Laurens native Booker-Maxwell plays vital roles at convention, in campaign

While Vice-President Kamala Harris was accepting her party’s nomination for President of the U.S., Laurens native Bre Booker-Maxwell was pulling triple duty at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

In addition to serving as a delegate on the convention floor representing South Carolina, Booker-Maxwell is a member of the Democratic National Committee and served as programming director for behind-the-scenes meetings.

“I put on the Rural Council meeting and a small business meeting,” she said. “I also had an extra panel where we talked about how we can make sure Democrats win in rural American in 2024.”

Kentucky Gov. Andy Brashear and Gwen Walz, the wife of vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz, were among the speakers at Booker-Maxwell’s forums.

“We did have some heavy hitters,” she said. “One of my major talking points is that we may not be able to win at all (in rural America), but as long as we can drive the numbers up and cut into (Republican) margins, that’s a big help.

“We wanted to talk about how we can build on the Biden-Harris administration and what they’ve been able to accomplish.”

After spending a few days at home in Columbia, Booker-Maxwell said she will be taking her message for rural America on the road – she just isn’t sure where quite yet.

Booker-Maxwell was one of two Laurens natives and Laurens District High graduates to play roles in both the administration of President Joe Biden and Harris and in the DNC. Booker-Maxwell and former County Councilman Garrett McDaniel worked in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) before resigning earlier this year.

She said the atmosphere at the convention was electric and something she will not forget – for a number of reasons.

“Just being able to be in that atmosphere and being able to be in the arena representing South Carolina and thinking about where I started – where I came from,” Booker-Maxwell said. “Who would’ve thought that a little girl like me, growing up in Hunter’s Court, South Carolina would be in major arenas like that representing the Democratic Party. It makes me feel good and makes me remember that I have a huge responsibility because God doesn’t give his strongest battles to his weakest links.

“I know I have a huge task ahead of me, and it didn’t end in Chicago.”