How Republican and Democratic convention delegates reflect American political divides

With the conclusion of the Democratic National Convention, both parties now have their official presidential nominees, and the race to Election Day begins in earnest. For her series, America at a Crossroads, Judy Woodruff takes us back to both convention floors, where she spoke to Republican and Democratic delegates for a sense of how they see the road ahead and the divide between the parties.
Geoff Bennett:
With the conclusion of the Democratic National Convention last evening, both parties now have their official presidential nominees. And the race to November 5, Election Day, begins in earnest.
Tonight, Judy Woodruff takes us back to both convention floors, where she spoke to Republican and then Democratic delegates to get a sense of how they see the road ahead and the divide between the parties. It’s part of her series America at a Crossroads.
Judy Woodruff:
In Chicago and Milwaukee, each party had the same goal, energize their voters.
Donald Trump, Former President of the United States (R) and Current U.S. Presidential Candidate: America’s future will be bigger, better, bolder, brighter, happier, stronger, freer, greater, and more united than ever before.
(Cheering)
(Applause)
Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States (D) and U.S. Presidential Candidate: I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations.
Judy Woodruff:
But with those messages of healing and unity…
Kamala Harris:
The consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.
Judy Woodruff:
… were also words of condemnation.
Donald Trump:
In less than four years, our opponents have turned incredible success into unparalleled tragedy and failure.
Judy Woodruff:
And on the convention floor…
Robert Branscomb, Arizona Delegate:
I think we’re at a crossroads.
Logan Glass, Alabama Delegate:
A house divided cannot stand.
Judy Woodruff:
… those deep political divisions were about more than the candidates. Kamala Harris hadn’t even become the Democratic nominee when Republicans met in Wisconsin. But they were about issues that define America and are top of mind for all the delegates we spoke to.
Alberto Herrera, Texas Delegate:
I would love to say America is in a good direction right now, but it’s obviously not the truth.
Judy Woodruff:
Republican Alberto Herrera is from the border town of Mission, Texas.
Alberto Herrera:
Unfortunately, Donald Trump he’s going to be blamed for all the stuff that happened the last four years, and he’s going to try to repair it. And I think he will do the best he can. And we, as Americans, if we don’t get our act together, it doesn’t matter how much of a good president we have. It’s going to be a hard, hard ride.
Christian Figueroa, California Delegate:
I think that the contrast and difference cannot be any clearer.
Judy Woodruff:
Christian Figueroa is a Democrat from Southern California.
Christian Figueroa:
There is a set of people in the Republican Party that seemed over the past few years, at least what I have seen, to choose violence, to choose division, to choose just anger and retribution as a method of leading, of so-called leading.
Judy Woodruff:
Though all agreed political divisions are concerning, delegates had differing opinions on what’s behind them.
Republican Jesse Franklin-Murdock, also from California, focused on the media’s influence.
Jesse Franklin-Murdock, California Delegate:
So I think that people who don’t take the time to really think about every issue for themselves and just look online or turn on the TV, they may be well-intentioned, but they’re sometimes misled.
Judy Woodruff:
Democrat Robert Branscomb of Arizona said polarization in Washington as part of the problem.
Robert Branscomb I think we got in this place because we went to the tribalism. We Democrats, we have our progressive side. Republicans have their MAGA, extreme side. And it became unpopular to talk to each other.
Judy Woodruff:
Wisconsin State Treasurer John Leiber served as a GOP delegate in Milwaukee.
John Leiber, Wisconsin Delegate:
Even here in Wisconsin, the friendly atmosphere has broken down in the last couple decades. Used to be Republican and Democratic legislators could meet, go have a beer after session, and just talk to each other. But, today, that doesn’t happen.
Caleb Fulford, Virginia Delegate:
We’re not approaching politics like we used to anymore.
Judy Woodruff:
But Virginia Democrat Caleb Fulford placed the bulk of the blame on the rhetoric on the Republican side, particularly from the former president.
Caleb Fulford:
Politics used to be a side topic. It used to not be sort of who you were as a person. We are now in a society where, if you are a Republican or a Democrat, I can somehow self-identify you with a whole set of moral beliefs, set of judgments and opinions. And I think it comes from just like this politics of hate, where it’s Donald Trump. It comes from the top down.
Judy Woodruff:
Alabama Republican delegate Logan Glass:
Logan Glass:
President Biden saying things such as it’s time to put the bullseye on Donald Trump, well, President Biden got what he asked for. And I — look, I know President Biden didn’t literally mean, let’s shoot Donald Trump. I know that. But that sort of divisive rhetoric is not helpful.
Judy Woodruff:
Like many of the conversations happening across the country, ours eventually turned to some of the most divisive issues of the day, from immigration to reproductive rights.
Robert Branscomb:
If you don’t have abortion rights, then what other rights are you going to take away from us?
Myself, as an African American man, we have voter rights, we have social rights. You have transgender. You have the Project 2025 talking about dismantling our government, taking away the Education Department, things like that. So those things really harm or hurt our country.
Michelle Merrell, Florida Delegate:
I have so many friends that are immigrants to this country that are proud that they came through the immigration system the proper way, the legal way.
Judy Woodruff:
Michelle Merrell is the Republican state committeewoman for Broward County, Florida.
Michelle Merrell:
I don’t think others should be able to come across our board in hordes in an illegal way and just be here and be sucking up the resources of our government, of our schools, of the taxpayers, when they didn’t come here the right way.
Judy Woodruff:
Republican delegate Susan Kokinda from Michigan pointed to the economy.
Susan Kokinda, Michigan Delegate:
People can’t make it. I’m from the Detroit area, which created the middle class, where one income could support a family. Now five incomes can’t support a family. That’s what has to change.
Judy Woodruff:
Despite their differences, they all agree that, although difficult, bringing Americans closer together is essential.
Kristen Robinson, North Carolina Delegate:
We kind of went for voting for something to voting against something. And I think that caught on in the last few years.
Judy Woodruff:
North Carolina Democratic delegate Kristen Robinson.
Kristen Robinson:
We used to be able to sit down at the table and talk about issues, and it feels like we can’t do that as much anymore. But I believe it’s still possible.
Logan Glass:
We have got a rein in the divisiveness with our political rhetoric. It’s going to take the next generation of young folks to rise up and say, we’re not going to agree on everything, but we don’t have to let our disagreements divide us so badly.
Christian Figueroa:
What we should be doing is reaching out to people who are in our family, people who are in our friendship circles that may have very contrasting political views. And let’s talk about why are we so passionate?
And I think if we really try to work together, I think we can definitely lower the temperature and hopefully we can heal this country.
Michelle Merrell:
The rhetoric all needs to calm down on both sides. We need to remember we’re Americans first. We’re all suffering. We’re all going through things right now. And we just have to walk in each other’s shoes and be a little kinder and a little gentler.
Judy Woodruff:
But it’s not clear that this shift to kinder and gentler can happen any time soon during a season of rough campaign combat, with political leaders charging all is lost if the other side prevails.
For the “PBS News Hour,” I’m Judy Woodruff in Milwaukee and Chicago.