MILWAUKEE — The Republican National Convention kicks off Monday night in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Channel 9 government reporter Joe Bruno is in Milwaukee and learned what you should expect from the Carolinas at the RNC.
Channel 9 2024 RNC Coverage:
>> Bruno will have LIVE coverage from the RNC all week. Stick with Channel 9 as he explains everything voters across the Carolinas need to know.
Primetime speeches officially kick off Monday night with the theme “Make America Wealthy Once Again.” Watch ABC News’ coverage below:
Bruno got a special look at the Convention floor, the area inside the arena where the primetime speeches will take place every night. RNC co-chairs Michael Whatley and Lara Trump are both from NC, and North Carolina’s delegation will be seated right up front.
Balloons were already in place over the weekend and they’ll drop Thursday night after former President Donald Trump gives his acceptance speech. He said after this weekend, his speech will be completely different than what he initially planned.
From Mark Robinson to Tim Scott, there will be plenty of Carolina flair this week. Before the convention, Bruno caught up with Whatley, who is from Gaston County. He said the Tar Heel State will get plenty of love this week because it is one of the top priorities for the Trump campaign.
“This is about America. This is about all 50 states, and obviously, North Carolina as one of the critical battleground states is going to get highlighted pretty well,” Whatley said.
As a late addition to Tuesday night’s program, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley will be speaking. Last week, she encouraged all of her delegates to vote for Trump.
RNC delegate gets redemption
Sarah Reidy-Jones’ journey into politics started at 17. She volunteered with every race possible and served as a White House intern. In 2008, she served as an alternate delegate for the Kentucky delegation at the RNC.
“It was awesome. I mean, I was 28 to 40 pounds lighter, a little different. But it was great, because there weren’t a lot of young people, you know, for McCain. So they had me sit on the front row the whole time,” Reidy-Jones told Bruno.
In 2018, Bruno was with her in Austin, Texas when Charlotte learned the city would be landing the RNC. For the next two years, as a leader of MeckGOP, she had a key role in planning the 2020 RNC that was supposed to be a huge event for Charlotte.
Then, COVID-19 happened, turning Charlotte’s big event into a whimper. Because of protocols, Reidy-Jones wasn’t even allowed inside the room when then-President Trump addressed delegates the one day he came to the Queen City.
“I was disappointed because nobody from Charlotte actually got to participate,” Reidy-Jones said. “Of the 300 people, I did get to drop one of the delegates from another state off and run and take a picture on the step and repeat. And that was the closest I got.”
This time, Reidy-Jones will be in the room where it happens. She is in Milwaukee this week as an RNC delegate for North Carolina’s 14th District. She’s looking forward to being part of a delegation of a state whose swing voters could decide the election.
“I hope that they see a message of positivity of tale of two countries and whether they think the past four years, if they’re happy with 2020 or if they’re happy today,” she said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
(WATCH BELOW: President Biden emphasizes need for unity in wake of Trump shooting)
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