How To Produce a Political Convention - Insights from Leah Daughtry

The road to 2028 starts long before Election Day — it starts with the rules. In this episode of Trailblaze: The Road to 2028, hosts Jamal Simmons and Matthew sit down with Leah Daughtry, one of the most seasoned voices in American political organizing, to unpack how the Democratic and Republican parties are reconsidering their primary and convention processes. From delegate math to regional representation, Daughtry explains the behind-the-scenes debates that most voters never see — and why they matter enormously for who ends up on the ballot. Whether you're a political junkie or just trying to make sense of an increasingly complex electoral landscape, this conversation will change how you think about the primaries.

In this episode:
The idea and logistics of a midterm convention for Democrats
How the Democratic Party is redesigning the primary calendar for 2028
The influence of media landscapes and social media on campaign strategies
The process of selecting convention cities and managing logistics
The impact of COVID-19 on traditional convention planning
The role of contingency plans and rules in ensuring smooth nominations
Key factors shaping early state primaries including demographics and costs
Insight into potential candidates and the political landscape for 2028
The importance of representation and trailblazing figures like Kamala Harris in inspiring voters