Why Did WA State Democrats Choose a Macklemore Song at the DNC?

The Democratic National Convention recently wrapped up in the vibrant city of Chicago. I tuned in for all four days of the event so you wouldn’t have to.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz officially accepted their party’s nominations for the 2024 presidential election as president and vice president, respectively.

From my perspective, the real MVP of the DNC was the music!

Beyoncé’s song Freedom featured prominently as Vice President Harris’s theme. It blared during a produced video and every time she stepped onto the stage.

On the first day, Harris made a surprise appearance with Freedom playing in the background. She quickly exited and continued her campaign trail, including a stop in Wisconsin the following day.

The four-day event was packed with speeches and personal stories from political representatives, citizens, former presidents, and even family members of Harris and Walz.

Several celebrities made unexpected appearances, including Mindy Kaling, Eva Longoria, Sean Astin, Wendell Pierce, Spike Lee, Kerry Washington, and Tony Goldwyn.

Day 2 was arguably the most buzzworthy, especially for those who watched it live on YouTube and other streaming platforms. DJ Cassidy transformed what is typically a mundane roll call session into an electrifying event.

During roll calls, state and territory delegates announce their presidential and vice-presidential preferences. DJ Cassidy kept spirits high by playing snippets of popular songs for each state, although he didn’t personally pick each tune.

The DNC Roll Call garnered plenty of attention online, with clips and jokes flooding YouTube and TikTok. A particularly memorable moment was when Lil Jon cheered for his home state of Georgia by saying, “From VP Harris…to Governor Walz!” instead of his famous “from the window…to the wall.” His performance was both hilarious and energizing.

Wisconsin delegates made their mark with their cheese head hats, making a memorable visual statement.

I was curious about the song chosen for Washington State, as well as for our Pacific Northwest neighbors, California, Idaho, and Oregon.

California opted for California Love by Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac.

Idaho picked Private Idaho by The B-52’s, while Washington State went with the energetic Can’t Hold Us by Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, and Ray Dalton. This selection seemed fitting, as the song is about overcoming obstacles and helping others.

“…Validation comes from giving it back to the people…Raise those hands, this is our party. I got my city right behind me; if I fall, they got me.” – Can’t Hold Us (Written by Ben Haggerty, Ryan Lewis, Ray Dalton)

Our neighbors in Oregon chose Float On by Modest Mouse, a nod to a band that hails from Issaquah, Washington.

This article offers insight into why other states and territories chose their particular songs.

For more amusing content, you can check out the funniest tweets about Lil Jon’s fired-up performance at the DNC.