From History Nerd to Presidential Elector
Reflecting on my unexpected journey as a Presidential Elector, I find myself woven into a rich tapestry of history and emotion. Walking into the Maryland State House, I was not only aware of my duty to represent Congressional District 3 but also deeply moved by the historical significance surrounding me. As I cast my vote on December 17, I felt the weight of my ancestors’ sacrifices and the joy of being part of a democratic process that has evolved over centuries. This experience illuminated the intersection of pride and humility, reminding me that every vote carries a story—my story, and the stories of those who came before me.
If you had told me a year ago I would’ve been a Presidential Elector in the Electoral College, I would’ve laughed out loud. As a history nerd and Social Studies Teacher, the Electoral College is always a topic of conversation among my students. From arguing over the function to substantive disagreements about whether or not it should still exist, I have been part arbiter and part guide as my students and I semi-annually wrangle over this Constitutional Check on the power of the people.
I’m not sure what I expected to happen when I walked into the Maryland State House on December 17 to fulfill my Constitutional duty and represent the will of the majority of Maryland Congressional District 3 (CD-3). I knew I would need to cast the vote for the citizens of CD-3, but I must admit I was super fuzzy about how we were going to proceed. All I knew was that I did not want to humiliate myself, my family, my students or my district by being late. I am happy to say that I was on time and ready to serve.
As I ascended the steps to the top floor with the rest of the electors, I was awed by the beauty and history of our state house. As the oldest continually used state house in the United States, the Maryland State House has been the witness to many historical events. It served as the place where George Washington resigned his commission as the leader of the Continental Army. It is said that he went in a general and emerged as a simple farmer. It was also the only state house that served as the Capitol of the United States. And even though I have visited the Maryland State House over a dozen times in my life, the deep history always takes my breath away.
Although I thought I knew a lot of history, I learned even more as I served as an elector. I learned that Maryland is among only 6 states that have met all 60 times that the Electoral College has met after a national election. I learned that I would be making history as one of our state’s Diamond Electors! I learned that the room where we met was the same room that the Electoral College has met in since 1789. And that’s when the joy hit me.
I know it seems strange that in a state where we voted for the candidate who ultimately did not win the presidency to have joy as you cast this vote. As the descendent of enslaved people in this country, I am deeply aware of what my place at this table cost. As the descendent of the island of Puerto Rico, I am also aware that my vote counting is different than what my family experiences every election. I am also aware that as a woman that this table was only opened to us in the last 80 years. When I thought of all of this, my heart was both laden with history and lifted with joy. I was filled with joy that I could at this moment fulfill the hopes and dreams of my ancestors who were only sustained through the dark days and nights by the hope that one day I would be possible. My eyes filled with tears of gratitude that I live in a state in which only my story could be possible. And while I did feel the sadness of the moment, I was also filled with pride that we in Maryland understood the assignment. So there I served at the intersection of sadness and joy. And I decided to feed the joy.
In the musical “Hamilton”, Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote “And when our children tell our story, they’ll tell the story of tonight..” 2024 has been one massive adventure in things that I will never forget. And one beautiful part of this story was the day their momma/grandma/great-grandma became a Presidential Elector!
Count me IN for a Democratic Family Picnic!
Ever had fun at family picnic? This is exactly what we did at Guilford Park on Sunday, July 16! We held our first annual Democratic Family Picnic! From members to friends, we all had a good meal and great company. We were even joined by several elected officials!
On July 16, 2023, we had an old fashioned Democratic Family Picnic at Guilford Park from 4-7 pm. Friends from all over the county came to share their favorite dish, good conversations and great company. The event was simple. The Columbia Democratic Club and Ellicott City and Western Howard County Democratic Club joined forces to provide the facility space, hamburgers, hot dogs and other refreshments. While the community was asked to bring a dish to the event. Then we ALL got to eat and fellowship. We were graced with the presence of several elected officials who came for the fun and fellowship.
The best part of the day was seeing so many people connecting. Seeing our members get a chance to really talk to their representatives in a relaxed atmosphere was amazing! But also seeing so many people connecting with each other made my heart sing. We purposely only had two moments of speeches. The first was when I and my Vice President (Gabriel Moreno) welcomed everyone and the electeds present at the time. And the second was when our County Executive joined us for the fun. We did this because the focus of the event was just to connect as a family. Before we can fight together in 2024, we have to be unified as a family. I firmly believe that the family that plays together…wins together. And I want to make sure that our democratic family is strong so that we win…not just in 2024, but for many years to come!