Convention Diaries: California's Role Is To Cheer

by Alyssa Selogie

Alyssa Selogie is attending her first Republican National Convention. She is a delegate from Downtown L.A. Alyssa is the owner of the marketing and public relations agency Madison Consulting.

Not often does one get an opportunity to participate in making history – for me that opportunity was serving as a delegate for the 34th Congressional District (DTLA) in California for the Republican nominee and future 45th President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump.

As a lifelong California Republican I’ve found this to be a landmark election for our party, and our state, as we are mostly made up of first time delegates – many never even have attended a political convention before. These folks are rank and file, every day Americans passionate about our country and passionate about making America great again. In the past, delegations are predominately made up of political VIP’s, elected officials and top donors. So far I’ve met farmers, teachers and small business owners, people who are my neighbors, and yours.

Beyond that, this convention was historic for California because we mattered. Too often California is the butt of every political joke. A state so deep blue, so liberal, and with every statewide office occupied by Democrats, as a Republican it’s easy to feel like we’re on our own little island. On a national scale, California’s political representation is a forgone conclusion and amongst Republican groups California is low on the totem pole. What power do we have, really? Well this week we showed the nation just what California can do. As the largest delegation, with prominent placement near the front of the stage, California’s role was to be Donald Trump’s private cheering section, armed with “Make America Great Again” signs and loud voices we cheered as much as we possibly could, bolstering the support for Trump within the delegation and ensuring that the votes of Californians and the American people alike were counted and that Donald J. Trump was rightly nominated as the Republican candidate for President of the United States. California, the deep blue liberal state on the left coast, was Trump’s enforcer and we mattered. As a native Californian it was truly an honor and a delight to not only serve as a delegate but also at such a historic time.

In the next couple of days I look forward to celebrating and I will write more about further bringing our party together, growing our base and reaching out to fellow Californians to discuss with them what issues matter most to them, encouraging further civic involvement, and most of all reminding them that Donald Trump is the candidate who truly believes in making America great again!