On Monday, the Democratic National Convention kicked off in Chicago. Several thousand delegates are attending the event which showcases the party’s platform and its presidential ticket of Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Nearly 80 delegates from Oregon are there, including Kien Truong, who is from Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District. Truong is the chair of the Young Democrats of Oregon Caucus and chief of staff to Oregon state Senator Kayse Jama (D-Portland).
Kien Truong is the chair of the Young Democrats of Oregon Caucus who is attending the Democratic National Convention in Chicago as a delegate from Oregon's 3rd Congressional District. This photo of him was taken in October 2023.
Courtesy Kien Truong
It’s his first time attending a Democratic national convention which he says has been filled with attending caucus meetings, trainings and hearing speeches from the convention floor, including President Biden’s historic and emotional address on Monday night.
A month ago, President Biden jolted the presidential race with his decision to drop out and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris who quickly mobilized her campaign and shored up support within the party.
“He had a really long standing ovation from everyone on the floor, people chanting, ‘We love you, Joe’ and ‘Thank you, Joe,’ that just went on for three or four minutes,” Truong said. “He spoke to why he decided to pass on the torch, you know, something that I am sure was not an easy decision to make.”
Truong, who is also a member of the queer community, recalls hearing the news about Biden’s decision to quit the race while volunteering at the Portland Pride Parade, minutes before the march started.
“It did not hit me until probably a day or two days later,” he said. “I was never an advocate for him to step down, but I was glad that he made that decision.”
Truong shares the enthusiasm and excitement of many within the party around Harris’ nomination. She won the majority of the delegates in a virtual vote earlier this month.
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the Democratic National Convention Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago.
Morry Gash / AP
But he cautions the Harris’ campaign to listen to the concerns of Gen Z voters such as himself and to reach out to them through TikTok, Instagram and other social media sites where they’re active.
“Our vote cannot and must not be taken for granted,” he said. “We still want the administration to continue their progress and invest more money to tackle climate change, to invest in green (and) union jobs, to tackle the housing crisis that affects so many of us right now… even myself and my family, we’ve been trying so hard to become a homeowner and we could not do that.”
Truong and his family emigrated from Vietnam to Oregon in 2014. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen seven years later. After he passed his citizenship test, instead of calling his parents, there was something he first had to do.
“I got to the car and I registered to vote,” he said. “That’s the first thing that I did because it’s more like a really major accomplishment. I felt like, ‘Oh my God, I’m an American now.’”
Truong also said there’s something “really personal” about supporting Harris’ bid to be the nation’s first Black woman and South Asian American president. And the first presidential candidate he will vote for now that he’s a citizen.
“When I see my community being represented at the high(est) ticket,” he said, “it hits differently and yeah, I am committed more than ever now so that we can work and we get to call her madam President.”
Kien Truong spoke to “Think Out Loud” guest host Geoff Norcross. Click play to listen to the full conversation:
