Nicole Cannizzaro had planned to spend this week in Milwaukee as a delegate to her first Democratic National Convention.
Instead, the Nevada State Senate majority leader is cheering on party nominee Joe Biden from her Las Vegas home, taking part in a convention being held remotely because of the pandemic.
She says that despite the virtual convention, the party’s desire to see Biden defeat President Donald Trump remains very real.
"In terms of being able to participate, and having that same energy and momentum going forward that's still there," she said, "I was a little worried that being virtual you might not experience that but there really have been just so many ways for folks to participate."
She said participation in the convention has gone beyond the nightly programming to include Zoom presentations, Twitter townhalls and partner events.
Cannizzaro says the ways to interact has allowed more people from across the country to participate in the convention than in past years.
"You are still getting that same experience even though we're finding a new way of doing it," she said, "I think because it's been accessible there are so many more, not just delegates, but Nevadans and Americans who are able to participate and see everything that happens at a convention."
Democratic Party nominee for president Joe Biden will give his big acceptance speech tonight at the convention.
Cannizzaro said Biden will focus on leadership during his speech.
"I think we can expect to hear from him that he is going to be a leader in a time of crisis, which is also what we're looking for," she said, "And someone who is really going to invest in all of us and ensure that our democracy stays intact."
Cannizzaro supports Biden because she believes he will fight for working-class families if elected.
The state senator also spoke out against President Trump's lawsuit targeting Nevada's new mail-in ballot law.
"I think what we're seeing with this lawsuit... is exactly what we're seeing across the country, which is a national strategy on behalf of President Trump to suppress the vote here in Nevada to make these outlandish and baseless claims of voter fraud."
She said that during the hearing about the bill to allow mail-in balloting in Nevada, lawmakers heard there were no instances of voter fraud during the Primary Election, which was mostly mail-in ballots.
"When people vote, that is what is making President Trump scared," she said, "He has said that. He doesn't want people to vote. That is how he wins."
Cannizzaro said she's trying to get out the message that every single vote matters and "your vote is your voice." She said no matter how you're voting - by mail or in-person - cast a ballot in November.
Nicole Cannizzaro, majority leader, Nevada State Senate