CHICAGO – A sudden shift in leadership has greatly boosted merchandise sales at the Democratic National Convention, with attendees eagerly purchasing Kamala Harris hats and “Voting is my Black job” T-shirts.

Merchandise like pins, buttons, hats, and shirts have traditionally been a way for supporters to show allegiance to a candidate, and vendors report that items featuring Vice President Kamala Harris are flying off the shelves, particularly pink shirts with her image.

Crowds have been gathering all week in the McCormick Center’s “DemPalooza” merchandise area. By Monday afternoon, Christen Carter, who runs Busy Beaver Button Co., noted she had sold over 1,000 buttons at $15 each.

“Some people are ordering buttons that say ‘crazy cat ladies for Harris’ or ‘single cat lady’,” she explained. “Many are personalizing them with their first names while others are getting creative. The excitement is palpable.”

One of those enthusiastic buyers is Idaho delegate Kevin Moxley, 47, who proudly displayed a button that reads “,la” – a phonetic aide for pronouncing Harris’s first name correctly, which some critics mispronounce.

“This is my response to that. I appreciate it,” Moxley shared. “They keep getting it wrong, and this is how I push back.”

Cynthia LaMer, 69, a delegate from Nebraska, displayed her sparkling “Harris 2024” pin, thrilled to purchase it since she’s been a Harris supporter since the 2020 primaries. LaMer mentioned that she bought Biden merchandise in the last election and has been collecting political items since the early 1980s.

“I may not wear it often, but it enhances my wardrobe, and this one caught my eye,” she said. “It’s quite flashy!”

Sporting an Americana-themed cowboy hat, Pamela Cleveland, who attended as a delegate’s guest, flaunted her “My #Blackjob is voting” T-shirt and buttons. From Temple, Texas, Cleveland felt invigorated by the enthusiastic Democrats around her and aimed to show that liberals can also proudly wear patriotic clothing, often linked to the Republican Party.

“We aim to reclaim our flag, which represents freedom,” she asserted. “It belongs to me too.”

Outside one of the main venues, independent T-shirt vendor Rod Robinson noted that his pink-and-green Harris T-shirts were the hot sellers, reflecting the colors of Harris’s college sorority.

Robinson, 60, previously sold at Republican conventions but stopped after Donald Trump’s first campaign, feeling uncomfortable with the atmosphere among attendees. Now, he sends his adult son instead.

“It feels like a different scene. We used to cater to both parties, but the vibe at the other party feels so strange,” he described. “There’s always tension, and it’s a bit daunting.”

Conversely, he noted the cheerful energy of Harris supporters, expressing joy as he hung t-shirts on a fence and arranged hats for sale.

“This crowd is wonderful – everyone is all about positivity,” he added.

Robinson indicated that he hadn’t created any Biden 2024 shirts because demand was low.

“His policies might be strong, but his merchandise isn’t appealing,” Robinson stated. “People seem more enthusiastic about Harris.”