When the Democrats of Rossmoor gather to watch the last night of a Democratic National Convention, no matter how big the room is, do not have a side conversation, even if you think it’s a quiet one.
“Hey guys, you’re very annoying,” the approaching man said, clearly angry. “People are looking over here and we’re (ticked). Take it outside.”
Apparently there’s no talking in a cavernous roomful of Democrats when they’re glued to a speech on the big screen.
That’s how serious the 1,100-member strong Democrats of Rossmoor club is taking the 2024 election.
About 150 of them gathered Thursday at Rossmoor’s event center to watch Vice President Kamala Harris formally accept her party’s nomination to take on Donald Trump in November’s presidential election.
No one was on their phone during the approximately four-hour gathering at the senior gated community in southern Walnut Creek, nestled against the Las Trampas hills.
They cheered when appropriate, responded to speakers’ rhetorical questions and call-and-response bits. They stood and pumped fists when appropriate. They applauded and shouted encouragement to the giant TV screen, as if they were in Chicago’s United Center with the crowd of Democratic movers and shakers.
But when they were quiet, they wanted everyone quiet. Or someone would get chewed out and have to continue their conversation in the lobby.
The Democrats of Rossmoor group famously claims to be the largest Democratic club in the U.S., though that idea seems to be a running joke among members, three of whom smiled at the question and said it was the biggest “in the universe.”
Group president Susan Hildreth said their last watch party was during President Joe Biden’s debate with Trump on June 27, which she said obviously didn’t go well.
“There was a lot of cringing, some people left early,” Hildreth said. “We thought this would, you know … everybody’s excited and this is just a great time to bolster everybody’s spirits.”
Inside the ‘campaign hub’ of Contra Costa County
Local candidates had space just off the main room to hand out literature and speak with voters, including those running for state Senate, school board, East Bay parks board, and Walnut Creek City Council races.
Walnut Creek City Councilmember Kevin Wilk said he’d be there even if he wasn’t campaigning.
“This is the most engaged political club that I’ve seen in the entire Bay Area,” Wilk said. “When it comes to the Democratic club, they get behind candidates not just from the local areas. They attract congressional candidates from other areas.”
“This club is so involved,” Wilk said. “They write postcards, they make phone calls, they do texting. They are as politically active as possible. That’s why they get people from all over the country.”
Wilk said he appreciates members with more years behind them than ahead who still aren’t satisfied with saying they’ve already done their part.
“They’re not saying ‘You, the next generations, figure it out.’ They’re saying ‘We want to make sure that the earth is a sustainable place to live. We want to make sure that we’re leaving the world in a good place and that the people who are thinking about the future are the ones that we want in office.’”
Walnut Creek Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Darling said the Democrats of Rossmoor is known throughout the political world “for their ability to do the work.”
“Katie Porter announced her campaign for Senate here,” Darling said. “Adam Schiff came here shortly after he announced. Barbara Lee came. They all came here because it’s the people that are willing to do the work.”
… This is the shot of optimism that I think we all really needed; a replenishing of our souls, you know? Hope.
Darryl Wong, member of Democrats of rossmoor
Katha Hartley, the group’s past president and its chairperson of the speaker’s committee, said the group really works for candidates.
“We are the campaign hub of Contra Costa County,” Hartley said. “So far we’ve sent 40,000 postcards. Last cycle we did 75,000 and we’re on our way to that. We support these candidates. We work for them tirelessly and fortunately we’re in a retirement community. Our children say to us, ‘We’re working, so you have to save the nation.’”
Hartley said members grew up marching, whether for women’s rights, against the Vietnam War, or for civil rights.
“We’ve been engaged our whole lives,” said Hartley, who in her youth worked for John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign and later for the campaign for Barack Obama. She said the club has a wide reputation — a reporter from the Los Angeles Times even checks in periodically to take the club’s temperature on various issues.
Members of Democrats of Rossmoor watch the Democratic National Convention Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024 in Walnut Creek, Calif. (Tony Hicks/Bay City News)
“That’s what we, as old people, hope that we can leave on this planet,” Hartley said. “I want my tombstone to say ‘My Granny really worked hard on this.’ I have 10 grandchildren. They’re all voters. They were very concerned and would not be enthused at all about Joe continuing. And now they are cranking up (the enthusiasm).”
Darryl Wong and his husband are relatively new members, having moved to Rossmoor 18 months ago.
“Everybody’s really into it; This is a great crowd. This is what we needed,” Wong said. “Going into this election, it was going to be a really close race and that President Biden would possibly not prevail. But this is the shot of optimism that I think we all really needed; a replenishing of our souls, you know? Hope.”
Wong said it’s important to have that hope, even in one’s later years.
“We have kids, we have grandchildren, and if you can’t leave this place a better place, then what’s it all about exactly?”