Democratic officials rally voters, campaign workers at downtown gathering

ALBANY -- Two Miami women are racking up some frequent flier miles in the trenches during the closing weeks of the 2024 election, with a week in Pennsylvania followed by a trip to Georgia.

Donna Stewart and Crystal Wager hit the ground and began knocking on doors in the Good Life City on Thursday, urging voters to get out to the polls. On Friday, they were at a Democratic campaign rally that featured U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff and U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop.

“I asked where they need us,” Stewart said. “I was told Pittsburg or southern Georgia, specifically Albany. We got on a plane and came here to assist however we can.

“It is critical to her (Kamala Harris). It is a critical area. I’m worried about our democracy, so we’ll go wherever we’re needed.”

The two Floridians said they were excited about the enthusiasm of voters in Dougherty County, which had its largest turnout during the current early voting period.

For Wagar it was not her first trip to Albany as her husband’s family is from the area. They have been finding enthusiastic voters and people who have plans to get to the polls by election day.

“We’ve met some really incredible people,” she said. “They all had a plan, and even the few people who said they hadn’t voted, they said they were leaning on voting for her (Harris). The ones who did answer the door and were at home, they had a plan. We met a woman who had a plan for her entire family. I have to say, it’s all been positive, really.”

Among those in attendance was Tricia Moreschi, a native of valley Forge, Pa., near Philadelphia, who was excited to be working in the election in a swing state.

“We’ve got to win this,” she said. “I feel so good and impressed about her message and her vision and her hopeful attitude, and this other guy (Trump) just needs to go. His message is hate.”

Harris’ policies also would help her daughter and son-in-law, who own a small business and are hoping to purchase a house, she said.

“I’m excited about the child tax credit,” she said. “Those policies might help them own a home. I also don’t want to see them enact Project 2025. I don’t want to see tariffs."

A big history buff, Moreschi said lately she has been teaching her granddaughters about the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.

“For Halloween, we are dressing as suffragettes,” she said. “I’ve got my dress and my hat. I’m teaching a little bit of history. It’s very important to me.”

During his remarks, Ossoff said that former President Trump can’t defend his record and is unfit to be president. Georgia is one state where voters can stop his re-election, he said.

“Can he defend calling (military) service members losers and suckers?” Ossoff said. “What has happened to the Republican Party? They will not restrain him.”

With time winding down until the Nov. 5 election, the senator encouraged those in attendance to do all they can in the final days. He and Bishop urged the crowd to get involved, knocking on doors and making phone calls to get voters out for the election.

“We have 11 days to go,” Ossoff said. “You have woken up one time to Donald Trump being president. Let’s not leave one stone unturned. Don’t leave any door unknocked. Are y’all ready to work?”