MILWAUKEE, WI—The Republican National Convention came to a close on Thursday, July 18, in Milwaukee, where Donald J Trump, speaking in public for the first time since the assassination attempt just days earlier, officially accepted the nomination as the Republican candidate for the 47th President of the United States having received votes from 2,388 of the 2,429 delegates. Senator J.D. Vance, of Ohio, is his Vice-Presidential pick.
The Lynnwood Times spoke with three local Republican delegates—State Committeewoman Georgene Faries, businesswoman Lisa Miller and Database Administrator Rochelle Henshaw—to hear, from their perspective, how things went. Washington State delegates attending the upcoming Democratic Convention to be held on August 19 through 22 in Chicago, Illinois, sharing their experience will be in a second installment.
“An overwhelming spirit of unity and focus on winning in November,” Jim Walsh, Chair of the Washington State Republican Party told the Lynnwood Times when asked the main takeaway from national convention.
This is Walsh’s first National Convention since becoming state chair almost a year ago.
“It [the convention] was energizing,” said Walsh. “Our [Presidential] Roll Call report, where I mentioned the initiatives to Fix What’s Broken in WA, resulted in dozens of people from other states approaching me to ask about the initiative process. How it works, how they can get it started in their states. Even in some ‘red’ states!”
Jim Walsh casting Washington state's 43 delegates for Donald J Trump and Eric Trump casting Florida's 125 delegates making Trump the official Republican Presidential nominee. pic.twitter.com/SIBFVUcIxb
— Lynnwood Times (@LynnwoodTimes) July 17, 2024
Each day of the convention was a theme:
- July 15, Monday: Make America Wealthy Once Again
- July 16, Tuesday: Make America Safe Once Again
- July 17, Wednesday: Make America Strong Once Again
- July 18, Thursday: Make America Great Once Again
The Republican National Committee’s Executive Committee voted on July 8, 2024, to approve the 2024 platform. Republican National Committee delegates voted to officially adopt the platform at the Republican National Convention on July 15, 2024.
Below is the official 20-point Agenda 47 which, according to Trump, is his manifesto to Make America Great Again:
- Seal the border and stop the migrant invasion
- Carry out the largest deportation operation in American history
- End inflation, and make America affordable again
- Make America the dominant energy producer in the world, by far!
- Stop outsourcing, and turn the United States into manufacturing superpower
- Large tax cuts for workers, and no tax on tips!
- Defend our constitution, our bill of rights, and our fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to keep and bear arms
- Prevent World War Three, restore peace in Europe and in the middle east, and build a great iron dome missile defense shield over our entire country — all made in America
- End the weaponization of government against the American people
- Stop the migrant crime epidemic, demolish the foreign drug cartels, crush gang violence, and lock up violent offenders
- Rebuild our cities, including Washington DC, making them safe, clean, and beautiful again.
- Strengthen and modernize our military, making it, without question, the strongest and most powerful in the world
- Keep the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency
- Fight for and protect social security and Medicare with no cuts, including no changes to the retirement age
- Cancel the electric vehicle mandate and cut costly and burdensome regulations
- Cut federal funding for any school pushing critical race theory, radical gender ideology, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children
- Keep men out of women’s sports
- Deport pro-Hamas radicals and make our college campuses safe and patriotic again
- Secure our elections, including same day voting, voter identification, paper ballots, and proof of citizenship
- Unite our country by bringing it to new and record levels of success
2024 Republican Presidential Delegate Lisa Miller
When Lisa Miller, a Seattle resident and alternate delegate, was on her way to the airport on Saturday, July 13, she heard that former President Trump had been shot which set the tone for the rest of the weekend, she shared.
“We had a big responsibility on our hands to make sure he was nominated,” said Miller.
As a first-time attendee, she had the privilege of meeting U.S. Representatives, discussed the future of the party with fellow delegates, and saw several guest speakers including former President and Republican nominee Donald J Trump.
“The layout of the convention played a narrative of what has happened during the Bye, Bye, Biden Administration,” said Miller.
One of the highlights, from Miller’s perspective, was hearing from Gold Star Families who shared their stories of losing loved ones during the withdrawal from Afghanistan which, Miller said, was a heartbreaking and eye-opening experience.
Another highlight, which goes without saying for Miller, was to see Trump, on Thursday, July 18, walk on stage wearing a bandage on his right ear, alive and standing strong.
Trump spoke for 90-minutes and through his speech he continued to make it about the people, not about him, Miller said, which according to her, goes to show his compassion for the country.
“Milwaukee really treated us right, in terms of security. There were multiple layers of security throughout the building, and they surrounded the whole convention center,” said Miller. “Milwaukee really deserves an A plus rating, they really took care of us.”
Miller shared with the Lynnwood Times that the convention was well organized and by the end of it, she felt she had done her job representing Washington State.
2024 Republican Presidential Delegate Rochelle Henshaw
Miller and her friend Rochelle Henshaw, a Lynnwood resident who also attended the RNC with her, had the opportunity to meet former President Trump in Las Vegas at a door rally last month.
Henshaw shared that the two had V.I.P. tickets and were able to meet Trump in a tent set up in the park, where the Las Vegas rally was being held on June 9, just weeks before the national convention.
“I didn’t have too much to say because I was really nervous, but I dressed really patriotic and he said my outfit was beautiful,” said Henshaw. “He was just really genuine. He makes you feel comfortable. It was just a brief moment, but the pictures turned out really good.”
That same day the two also met U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Henshaw, who volunteers at the Snohomish County auditor’s office, had the opportunity to go on the floor during the day party voted to nominate Donald J Trump as its Presidential Nominee.
“Just being there with a lot of other Trumpers and seeing people that you normally just see on TV like Ted Cruz was super fun,” said Henshaw. “It was just amazing to see everybody, and all of the guest speakers, were quite the lineup.”
Included in this speaker list was American Professional Wrestler Hulk Hogan, of all people, who Henshaw said, “stole the show.”
Separate to the workshops, voting, and guest speakers, Henshaw said there was a list of activities including what was called “Convention Fest” across the street, but it was difficult to attend everything because she needed to catch the bus back to her hotel, about an hour’s drive.
She did, however, get to attend a luncheon with Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Henshaw also had the opportunity to visit the Harley Davidson Museum.
“The RNC almost should have been a day longer because there was so much to see and do,” said Henshaw. “It was a little hard to do everything staying out of town.”
There were about 150 Washington State delegates and guests attending the Republican National Convention, of which all 43 delegates casted their vote for Donald J Trump on July 15.
Every morning before the convention the delegates met for breakfast and picked up their credentials for the day.
The convention center was arranged by state delegates with most of the major events taking place in the center stage of the Fiserv Forum. While walking from room-to-room, Henshaw shared that the energy of the facility was filled with people who were “happy, nice, and energetic.” She said she felt extremely safe, and the seats were “always full.”
Merchandise booths cluttered the convention center with all things Trump, and restaurants, games, and meeting areas were set up outside.
This was Henshaw’s first time attending the Republican National Convention even though she’s been volunteering within the party for years.
“It was an honor to be selected as an alternate delegate and be able to attend, what they’re saying, was one of the best RNC’s they’ve ever had,” said Henshaw.
Being Trump’s last time running, Henshaw, who considers herself a “super, ultra, MAGA person,” said it was an unforgettable experience. She plans on attending the Republican Party’s next national convention in Houston, Texas, in 2028 if presented the opportunity.
Both Henshaw and Miller were elected as alternate delegates during the Washington State Republican Convention in Spokane in April.
2024 Republican Presidential Delegate Georgene Faries
First-time attendee and Arlington resident Georgene Faries, Snohomish County State Committeewoman for the Washington State Republican Party, attended the convention as a member-at-large delegate. She is a mother of a military veteran who was wounded in Iraq, developed and led the event program for the Trump 2016 Everett Rally, and former President of the Evergreen Republican Women’s Club.
“The atmosphere was electric, people were happy, there was joy in the house, I loved the celebratory atmosphere,” said Faries. “It was a cross between a political rally, slash pep rally. People were enthusiastic to show their support. When Trump entered the arena on the first day, none of knew he was coming, the place went bonkers.”
Faries shared that her takeaways from the event were that “God was honored,” patriotism for America was “valued,” and support for Donald Trump.
Although the delegation was in the back, it was near the entrance when Trump walked into the arena on Monday.
She really enjoyed the entertainment and speaker lineup. Faries attended the event with her husband, Scott, who wore matching outfits.
“He [Trump] is the right guy for the hour,” Faries said. “He is a world leader and probably the most famous man in the world. He is holding meetings at Mar-A-Lago…world leaders want to talk with him.”
Faries, who is a devout Christian, shared that Trump is leading a spiritual battle for the nation. She shared that Trump is fighting for “individual” freedom over collectivism.
“The globalists want a One World takeover,” Faries said. “Bill Gates has said we have too many people [on the planet]…you can see all this weird stuff lately. Donald Trump is the only one who I see standing up to all of that. He is the only one with a backbone. Everyone else cow toes and bows and is into group think, whereas Donald Trump walks a path of leadership.”
Faries said that although she has personally experience vitriol from non-Republicans for her support for Trump, there is “far more positive” comments than negative.
“Isn’t it a shame that one has to worry about getting hit from behind,” said Faries. “We as Republicans have to be concerned for our safety.”
She added that she isn’t going to be “chicken” and what emboldens the vitriol, she said, was the lack of enforcement against people “for misbehaving.”
“I have a right to proactive free speech and express myself,” said Faries, “As long as liberty is an option, I will express myself.”
