Democratic officials have instructed senators, members of Congress, and party delegates not to physically attend their national convention this summer, a sign of shrinking aspirations for their grand campaign event in the face of increased cases. of coronaviruses in the United States.
The directive, issued Thursday, ensures that little will happen at the convention site in Milwaukee beyond speeches by former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., his vice presidential nominee and a handful of other party leaders. The rest of the events (state delegation meetings, parties, voting on the party platform and Mr. Biden’s nomination) will happen practically or not.
“We have been working closely with state and local public health officials as well as epidemiologists, and we have made the difficult decision that members of Congress should not plan to travel to Milwaukee.” Chasseny Lewis, senior advisor to the convention committee, emailed Congress attendees. “No delegate will travel to Milwaukee, and the Caucus and Council meetings will take place virtually.”
The announcement came the night Biden, the suspected Democratic candidate, reportedly delivered his acceptance speech for the nomination, underscoring how profoundly the coronavirus has disrupted the campaign. Earlier this year, shortly after the spread of the virus closed many states across the country, the Democratic National Committee postponed its event for a month.
“Ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone involved in the 2020 Democratic National Convention drives every decision we make,” said Katie Peters, director of communications 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 ushered in the heated season of the fall campaign, giving parties the opportunity to energize their supporters and convince undecided voters with days of pageantry and largely uninterrupted media coverage. Party leaders generally spend months, if not years, raising funds and planning every aspect of stage-managed events, from the show to the loot and the balloon drop that traditionally ends the celebrations.
In recent months, Democrats have narrowed their plans, moving the convention to downtown Milwaukee from Fiserv Forum, the city’s professional basketball stadium, to the Wisconsin Center, a modest convention space that generally hosts events such as the exhibition of city cars. The last national political event that took place there was the 2004 Green Party convention.
Party officials have been consulting regularly with doctors and epidemiologists and say they are following the medical establishment’s recommendations.
His decision comes when Trump has made it clear that he wants the Republican convention to continue. Party officials transferred him to Jacksonville, Florida, from Charlotte because North Carolina state officials said they would have to comply with the rules for social distancing.
On Thursday, the Republican National Committee announced new details about the convention, confirming a Times report this week that the party planned to change some events that will take place outdoors.
Ronna McDaniel, the committee chair, said “various indoor and outdoor locations” would be used in Jacksonville, including the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, where the indoor program had been scheduled, as well as various other locations. During the first three days of the convention, attendance will be limited to regular delegates, while a larger group will be allowed on the last day when Mr. Trump accepts the party’s nomination.
Many of the top Republicans skip the event, belittling Trump’s desire for an elaborate event attended by large crowds.
