The 2020 Democratic National Convention will no longer take place in July as previously planned but will instead be held in August, the week before the Republican Party is scheduled to hold its convention in Charlotte, Democratic Party officials announced today. Milwaukee, Wisconsin remains the host city.
“In our current climate of uncertainty, we believe the smartest approach is to take additional time to monitor how this situation unfolds so we can best position our party for a safe and successful convention,” said Joe Solmonese, CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC).
“During this critical time, when the scope and scale of the pandemic and its impact remain unknown, we will continue to monitor the situation and follow the advice of health care professionals and emergency responders,” he added.
“I have always believed that American innovation and ingenuity shine brightest during our darkest days… I’m confident our convention planning team and our partners will find a way to deliver a convention in Milwaukee this summer that places our Democratic nominee on the path to victory in November.”
“Leadership means being able to adapt, and that’s exactly what our party is doing. The city of Milwaukee has been an incredible partner, especially over the past few weeks as we’ve confronted this global crisis, and we couldn’t be more committed to highlighting Wisconsin as a key battleground state, as it is at the center of so many of Trump’s broken promises,” said DNC Chair Tom Perez.
“Ultimately, the health and safety of our convention attendees and the people of Milwaukee is our top priority. And we will continue to be in contact with local, state, and federal health officials as we monitor this fluid situation.”
“The Democratic Party is ready to defeat Donald Trump, the American people are ready to elect a Democratic president, and I have absolute confidence that our team is ready to deliver a successful convention for our nominee.”
Party officials said they’ve confirmed that Fiserv Forum (where the Bucks play), the Wisconsin Center District, and major hotels in the Milwaukee area are available during the week that the convention has chosen to relocate to.
The DNCC also emphasized it might adjust the convention’s format, crowd size, and schedule to adapt to the fallout from the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Wisconsin leaders are relieved the convention is still planned to take place in Milwaukee, even if the timeframe for holding it is changing.
“Protecting the health and safety of the Milwaukee community remains the top priority of the convention team,” the MKE host committee said in a statement.
“We are grateful to our partners at the Democratic National Convention Committee for moving forward with a plan that enables our city to highlight and showcase all that we have to offer.”
“I applaud the DNC for prioritizing public safety while simultaneously keeping their commitment to Milwaukee,” said Visit Milwaukee CEO Peggy Williams-Smith. “Hosting the Democratic National Convention in August will be key to the city’s economic recovery once the cloud of COVID-19 has lifted.”
“I look forward to working with the DNCC and the Host Committee to ensure the event is successful,” Williams-Smith added.
The convention’s change of date will necessitate the modification of a lot of travel reservations. People who had already lined up airfare, hotels, and ground transportation for the week of July 13th-17th will now need to rebook.
One Comment
Hope it can still be held!