The 2020 Democratic and Republican National Conventions will be unlike anything the country has seen before, and PBS NewsHour will give you a front-row seat to the changes and excitement surrounding the election of our next leader this November.
On Monday, Aug. 17, the Democratic convention will formally select former Vice President Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential candidate. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, this will take place remotely.
We’ve grown accustomed to the tradition of the conventions drawing thousands of delegates, donors, and party leaders to the host cities for several days of political festivities. The 2020 presidential election was looking to be a notably contentious contest, but the recent pandemic, economic crisis, and protests against racial inequality have heightened tensions and raised the stakes to levels we’ve never experienced before.
While Trump will defend his record over the last four years and argue that he’s the best choice to lead in the next four, Biden will pitch himself as better qualified to get the country through its current hardships, many of which he’ll say were caused or exacerbated by Trump.
The Democratic convention will be held Monday, Aug. 17 through Thursday, Aug. 20. During the day, formal party business will take place behind the scenes: party caucuses will meet, and delegates will vote on the party platform, rules and the presidential nominee.
The televised portion this year will take place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. CDT when, along with Biden and Harris, the convention will feature speeches from high-profile Democrats such as former President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, New York U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, as well as Independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, Vt., and former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican who has been a vocal critic of Trump since his election. Musical performances will include John Legend, Billie Eilish, Jennifer Hudson and Common.
Each night of the convention will take on a different theme: “We the people,” “leadership matters,” “a more perfect union” and “America’s promise.”
The Republican convention will take place the following week, from Monday, Aug. 24 through Thursday, Aug. 27. A few hundred delegates plan to meet in Charlotte, North Carolina to formally renominate Trump. The rest of the events will be a mix of in-person and virtual speeches from locations that have not yet been shared publicly.