Democratic officials have instructed senators, members of Congress and party delegates not to physically attend their national convention this summer, a sign of the ever-shrinking aspirations for their big campaign event in the face of a surge in coronavirus cases in the United States.
The directive, issued Thursday, ensures that little will happen at the convention site in Milwaukee beyond speeches from former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., his vice-presidential nominee and a handful of other top party leaders. The remainder of the events state delegation meetings, parties, voting on the party platform and on Mr. Bidens nomination will happen virtually or not at all.
We have been working closely with state and local public health officials, as well epidemiologists, and have come to the hard decision that members of Congress should not plan to travel to Milwaukee, Chasseny Lewis, a senior adviser to the convention committee, wrote in an email to congressional aides. No delegates will travel to Milwaukee, and Caucus and Council meetings will take place virtually.
The announcement came on the evening when Mr. Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, would have been delivering his acceptance speech for the nomination, underscoring how profoundly the coronavirus has upended the campaign. Earlier this year, shortly after the spread of the virus shut down many states across the country, the Democratic National Committee postponed its event by a month.
Ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone involved with the 2020 Democratic National Convention drives every decision we make, said Katie Peters, communications director for the convention committee. This communication reiterates our guidance from several weeks ago that all members of state delegations including elected leaders should plan to conduct their official business remotely.
Traditionally, conventions have marked the start of the heated fall campaign season, giving parties a chance to energize their supporters and sway undecided voters with days of pageantry and largely uninterrupted media coverage. Party leaders typically spend months if not years fund-raising and planning every aspect of the stage-managed events, from the program to the swag to the balloon drop that traditionally ends the celebrations.
Over the past several months, Democrats have scaled back their plans, moving the convention across downtown Milwaukee from Fiserv Forum, the citys professional basketball arena, to the Wisconsin Center, a modest convention space that typically hosts events like the citys car show. The last national political event to take place there was the 2004 Green Party convention.
Party officials have been consulting regularly with doctors and epidemiologists and say they are following the recommendations of the medical establishment.
Their decision comes as Mr. Trump has made clear he wants the Republican convention to go on,. Party officials moved it to Jacksonville, Fla., from Charlotte because North Carolina state officials said they would have to abide by social distancing rules.
On Thursday, the Republican National Committee announced new details about the convention, confirming a Times report this week that the party was planning to shift some events to take place outdoors.
Ronna McDaniel, the committees chairwoman, said that a number of indoor and outdoor venues in Jacksonville would be used, including the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, where the indoor program had been scheduled to take place, as well as several other locations. For the first three days of the convention, attendance will be limited to regular delegates, while a broader group will be allowed on the final day when Mr. Trump accepts the partys nomination.
Many top Republicans are skipping the event, flouting Mr. Trumps desire for an elaborate event attended by large crowds.
See the original post here:
Democratic Officials Tell Members of Congress to Skip the Convention - The New York Times
- Democrat introduces Alito censure resolution over upside-down flag - The Hill - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Democrat ruled 'out of order' after listing off Trump's legal woes on the House floor - NBC News - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- A Democrat listed Trump's trials on the House floor. His words were struck from the record. - The Washington Post - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- U.S. House Approves Crypto FIT21 Bill With Wave of Democratic Support - CoinDesk - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Names and faces - Arkansas Online - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Democrat Punished On House Floor For Accurately Saying Trump Is On Trial - HuffPost - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Democrats See Wins in Losing Votes - The New York Times - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Why is Trump rallying in the heavily Democratic Bronx? - Spectrum News NY1 - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Democrats propose ban on officials receiving payments from foreign governments after Trump probe - The Associated Press - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Senate Democrats will force Republicans to vote on federal contraception protections - NBC News - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Democrats refer 'big oil' investigation to Justice Department - Roll Call - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Senate Democrats revive bipartisan border security bill as GOP vows to block it again - NBC News - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Bynum's primary win boosts Democrats' chances to flip Oregon seat - Roll Call - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Trump targets Democratic stronghold with Bronx rally to woo minority voters - KEYE TV CBS Austin - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Detroit could be without Black representation in Congress again with top candidate off the ballot - The Associated Press - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Orangeburg County: Three Democrats running for coroner - The Times and Democrat - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- The Path to a Democratic Majority Rests In the Hands of AAPI Voters - Newsweek - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Biden and Democrats raised $51 million in April, far less than Trump and the GOP's $76 million - The Associated Press - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Ohio Democrats still trying to get Biden on ballot - 10TV - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Trump trial judge rebuked for donations to Democrat-aligned groups in 2020 - The Guardian US - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- UA track teams treating first round like finals | Arkansas Democrat Gazette - Arkansas Online - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- DEBRIEF: Democratic National Convention in Chicago this August - WBAY - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Some Democrats campaigning for Senate want to suspend the filibuster to pass abortion bills - The Associated Press - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Election results Georgia: Democratic, Republican primary wins - USA TODAY - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Israel to return seized camera, hardware to AP | Arkansas Democrat Gazette - Arkansas Online - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Sen. Chris Murphy urges Democrats to follow Tom Suozzi and go on the offensive on the border - NBC News - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- New Mexico's Democrat-led House rejects proposal for paid family and medical leave - The Seattle Times - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Democrats see 2024 blueprint in N.Y. election that centered on immigration - The Washington Post - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Democrats cheer New York win as good omen for November. But is it enough to calm anxiety over Biden? - The Associated Press - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Leaning Into Migrant Woes, Suozzi Paves Election-Year Path for Democrats - The New York Times - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- New York Special Election Live Results: Tom Suozzi Wins George Santos's Seat - The New York Times - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Democrats win another special election, and 4 more takeaways from New York's House race - ABC News - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- NY Special Election Winner Tom Suozzi to Fill Santos Seat - Bloomberg - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Democrat Suozzi wins special election to replace Santos in New York - NPR - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- New House lines in New York would boost 2 Democrats and a Republican - POLITICO - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Democrats win back George Santos seat in hotly contested election - POLITICO - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Democrats and Republicans hold Black History Month celebrations with an eye on November's election - The Associated Press - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- NY-03 Special: Four Takeaways from Suozzi and Democrats' Decisive Win - The Cook Political Report - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- New York special election results: The Democrats flipped George Santos' old seat. But here's the real story. - Slate - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- West Virginia bill defining gender is transphobic and 'political rubbish,' Democrats say - The Associated Press - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Biden isn't leaving the 2024 race, but how would Democrats pick a nominee if he did? - ABC News - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Proposed TikTok ban dies in Virginias Democratic-controlled House - The Hill - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Opinion | Tom Suozzi Makes the Democrats Look Good for a New York Minute - The New York Times - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Tom Suozzi buoyed by higher Democratic turnout, decline in GOP voting - Newsday - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- We asked young Black voters about Biden and the Democrats. Here's what we learned - NPR - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- New York Special Election: Tom Suozzi Wins House Seat Vacated by George Santos - The New York Times - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Democrat Tom Suozzi to replace republican George Santos in U.S. House of Representatives - 13newsnow.com WVEC - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Who is Tom Suozzi, Democrat in New York's special election - The Washington Post - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Democrat Tom Suozzi wins special election to fill George Santos's House seat. Here's why it matters beyond New York. - Yahoo News - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Democrat Wins Special Election for George Santos' House Seat Mother Jones - Mother Jones - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Not an Ordinary Special Election, and Yet a Typical Result - The New York Times - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Trump slams Democrat Nikki Haley on home turf ahead of South Carolina primary: Shes finished - Washington Examiner - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Senate Democrat calls GOP hostage-taking in debt ceiling deal making dangerous: This cannot be the norm - The Hill - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Scoop: Dems told to say debt ceiling bill rejects GOP's "extreme demands" - Axios - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Debt Ceiling Is First Big Test for Hakeem Jeffries, the Top House Democrat - The New York Times - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Does the debt deal have enough GOP support? This Democratic senator says he's worried. - POLITICO - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Delbert the Democrat and his friends in the liberal media - leader-call.com - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Why I believe RFK Jr. will be the 2024 Democratic nominee - The Hill - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Republican blitz on LGBTQ issues exposes fractures among Texas ... - The Texas Tribune - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Texas Passes Bills Targeting Elections in Democratic Stronghold - The New York Times - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- The Rise of Religious 'Nones' Won't Save Democrats - New York Magazine - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Democrats trade insults over bill at committee meeting - Spectrum News NY1 - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Kentucky Democrat Who Lost Bid to Unseat McConnell Fined $10K ... - Heritage.org - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Mississippi Democrats improperly excluded candidate for governor ... - The Associated Press - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Asian voters in the U.S. tend to be Democratic, but Vietnamese ... - Pew Research Center - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Gilbert, Mesa lawmakers unimpressed with Democrat's reason for ... - Daily Independent - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Former Republican and Democratic Governors from Alabama ... - Death Penalty Information Center - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- 3 Tennessee Democrats face removal from office in Thursday vote after gun control protest on state House floor - CNN - April 6th, 2023 [April 6th, 2023]
- Democrat or Republican: The Official Differences | Merriam-Webster - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Truck driver who upset top N.J. Democrat in 2021 faces GOP primary challenge in big election year - NJ.com - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- A top Democrats radical plan to deal with Trumps worst judge and protect abortion rights - Vox.com - February 20th, 2023 [February 20th, 2023]
- About the Democratic Party - Democrats - February 7th, 2023 [February 7th, 2023]
- Democratic Party (United States) - Simple English Wikipedia, the free ... - February 2nd, 2023 [February 2nd, 2023]
- Democrat NYC Mayor Adams calls on federal government to play more proactive role to secure border - Fox News - January 17th, 2023 [January 17th, 2023]
- Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin announces he has 'serious but curable form of cancer' - CNN - December 28th, 2022 [December 28th, 2022]
- Sen. Sinema's switch to Independent will not impact Democrats' control of the chamber, representatives say - CNBC - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- 'People are fed up': As NC Democrats reflect on election missteps, a party shake-up is underway - WRAL News - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- What is a Democrat? (with pictures) - Historical Index - November 23rd, 2022 [November 23rd, 2022]
- This is the late message some Democrats believe could make a difference in close elections - CNN - November 1st, 2022 [November 1st, 2022]
- Dylan Roberts in his words: The Democrat running for a seat in Senate District 8 promises to focus on living affordability, the environment and rural... - October 25th, 2022 [October 25th, 2022]