Student Tatum Watkins Serves as a Delegate at the Democratic National Convention

Tatum Watkins ’27, a second-year political science major at Grinnell, served as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago in August, helping to officially nominate Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic party candidate for President.

Hailing from Clarinda, Iowa, the 19-year-old Watkins' journey from a local caucus participant to a national delegate underscores her dedication to political activism, which began in earnest during her junior year of high school when she attended her local midterm caucus. "My local Democrats really grabbed a hold of me and wouldn’t let go," Watkins recalls. "I just kept getting more and more involved from that point on."

Her dedication caught the attention of local Democrats who earlier this year elected her to serve as a delegate to represent them at the DNC. The role of a delegate, Watkins explains, is multifaceted: "Typically, a delegate's primary goal is to represent a candidate that you feel excited about and align your values with," she says. Her responsibilities included attending various conventions — county, district, and state — culminating in her participation at the national level. "At the national convention, the main job of the delegate is to support a presidential candidate and nominate them," she adds.

This year’s convention, and the weeks leading up to it, were far from conventional, however, as all Democratic delegates had pledged to support President Joe Biden who dropped out of the race just weeks before the convention.

“It was really interesting to witness how the process unfolded,” says Watkins. “Having a completely different nominee than any of us thought we would have was the biggest surprise. But the unity that people felt behind Kamala [Harris] was really, really cool. Within 24 hours of Biden announcing that he would not be seeking nomination, the Iowa delegation had a Zoom call, and we unanimously voted to support her.”

Grinnell College: A Catalyst for Political Growth

Even though she has been deeply involved in local politics for a several years, Watkins says Iowa has not always felt welcoming, or like someplace she would choose to stay. But in Grinnell, Watkins found an environment that supports her political activism and provides a community that feels like home.

"Grinnell’s emphasis on civic involvement aligns perfectly with my values and goals,” says Watkins. "Grinnell provides a place where students have a voice and their views are elevated, and it is undeniably a place where I can be in Iowa and still be surrounded by progressive, civically active people," Watkins says. “My local Democrats helped me develop a love for Iowa, and Grinnell kept me here.”

Watkins currently serves as vice president of the Campus Democrats at Grinnell, which is focusing efforts focused on voter registration and grassroots campaigning in advance of the election in November.

This supportive and encouraging community at Grinnell, she says, has been crucial as she navigates her responsibilities and plans for the future. "I’ll be busy through November, working on voter registration and grassroots efforts, including working on local campaigns and supporting the Harris-Walz campaign.”