KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — The Democratic National Convention begins Aug. 19, and it could be the first contested convention by a major political party in the United States since 1952.

Delegates from across North Carolina and the rest of the country will head to Chicago to finalize the voting on the next Democratic Party presidential nominee. After President Joe Biden dropped his bid over the weekend, the process has been thrown into disarray. It could come down to the thousands of Democrats who make up the convention delegates to pick the party's nominee.

What You Need To Know

  •  Democrats could have their first open convention in more than 70 years to pick their next presidential nominee

  •  Joanne Chesley is running for North Carolina House of Representatives District 83

  •  Chesley will attend her first Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month with fellow N.C. delegates

  •  She said she supports Vice President Kamala Harris to take over the ticket as the Democratic nominee

Dr. Joanne Chesley is running for the District 83 in the North Carolina House of Representatives. She remembers feeling drawn to politics from a young age.

“Even though I was just 9 or 10, I was watching both conventions," She said. "My mom was a registered Democrat my dad was a registered Republican." 

Soon, she will attend her first Democratic National Convention. 

“I love Chicago. If I do get a chance to get out then I’ll do the museums, the theater and the food," Chesley said. 

The Republican National Convention concluded on July 18 in Milwaukee. Days of speakers culminated with a message from Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Chesley said she watched the RNC in its entirety. 

“The RNC might be considered successful in that it was a great party. It was staged beautifully. I won’t take that from them at all," Chesley said. 

Her call on fellow Democrats ahead of their convention is to focus on the issues. 

“There needs to be a sense of unity when we get there. Focusing on the issues, that’s what people need to know,” she said.

Before Biden stepped down, Chesley said she supported the president backing away from the campaign and nominating Vice President Kamala Harris. 

“That’s why we have a vice president anyway," she said. "So for good reason, because of her experience number one, the seven or eight years she’s had as an attorney in the state of California, her four years in the senate and four years as vice president, the fact the she automatically inherits the the infrastructure of the campaign, the money. It just makes good sense."