Dozens of San Franciscans lined the walls of Manny’s in the Mission on Monday, cheering at a single TV in the popular cafe. No 49ers playoffs or Drag Race All Stars here — they came to see Vice President Kamala Harris and others take the stage at this week’s Democratic National Convention.
The convention comes about a month after Biden ended his reelection campaign and announced his support for Harris, who recently selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Energy was high on Monday in Manny’s, a popular civic salon, as people rooted for their favorite politicos and passersby gathered at a front window to get a peek.
“I feel really optimistic about the race right now. Kamala is such a better candidate than Biden, and I think she has a good chance of winning, and I love Tim Walz. I think they will capture the young vote and people like me,” said DeVon Thompson, a 20-year-old from New York City living in San Francisco for a summer internship in the mayor’s office.

Thompson was among about 60 people who stopped by Manny’s to catch the first night of the four-day convention, which kicked off Monday in Chicago with speakers including Hillary Clinton, Steve Kerr, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and President Joe Biden.
“I don’t have too many friends here yet, so I came out to make more, and I’m excited just to watch,” Thompson said, adding that it was his first convention to watch and his first election he’s able to vote in.