A Virtual Convention
Conventional wisdom in March 2020 was that the pandemic would likely be brought under control by June.  Over the next several months, convention planners at the Democratic National Convention Committee in Milwaukee worked through many different scenarios, always placing safety first.  On April 2, 2020 the Democratic National Committee announced Democrats were moving the dates of their convention from July 13-16, 2020 to the week of Aug. 17 and said they were exploring all options to avoiding risks to public health, from "adjusting the convention’s format to crowd size and schedule."  Meanwhile, the Milwaukee 2020 Host Committee, charged with funding the Convention, was affected by the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and cut its staff significantly in April.  Various ideas were floated as to what form the convention might take.  In May, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested the convention might be held in a gigantic stadium to allow for social distancing.  There was talk of a virtual convention with an in-person component.  On June 24 the DNCC announced a "Convention Across America" plan wherein "state delegations should not plan to travel to Milwaukee and should plan to conduct their official convention business remotely."  Planners stated that, "The host city Milwaukee would anchor the events for the week, and that programming would include both live broadcasts and curated content from Milwaukee and other satellite cities, locations and landmarks across the country."  On Aug. 5 the DNCC announced that convention speakers including Vice President Biden would not travel to Milwaukee, completing the transition to a virtual convention.




 
"This is our moment to make hope
and history rhyme." 




"Uniting America" Convention Program Highlights
  Mon., Aug. 17
  9:00 - 11:00 PM ET
  Tues., Aug. 18
  9:00 - 11:00 PM ET
  Wed., Aug. 19
 
9:00 - 11:00 PM ET
  Thurs., Aug. 20
  9:00 - 11:00 PM ET
  We The People
  Leadership Matters
  A More Perfect Union
  America's Promise
  • Opening Ceremonies

  • Select Speakers
  • Committee Reports

  • Keynote Address

  • Presidential Candidate Nominating and Seconding Speeches

  • Roll Call Vote for the Presidential Nominee
  • Vice Presidential Candidate Nomination and Acclamation

  • Acceptance Speech by the Nominee for Vice President
  • Acceptance Speech by the Nominee for President

  • Adjournment


>>

Conv. Chair Rep. Bennie Thompson
Rep. Gwen Moore
Mayor Muriel Bowser
Rep. Jim Clyburn
Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Christine Whitman, Meg Whitman, Susan Molinari
Former Gov.John Kasich
Sen. Doug Jones
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto
Sen. Amy Klobuchar
Rep. Cedric Richmond
Sen. Bernie Sanders
Former First Lady Michelle Obama
Keynote Address
Former Acting US AG Sally Yates
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
Caroline Kennedy, Jack Schlossberg
Jimmy Carter, Rosalynn Carter
Former President Bill Clinton
Nominating Speeches
Roll Call Across America
Ady Barkan
Former Sec. of State John Kerry
Former Sec. of State Colin Powell
Former Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden
Gov. Tony Evers
Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
Former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton
Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Former Sec. of Labor Hilda Solis
Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Former President Barack Obama
Nominating Speech
Vice Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris

Andrew Yang
Sen. Chris Coons
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
Sen. Cory Booker
Sen. Tammy Baldwin
Sen. Tammy Duckworth
 Mayor Pete Buttigieg
Former Mayor Mike Bloomberg
The Biden Family
Vice President Joe Biden

 
 

MEDIA
WATCH
Biden for President Convention Watch Parties

Caucuses & Councils

Coalitions & Partner Organizations
Schedule of Events
[graphics]

Examples of State Party Events:
CA, NJ, PA, TN, drive-in







fb/MarchOnTheDNC2020
@marchonthednc



Within the limits of the virtual format, the Democratic team produced a pretty good facsimile of a national convention.  From regular Americans telling their stories to major speeches, Democrats pressed their theme of "Uniting America."  It was different in many aspects from a normal, in-person gathering.  Instead of hundreds of delegates wearing funny hats, dressed up, sporting campaign buttons, cheering, chanting and waving signs in a bustling arena, the audience response came from a video wall showing 30 framed scenes of people applauding.  Instead of journalists from around the world putting together stories, network teams broadcasting from skyboxes, and photographers roaming the convention floor, a limited number of reporters were on hand to cover major speeches.  Instead of making the rounds at state delegation breakfasts and caucus meetings, campaign surrogates participated in virtual convention watch parties prior to the evening programming.  There were no receptions or parties in restaurants around town, but many groups did organize virtual events.  Instead of a balloon drop, organizers managed a modest fireworks show for people on hand in Delaware.  Heading out of the convention, the Biden-Harris ticket eschewed a bus tour or other signature event and remained in virtual mode heading into the general election.


Selected Press Releases
 
[please send press releases and suggestions to action08 at gmail] 


Aug. 21, 2020 - Biden for President: Democratic Convention Across America Reaches 122+ Million Viewers Live Over Four Nights

Aug. 21, 2020 - The Nielsen Company Television Audience Estimates

Aug. 17-20, 2020 Responses - Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.   |   Republican Jewish Coalition

Aug. 19, 2020 - DNCC: Democratic National Convention Committee Announces Star-studded After Party to Close the Convention

Aug. 16, 2020 - DNCC: Democrats Announce Faith Leaders Participating in 2020 Democratic National Convention: "Uniting America"

Aug. 16, 2020 - DNCC: Democrats Unveil A New Kind of Convention Keynote

Aug. 15, 2020 - Delegate Packet Arrives

Aug. 14, 2020 - Biden for President Announces Democratic National Convention Watch Parties in All 50 States

Aug. 14, 2020 - DNCC: Democrats Announce Musical Performances for 2020 Democratic National Convention: "Uniting America"

Aug. 13, 2020 - DNCC: Democrats to Celebrate Unity During Interfaith Service to Kick Off 2020 Democratic National Convention

Aug. 11, 2020 - Milwaukee 2020 Host Committee and Business Forward Host Virtual Policy Roundtables

Aug. 11, 2020 - DNCC: Democrats Announce Additional Speakers and Schedule Updates for 2020 Democratic National Convention: “Uniting America”

Aug. 11, 2020 - DNCC: Democrats Announce Wisconsin Speakers and Schedule Updates for 2020 Democrat National Convention: "Uniting America"

Aug. 11, 2020 - DNCC: Democratic National Convention Coalitions  Partner Organizations: Schedule of Events

Aug. 10, 2020 - DNCC: Democrats Announce Inspiring Lineup of Americans Who Will Speak at the 2020 Democratic National Convention: “Uniting America”

Aug. 7, 2020 - DNCC: "Uniting America" – Democrats Announce Themes for Four Nights of Convention

Aug. 7, 2020 - DNCC: How to Watch the 2020 Democratic National Convention

Aug. 6, 2020 - WisDems and Arena, in Partnership with the DNCC and BFP, Announce Free, All-Virtual Campaign Academy

Aug. 6, 2020 - Coalition to March on the DNC: Responds to Biden’s decision to stay home

Aug. 5, 2020 - DNCC: Convention Speakers, Including Vice President Biden, Will Not Travel to Milwaukee to Protect Public Health

July 31, 2020 - U.S. Rep. Sensenbrenner: Letter to Mayor Barrett regarding police availability for DNC

July 30, 2020 - Democratic National Convention Announces 2020 Convention Officers, Schedule of Events

July 30, 2020 - Republican National Committee: LEAKED: Democrat National Convention speakers & schedule [satire]

July 30, 2020 - Sanders Statement on DNC Rules Committee

July 29, 2020 - Endavo Media to Launch Global Streaming Apps Ahead of 2020 Democratic National Convention

July 26, 2020 - Democratic National Convention: COVID-19 Protocol Overview [PDF]

July 19, 2020 - We Can't Breathe March on the DNC, Milwaukee, WI August 2020

June 24, 2020 - DNCC: Anchored in Milwaukee, 2020 Democratic National Convention will be a "Convention Across America"

May 21, 2020 - Progressive Democrats of America: The 2020 Bernie Delegates Network Announces Launch As Progressive Force for Democratic National Convention

May 20, 2020 - DNCC: Building a Convention that's Accessible to All

May 12, 2020 - Resolution as approved by the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee in its telephonic meeting

Apr. 2, 2020 - Democratic National Convention Committee Announces Date Change in Response to Unprecedented Coronavirus Outbreak.

also see: 2020 Convention Standing Committees


PLATFORM
Aug. 19, 2020 - Evergreen Action Calls on DNC to Fix Backwards Platform Position on Fossil Fuel Subsidies

July 31, 2020 - Demand Justice Announces Democratic Party Platform to Include Call for Court Reform

July 28, 2020 - RootsAction.org: More Than 700 Delegates Have Now Signed Pledge Committing to Vote Against Democratic Platform Lacking Medicare for All

July 24, 2020 - Democratic National Committee To Hold Virtual Meetings for the Platform Committee, the Convention Rules Committee, and the Convention Credentials Committee Next Week

July 24, 2020 - Democrats for Life: 100 Faith Leaders Call for Democratic Party Platform Reforms Regarding Abortion 

July 21, 2020 - DRAFT 2020 Democratic Party Platform [PDF]

July 16, 2020 -J Street Statement on Democratic Party Platform's Draft Language on Israel/Palestine

July 16, 2020 - Jewish Democratic Council of America Welcomes Democratic Party Platform

July 9, 2020 - National Coalition of Progressive Groups Push DNC To Adopt Bold, Inclusive Vision for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights and Justice in 2020

July 8, 2020 - Biden-Sanders Unity Task Forces Announce Democratic Party Platform Recommendations

June 29, 2020 - Democratic National Convention Invites Americans to Add Voices to 2020 Party Platform Process, Democratic National Committee Releases Further Details on Platform Hearings

June 26, 2020 - Democratic National Convention Committee Announces Series of Virtual Platform Hearings

June 22, 2020 - DNC announces Platform Drafting Committee Members.





AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL












GA HI ID IL
IN IA KS KY LA ME
.










MD MA MI MN MS
MO MT NE NV NH
.










NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI
.










SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI
.










WY PR AS GU USVI CNMI
DA




   


Recent Conventions: 2016 Philadelphia2012 Charlotte  - 2008 Denver - 2004 Boston - 2000 Los Angeles


ADVERTISEMENT