The DNC in Pictures: The Delegates by Grant Cornett

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Brian Fadie, Las Vegas, Nev. "As a young person there are three things the president has done that get me fired up to help him with the election. First, he passed the Affordable Care Act, then had withdrawn the troops in Iraq and his administration has done more to produce clean energy that any administration prior. Those are things I care about deeply as a young person…Personally, his advancement of clean energy jobs in America is what gets me fired up about President Obama."Grant Cornett for TIME
By Katy Steinmetz

Unlike the Republican delegates—who were chased and divided up during a harrowing primary—the delegates attending the Democratic National Convention were a foregone conclusion. They would arrive in Charlotte in solidarity, casting their votes for the sitting President who on Wednesday night became the Party’s official nominee.

But while they’re united behind Barack Obama and his quest to revive the economy, their pet causes range: from protecting the environment to improving education, from expanding gay rights to defending abortion rights. They are a diverse group, in age, race and creed.

Photographer Grant Cornett took to the streets of North Carolina, capturing members from each state’s delegation. His work puts a face on the Democratic Party of 2012.

To see the Republican delegates from last week click here.

Katy Steinmetz is a reporter in TIME’s Washington bureau. In addition to working on features for TIME and TIME.com, she contributes to TIME’s Swampland, Healthland and NewsFeed blogs.

Each delegate was asked the following question: "What's the most important issue for this convention?" Liza Chadderton, Cary, N.C. "The trinity of jobs, education and healthcare." Grant Cornett for TIME
Mayor Paul Winfield, Vicksburg, Miss. "The financial security and the direction of our country. It's going to determine the outcome of this election."Grant Cornett for TIME
Brenda Knapp, Juneau, Alaska. "The passage of the Affordable Care Act and the implications that it has for healthcare, not only now but over the next couple of years as it's phased in. That is something that I've wanted to see happen for many years."Grant Cornett for TIME
Brian Fadie, Las Vegas, Nev. "As a young person there are three things the president has done that get me fired up to help him with the election. First, he passed the Affordable Care Act, then had withdrawn the troops in Iraq and his administration has done more to produce clean energy that any administration prior. Those are things I care about deeply as a young person…Personally, his advancement of clean energy jobs in America is what gets me fired up about President Obama."Grant Cornett for TIME
Curtis J. LeMay, Lowell, Mass. "To see that my children and grandchildren are afforded the same opportunities that I had in my lifetime as a blue-collar worker. That's where I'm coming from." Grant Cornett for TIME
Brittany Wirth, Arvada, Colo. "I think President Obama's support of youth issues definitely are the thing that impacts my life and millions of young Americans." Grant Cornett for TIME
Francisco Chevere, San Juan, P.R. "Obamacare, particularly for latinos. Most of the latino population does not have healthcare and now they will be able to enjoy the benefits of healthcare." Grant Cornett for TIME
Christopher St. Lawrence, Suffern, N.Y. "The single most important thing is that we put people back to work and that we protect the middle class."Grant Cornett for TIME
Kevin Kopplin, Watertown, Wis. "Keeping this country on the right track and moving forward." Grant Cornett for TIME
John Olszewski Jr., Dundalk, Md. "It's about jobs, jobs, jobs. Investing in education and an infrastructure to put people back to work." Grant Cornett for TIME
Edgar Baker Phillips, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. "I'm here on a mission because we serve in the military and the national guard and we cannot vote because we are a territory." Grant Cornett for TIME
Julie Kushner, Danbury, Conn. "The message for me at this convention is that we are building an America to last and we are going to be stronger and more effective in four years."Grant Cornett for TIME
Dawn Ellis, Burlington,Vt. "The future of America. In my opinion Barak Obama has been doing the investments we need in education, infrastructure and innovation and health so we can get to our future."Grant Cornett for TIME
Edward O'Brien, Lake Hopatcong, N.J. "It's whether or not the candidate can relate to the average American and truly have the American public believe that they are just like the rest of us and struggle as we struggle." Grant Cornett for TIME
Erik Wells, Charleston, W.Va. "Healthcare is the number one issue for me because it hits home. I have a daughter that was born with a heart condition and prior to the Affordable Healthcare Act she would be denied care."Grant Cornett for TIME
Andrew David Aston, Little Rock, Ark. "Obama wants to help people with disabilities and a whole lot more. I have autism and ADD and it's tough to live like that, but it's what we have to do, and Barack makes it easier for all of us to live like that, and that's why I think he should be elected." Grant Cornett for TIME
Meredith Wood Smith, Portland, Ore. "Jobs are the fundamental thing. People get back to work and our economy starts to really grow."Grant Cornett for TIME
Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Chattanooga, Tenn. "I think that marriage equality is one of the primary issues in this campaign. President Obama has made it clear that injustice and inequality in any aspect is not acceptable and he has been the most supportive president for the LGBT community."Grant Cornett for TIME
Mozella Bell, Campti, La. "Women's health. The last thing anybody wants to do is tell a woman that they don't have a right to choose what goes on in their own lives."Grant Cornett for TIME
Rosendo Rocha, Holland, Mich. "I represent federal employees that work for the Social Security Administration office throughout the country. Every day we meet and service people for Medicare and their Social Security benefits and President Obama is going to make sure that people continue to have the healthcare coverage that they've worked and earned for their whole lives."Grant Cornett for TIME
Kate Davis, Wichita, Kans. "I think it's really about whether we are a nation where it's every person for themselves or if we really are reaching out and believing in a community and being part of something larger where we can all move forward together." Grant Cornett for TIME
Alan Steckman, Mason City, Iowa. "To move forward economically and socially to guarantee the individual rights of people in general." Grant Cornett for TIME
Rev. Dr. Preston W. Marshall, Miami, Fla. "The most important issue here is Obama recognizing old people." Grant Cornett for TIME
Cory Sene, A.S. "The most important issue is the economy and education back home." Grant Cornett for TIME
Tawana Garrett, Savannah, Ga. "I think the most important issue is making people understand what the Democratic party is all about. We are a party of all. Inclusive of every race, creed and gender."Grant Cornett for TIME
Jim Riley, Grand Falls, N.D. "The thing is, are you going to go with somebody that is creating jobs or back to the people who left us in this mess?"Grant Cornett for TIME
Julia Bays, Alva, Okla. "The single more important issue is honesty and loyalty to women and all Americans and that is what we are getting with Barack Obama."Grant Cornett for TIME
Nathan David, Portland, Maine. "I really believe that this election has the power to shape the America that I will be drawn into after graduation. This election will define what my generation does for the next four years."Grant Cornett for TIME
DeAnna LeBeau, Eagle Butte, S.D. "I think the economy is the most important issue. We rely on federal funding for our tribe and if the Republicans were in office, I think a lot of our funding would be cut. That is really worrisome to me." Grant Cornett for TIME
Dr. Randy B. Kelley, Gadsden, Ala. "The most important issue is the president's alignment with the poor and the middle class in his policies, dealing with healthcare and bailing out the automobile industry. We need change." Grant Cornett for TIME
State Senator Tanya Cook, Lincoln, Neb. "Returning to a point in our government where we are addressing real everyday problems that the majority of people in the United States are facing on a day to day basis and not putting energy towards extreme philosophies and opinions."Grant Cornett for TIME
Alex Hartzler, Harrisburg, Pa. "The most important issue is the middle class. I think the debate is really whether we are going to continue to work as a community or focus on the individual...Romney and Ryan believe that if the wealthier Americans do well, we all do well, and I just don't believe that is in line with the facts...I'm actually a member of the 'one percent' but I just don't believe in their philosophy at all." Grant Cornett for TIME
Esther Kia'aina, Oahu, Hawaii. "In the state of Hawaii the economy is as important as it is nationally." Grant Cornett for TIME
Mayor Julia A. Nelson, Manning, S.C. "The fact that we have proven leadership in the Obama and Biden team. We trust him and he is concerned with the issues of everyday people and individuals that really need help and we just want a fair share for everyone to pay their part to make America strong again." Grant Cornett for TIME
Edmund Turner, Richmond, Va. "People with disabilities, because over 80 percent of people with disabilities are unemployed."Grant Cornett for TIME
Nancy Andersen, Great Falls, Mont. "Because it's the year of the woman, I think it's women's issues because those are ultimately family issues." Grant Cornett for TIME
Phinis V. Hundley, Hodgenville, Ky. "Human dignity. Respecting people no matter what race they are, no matter what their beliefs are. I don't care if you're green, yellow, purple, gay or straight. You have a right to be a true human being and basic human rights."Grant Cornett for TIME
Theresa Arriola, Guam. "The protection of Medicare and the protection of education and the possibility of education for our young folks at home are really dear to us." Grant Cornett for TIME
Terry White, Evansville, Ind. "Jobs and the fact that we have to bring people together to realize that we have so many things in common that we do apart."Grant Cornett for TIME
Tim Ryan, Wentzville, Miss. "To me it's education. I think education is an economic issue and we really had to start focusing on making sure all of our resources in this country can be used to send kids from underprivileged backgrounds to schools for high quality education." Grant Cornett for TIME
Isidro Gonzales, Midland, Texas. "Marriage equality and LGBT issues. I do want to be married eventually and I don't want to go to another state. I want to do it in Texas." Grant Cornett for TIME
Gloria Allred, Los Angeles, Calif. "The most important issue to me is the re-election of the president, Barack Obama. He stands for the single most important issue to me which are women's reproductive rights and choice. The next president of the United States is likely going to be able to appoint two vacancies in the Supreme Court and the issue of reproductive women's rights will be before the court again in some form. " Grant Cornett for TIME
David Schapira, Ariz. "The most important issue is education. The future of our country depends on our ability to insure the next generation has the intellectual capacity, as Harry Truman said, 'to govern themselves with reason and justice.'" Grant Cornett for TIME
Lourdes Barroso de Padilla, Columbus, Ohio. "I have two issue that are important to me. As a mother of two young girls, the issue of women's choice is huge. When I say choice that has become synonymous with abortion or whatever…but I mean the choice to make health choices about my own body that aren't related by anyone but me and my doctor and that's huge to me. Secondly, I believe there needs to be a path to citizenship...by blocking young people, it's the most un-American thing we can do."Grant Cornett for TIME
Robert Agarwal, Wilmington, Del. "The economy is the most important issue. I'm a turn-around consultant and I spend my time saving jobs. I've saved thousands of jobs over the years and I think everyone is focused on the economy."Grant Cornett for TIME
Somah Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, N.M. "I just started my freshman year in college. Equality is the most important issue to me because rights are rights, they shouldn't be dictated by who's in office and Obama knows that. From my perspective, that's mostly LGBT rights. I'm the youngest LGBT delegate here. I know he's going to work harder for us if he's re-elected again." Grant Cornett for TIME
Roann Cramer, Minneapolis, Minn. "A bold vision that includes all of America. One where we have an expansion of our rights. An America where anybody that wants to vote can vote and people can come together about issues that matter to all families."Grant Cornett for TIME
Susan Lee, Chicago, Ill. "The issue that concerns me the most is healthcare because my mom was diagnosed with stage four cancer and she does not have insurance. I actually had to take a leave from school to figure our her insurance plan and so that's been my life. She was diagnosed at stage four and if she had yearly mammograms, they could have caught it earlier. At the end of the day this is really the core issue for me." Grant Cornett for TIME
Karl de Jong, Seattle, Wash. "Who's going to represent real working regular folks? We can start all the jobs we want to... but I want to make sure we have living-wage jobs so people have one job instead of three."Grant Cornett for TIME
Steven Charles Cooke, Moscow, Idaho. "I like that President Obama has made it possible for rural America to participate in the American dream. He's provided rural broadband internet and rural healthcare services." Grant Cornett for TIME
Onna Moniz-John, East Providence, R.I. "This is a life changing election. We are not going to see the same kind of country I grew up in. I grew up in the '60s and if we elect the other party, we are really going to be going backwards. There is a lot of hate in this country and if we don't stop it it's going to be out of control." Grant Cornett for TIME
Erin O'Doherty, Laramie, Wyo. "The single most important issue to me is healthcare. It's very personal to me. There are too many people out there who don't have healthcare." Grant Cornett for TIME
Laura Arlano Salt Lake City, Utah. "When I moved to Utah, there's a really strong sense of community…I feel like Obama has made an enormous effort for collaboration and to work with other people on community building. I think he'll continue to do that." Grant Cornett for TIME
Susan Meehan, Washington, D.C. "To secure (our)…unalienable rights…governments are instituted among men, delivering their just powers from the consent of the governed. Full representation in both houses of Congress is the right of the District citizens." Grant Cornett for TIME
Ricardo Rodriguez, Contoocook, N.H. "Making the 99% have a voice. Now is a time for the middle class to rise up and say we have a voice too." Grant Cornett for TIME

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