroughly enjoyed the “everyday American” speakers, such as the mother who lost her son to fentanyl and the family of Rachel Morin, a Harford County mother of five who was murdered by an illegal immigrant. Interestingly enough, I was standing next to Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly when the family came to the stage. There was not a dry eye in the arena during that segment. Also, it was a lot of fun meeting conservative media celebrities all over town, like Sean Hannity and Megyn Kelly.

Chris Tomlinson with the Texas delegation at the Republican National Convention

What do you hope will be top of mind for Carroll County residents in the weeks before the election? 

I attended the RNC Convention, and I watched all four nights of the DNC Convention. The RNC presenters talked about the real issues that are on the minds of voters: the economy, crime, the border, etc.

The speakers at the DNC talked about abortion, January 6 and how Trump is pure evil. Outside of abortion, they did not talk about any of the issues, and that is because they cannot run on the issues. When Vice President Harris talks about helping the middle class and bringing the cost of groceries down, excuse me, she’s been the second most powerful person in the United States for the last four years. Why did she not already do this? In 1980, candidate Ronald Reagan asked, “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” Voters should be pondering the same question before voting in November.