Democrats to meet for just 2 hours per night
2020 DNC schedule will be mostly virtual
Call it a convention in miniature. With the coronavirus pandemic upending previous plans, Democrats will meet for two hours nightly, from 8 to 10 p.m. Central time, when they stage their mostly virtual national convention at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee.
The schedule — adopted by a key committee Thursday — provides the broad outline of what is shaping up to be a carefully crafted and staged proceeding.
It will also be one of the shortest conventions in history by total time.
The event runs Aug. 17-20, with Joe Biden expected to accept the party’s presidential nomination in Milwaukee on the final night.
Biden’s vice presidential nominee, still to be announced, will be nominated on Aug. 19 and address the gathering. The speech is expected to take place in Milwaukee, although details are not confirmed.
A keynote address is scheduled for Aug. 18, the same night of the presidential roll call, which will be conducted virtually.
The convention will open Aug. 17, with committee reports on credentials, rules and the platform, and select speakers.
Convention planners also confirmed that former President Barack Obama
and Michelle Obama will participate, although where they’ll be speaking from has not been announced.
There will also be a tribute to the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis. That spot is being produced by Dawn Porter, who was the producer-director of “John Lewis: Good Trouble.”
Delegates have been asked not to attend the event in person because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. They are casting ballots remotely, beginning next week.
Members of Congress have also been told not to travel to Milwaukee.
Democrats are calling this a “Convention Across America,” featuring speeches and events from other sites, with Milwaukee anchoring the proceedings.
This convention is anything but typical. Normally at a party gathering, meetings are well-attended during the day with the delegates gathering for several hours nightly to listen to speeches.
The 1872 Democratic Convention in Baltimore is reputedly the shortest on record, clocking in at six hours over two days.
This year’s event is in essence an abbreviated event at an unprecedented time.
Top Democrats were named to the convention leadership, led by honorary chairs House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi was named permanent convention chair.
U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore of Milwaukee, who helped bring the event to the city, will be the sergeant-of-arms.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is among the permanent co-chairs of the convention, with Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey, U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Tom Carper of Delaware, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and U.S. Rep. Tony Cárdenas of California. Jason Rae, who lives in the Milwaukee area, is the party’s secretary.
Democrats also released a schedule of daily virtual meetings and caucuses that will take place around the convention.
“We are looking forward to a historic convention anchored in Milwaukee, and through the leadership of the permanent officers who will help oversee this convention Democrats will come together to continue the work to elect Joe Biden as the next President of the United States,” DNC Chair Tom Perez said in a statement.
“We have an exciting lineup of programming over the course of four nights as we seek a better future for all Americans, and unite around our shared values and Joe Biden’s vision for a better, safer future for the country.”