ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Democratic National Convention may have wrapped Thursday, but the experience is sticking with Florida delegates, including USF professor Judith Ann McLauchlan. 

What You Need To Know

  • The experience of the Democratic National Convention is sticking with one Florida delegate

  • It was the eighth DNC Judith Ann McLauchlan has attended, but the first as a delegate

  • McLauchlan said the atmosphere at this convention was much different from years past

She said the four-day is experience is something she'll never forget.  

Returning to her Madiera Beach home Friday night, she described each day of the convention as better than the last, not just because of her duties as a delegate, but because of the people she got to see and hear speak from Oprah Winfrey to Democratic Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris. 

"I have never experienced the energy and the enthusiasm and the unity behind a nominee as we felt for Kamala Harris and Coach Walz," she said. 

This was McLauchlan's eighth convention, and she said it's unlike any she's been to in years past. 

Since President Biden dropped out of the race, McLauchlan said she's throwing her support behind Harris with full commitment. 

"The energy in that area, thousands of delegates from across the country, it was just electrifying," she said. "I've never experienced anything like that in all the other conventions I've been to. We always will say this is the most important election in our lifetime and mean it at the time ... but this truly is the most important election in my lifetime." 

With all the mementos she brought home and the lingering energy from the convention, McLauchlan said she is hopeful for what the future holds.