2020 Democratic National Convention Facts for Kids

The official logo for the 2020 Democratic National Convention

The convention chose former Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Senator Kamala Harris to run for president and vice president.

The Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was first planned to host the convention.

The 2020 Democratic National Convention was a big meeting where the Democratic Party officially chose its candidates for president and vice president. It happened from August 17 to 20, 2020, mostly from the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

At this convention, people called "delegates" from the United States Democratic Party formally picked Joe Biden to run for president. They also chose U.S. Senator Kamala Harris to run for vice president. This was for the 2020 United States presidential election.

The convention was first planned for July 13–16, 2020, at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. But because of the coronavirus pandemic, it was moved to August. The size of the event was also made much smaller. The main location was changed to the Wisconsin Center in the same city.

Because of the pandemic, this convention was very different from past ones. Most of it happened online, with people joining from many places across the country. Even though it was mostly virtual, the Wisconsin Center was the official main spot. This is where the event was produced and officially started and ended each night.

What is a Political Convention?
- Why are Conventions Important?
Key People at the Convention
- Important Speakers
How the Pandemic Changed the Convention
- Virtual Format
- Location Changes
Images for kids
See also

What is a Political Convention?

A political convention is a large meeting held by a political party. Its main purpose is to officially choose the party's candidates for president and vice president. These events also help to unite the party and share its goals with the public.

Why are Conventions Important?

Conventions are important for several reasons:

They formally nominate the candidates.
They create excitement and support for the party.
They allow party members to agree on a platform. A platform is a list of beliefs and goals the party stands for.
They are a chance for important party leaders to speak.

Key People at the Convention

Many important people spoke at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. These speakers helped to support Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. They also talked about the Democratic Party's plans for the country.

Important Speakers

Former Presidents: All living former Democratic presidents gave speeches. These included Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama.
Other Democrats: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders also spoke.
Republicans: Some members of the Republican Party also spoke. This showed support for Joe Biden from across different political groups. One example was former Governor John Kasich of Ohio.

Joe Solmonese, who used to be the president of the Human Rights Campaign, was the main organizer. He was named the convention's CEO in March 2019.

How the Pandemic Changed the Convention

The COVID-19 pandemic had a big impact on the 2020 convention. It changed how the event was planned and carried out.

Virtual Format

Instead of a large gathering with many people in one place, most of the convention was held online. Speakers gave their speeches from different locations. People watched the event on TV or online. This virtual format helped keep everyone safe during the pandemic.

Location Changes

The original plan was to have the convention at the Fiserv Forum. This is a large arena in Milwaukee. However, because of safety concerns, the event was moved to the Wisconsin Center. This smaller venue was used mainly for the production of the virtual event.

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The host city of the convention was Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Center was ultimately the main location of the convention.
The Fiserv Forum was originally planned as the venue for the convention.
Host committee logo
Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware, the location of Biden and Harris's acceptance speeches.
August 20 protest organized by the Coalition to March on the DNC
DNC Delegates United for Peace protest
The originally-planned full-scale convention in Fiserv Forum would have seen broadcasters set up live sets inside the arena, similar to those in this image of the 2016 Democratic National Convention.