Democratic National Convention postponed to August due to coronavirus concerns
Brokered vs. contested conventions: Chad Pergram breaks down the differences
Democrats brace for drawn-out nomination fight if no 2020 candidate wraps up the required delegates to secure their party’s presidential nomination before the convention; Chad Pergram reports.
The Democratic National Convention will be postponed until August due to coronavirus concerns, planners said Thursday, in a historic and stunning change to the presidential election calendar.
The convention committee said the event will be held the week of Aug. 17, in Milwaukee, Wis. It was originally slated for July.
“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. 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,” said Joe Solmonese, CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee.
“I have always believed that American innovation and ingenuity shine brightest during our darkest days, and for that reason, 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.”
The announcement comes just hours after former Vice President Joe Biden — the likely nominee — said he expected such a delay.
“I doubt whether the Democratic Convention is going to be able to be held in mid-July, early July. I think it’s going to have to move into August,” the all-but-certain Democratic presidential nominee said Wednesday night in an interview with Jimmy Fallon on NBC’s «The Tonight Show.«
THE LATEST FROM FOX NEWS ON THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
Biden pointed out that “even then, the Republican and Democratic Convention, we’re going to have to … we just have to be prepared for the alternative and the alternative.”
The former vice president hinted that how long the worst effects of the pandemic last will determine convention planning.
The coronavirus outbreak, which has spread globally, has forced most Americans to huddle in their homes in hopes of preventing the spread of the virus, which causes the deadly COVID-19 disease. Those venturing outside are urged to practice social distancing – keeping a minimum of six feet apart – and all large gatherings have been scrapped.
Biden said in an interview on MSNBC on Tuesday night that “it’s hard to envision” thousands of Democratic convention delegates, officials, media and other spectators packed inside an arena this summer.
But Biden added that “we ought to be able to do what we were able to do in the middle of the Civil War all the way through to World War II: have Democratic and Republican conventions, and primaries, and elections, and still have public safety. And we’re able to do both. But the fact is that it may have to be different.»
The Democratic convention was scheduled to be held July 13-16 in Milwaukee.
