The head of the Republican National Committee vowed that this year’s convention will not be held entirely online.
The Washington Examiner first reported in April that GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel was still planning to hold the convention in-person but indicated an openness to making adjustments if needed due to the coronavirus pandemic. While the COVID-19 death toll in the United States has more than doubled since then, she reiterated on Monday that a physical convention is still the plan and would be done at least partially in person.
“It’s quite a ways away, and there’s ample time for us to adjust, if necessary,” McDaniel said during a call with reporters, later firmly adding, “We will not be holding a virtual convention.”
The Republican Party is expected to pick President Trump as its nominee in Charlotte, North Carolina, during the Aug. 24-27 convention. In April, McDaniel said the process was still “full steam ahead.”
“A virtual convention is not on the table for us. So, no matter what, we will be having a physical convention — or a physical nominating process,” she told the Washington Examiner at the time.
On the other side of the aisle, the Democratic Party is considering holding a primarily virtual meeting rather than the usual in-person convention. In early April, the party postponed its four-day nominating convention from mid-July to Aug 17.
President Trump has expressed support for a traditional convention.
“We’re going to have a convention,” he told Washington Examiner’s Salena Zito last week. “I’m a traditionalist. But we’ll have to see. You know, like everything else. But I think we’ll be in good shape by that time.”
Almost 1.5 million people in the U.S. have tested positive for COVID-19, and about 90,000 have died since the start of the pandemic.
