Category Archives: 2020 Convention

Debate Rules

By tmess2 | Published February 16, 2019

This past week, the Democratic National Committee announced the standards that will be used to determine which candidates will appear in the first two debates of the cycle (one in June and one in July).  As these standards set a very low bar to participation, it is more likely than not that each debate will actually be two debates on consecutive nights.

A candidate can qualify by meeting one of two standards.  First, a candidate qualifies by getting one percent in at least three “approved” polls.  I assume by “approved” that the DNC means a poll by a reputable media organization that, at the very least, includes all of the declared candidates that major media organizations and blogs like this site are listing.  (There are always a large number of unknown candidates who file paperwork with the FEC and file declarations of candidacy in states like New Hampshire.  Currently, beyond the present and former elected officials that are listed here, there are four other candidates who filed paperwork with the FEC to run.)  Figuring that we will probably end up with fifteen to twenty candidates, it is likely that there will be over ten candidates who meet this standard.

Second, a candidate can qualify by raising $65,000 from a minimum of 200 donors in a minimum of 20 states.   Those candidates who have declared and have announced fundraising to date appear to be blowing well past this threshold.  This threshold appears to be set in a way that favors late declarers.  If a candidate who declares before May 1 hasn’t raised more than $1 million from over 1,000 donors in over 30 states by June 1, it is unlikely that they will be the nominee.  Continue Reading...

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Milwaukee and Houston battling to win next week’s convention bid

By Matt | Published February 15, 2019

All indications are that the host of the 2020 Democratic National Convention will be announced next week. Milwaukee is still considered the front-runner, although Houston is fighting to the end. (Miami is the 3rd city in consideration). First, Milwaukee is getting help from its neighbors:

Top Midwestern Democrats and business leaders are engaged in a frenzied, last-minute effort to bring the Democratic National Convention to Milwaukee next year, insisting that a Wisconsin convention presence would help repair the frayed relationship between the party and heartland voters.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been involved in the behind-the-scenes overtures, offering up his own political muscle to lure the marquee political event to his neighboring state. Pritzker told POLITICO on Wednesday he spoke to Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers this week about helping to land the convention. Continue Reading...

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Politico says Milwaukee is frontrunner for 2020 convention

By Matt | Published February 3, 2019

The mid-west may win out:

Our sources tell us MILWAUKEE is the odds-on favorite for the 2020 Democratic National Convention….
— PLUSES FOR MILWAUKEE: DNC CHAIR TOM PEREZ has a personal connection to the city. His wife went to high school there and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The two were also married in Milwaukee.
— THERE’S ALSO THE POLITICAL FACTOR: Democrats need to win Wisconsin in 2020. The city has a new arena that has a lot of open space around it that could add some flexibility for planning and events.
— NEGATIVES FOR MILWAUKEE: There’s always concern about fundraising and having enough hotels when party committees look to second-tier cities.

It will be interesting to see how far delegates or the media have to travel from far-flung hotels if Milwaukee is chosen. A decision is expected later this month.

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Milwaukee no longer a longshot for 2020 convention

By Matt | Published January 9, 2019

It would be one of the smallest cities ever to host a modern convention:

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2020 Convention Call

By Matt | Published January 7, 2019

From our friends at DemRulz:

On December 21, 2018, the DNC issued 2020 Democratic National Convention documents, including the Call, Rules, and Regulations (see below).   These documents were drafted over 90 hours of public meetings by the Rules and Bylaws Committee (RBC) and its excellent staff.  The RBC carefully considered and implemented many of the recommendations of the Unity Reform Commission.  The next step in the process is for each of the 57 “states” to draft their own Delegate Selection Plans, which are to be offered for public comment by April 3, 2019 and submitted to the RBC by May 3, 2019.  The RBC must complete its work of approving or otherwise taking action on all plans by September 13, 2019.

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