Dear John,

I’ll admit it: a month ago, when I thought about attending the 2024 Democratic National Convention, I imagined myself trudging toward Chicago, glumly trying to stave off doom in the fight for our democracy.

Today, however, as I wait to board my flight from LaGuardia to O’Hare, the sentiment could not be more different. Thanks to President Biden’s historic decision to pass the torch, and to the remarkable energy and excitement that VP Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz have brought to the presidential campaign trail over the past few weeks, I can’t wait to get to the Convention. (Even a several hour flight delay caused by these thunderstorms can’t dampen my mood).

It’s great to feel joy again. After years marked by the pandemic, by Trumpism, and by a sour pessimism, I believe this Convention can help point the way toward a shared democratic future we can feel hopeful about.

I was proud to cast my delegate ballot for VP Harris in the beginning of August. Now, I couldn’t be more excited to hit the ground in Chicago. In the week ahead, we’ll hear speeches from inspiring Democratic leaders and roll up our sleeves to get busy organizing to ensure victories up and down the ballot this November.

And of course, there will be lots of balloons and cheers (maybe some tears, and hopefully some Beyoncé songs) of joy and hope when we make Kamala Harris and Tim Walz our official Democratic nominees.

But the DNC is more than just a celebration, John. It’s a chance to learn about Democratic initiatives across the country, and a forum for exchanging ideas and discussing our shared values as Democrats.

So on Friday, I was excited to hear VP Harris start to lay out her vision for supporting working families — and especially to hear her say more about affordable housing than any presidential candidate I’ve ever heard. At the Convention, I’m excited to hear more about those plans, and to talk to Democratic elected officials from around the country about how we could put them to work in our own cities to build affordable, safe, and livable neighborhoods.

OK, one more admission: I’ll admit that I’m thinking all the way forward to what we could do together, with President Kamala Harris in the White House, with Congressional majorities, for a more affordable, safer, more livable, and better run New York City. We can bring that spirit of joy and hope that VP Harris and Gov. Walz are bringing to the campaign trail right here, to the sidewalks of New York.

Her plan to provide $25,000 toward a downpayment for first-time homebuyers, for example, could work together with our “Homes for City Workers” proposal, to invest pension fund dollars alongside our City’s teachers, firefighters, and nurses to cut the cost of homeownership in half.

For now, though, I won’t get too far ahead. We’ve got a ton of work to do this fall to take back the House, hold the Senate, win state legislative seats, and to make Kamala Harris the 47th President of the United States. This week, that work runs through Chicago, where we will build a broad, diverse, and organized coalition of Democrats to get it done.

I’ll be posting about my DNC adventures on Twitter and Instagram Stories, so be sure to follow along (and let me know if there’s anyone you want me to look out for on the Convention floor).

With renewed hope for our shared democratic future,

Brad