Biden to accept nomination at smaller convention, delegates urged to stay home

Paul Sancya/AP Photo

Joe Biden will accept the Democratic nomination in a smaller, mostly virtual convention in Milwaukee, but urges delegates to stay home to avoid “risking public health,” the Democratic National Committee announces.

"Vice President Biden intends to proudly accept his party's nomination in Milwaukee and take the next step forward towards making Donald Trump a one-term president," Biden campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon wrote in a statement. "The city of Milwaukee has been an incredible partner and we are committed to highlighting Wisconsin as a key battleground state at our convention this August."

The convention will be moved to the Wisconsin Center after previously being set for the Fiserv Forum, to cut down the scale of the event. State delegates have also been asked to stay home due to their health.

"After consulting with public health officials about the COVID-19 pandemic, convention organizers are announcing today that they have determined state delegations should not plan to travel to Milwaukee and should plan to conduct their official convention business remotely," the DNC said in a statement.

The convention was subsequently moved to August 17-20 after intending to have it take place in mid-July. 

On the Republican side, President Donald Trump moved his nomination acceptance site to Jacksonville after coronavirus concerns prevented him from having a full-scale convention in Charlottesville. The RNC convention will still take place from August 24-27 at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Area.