Next week, the Republican National Convention will be held in Milwaukee, featuring four days of politically star-studded speeches, applause, film screenings and celebrations of people with similar views on the future of our country.
Much the same thing is expected to happen at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month.
What happens at these conventions, and why are they still held when we (probably) know who the nominees will be?
What happens at the Presidential Convention?
Every four years, each political party holds a convention to select its candidate for the presidential election.
Each political party also formally adopts a platform which sets out its policy goals and principles, unifying them in common.
Featuring speeches from key party leaders and rising leadership hopefuls, networking, fundraising, partying and entertainment, the convention is both a political process and a way to generate enthusiasm and glamour among party supporters, getting them excited about the future (and their votes).
Florida Governor and former Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention, despite earlier reports that he was not on the list.
Former reality TV star and Trump supporter Amber Rose announced on social media that she would be a speaker.
Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee and wife of President Trump's son Eric, hinted at a “surprise attendee” at this year's convention.
Conventions traditionally end with speeches in which candidates accept the nomination, and former President Donald Trump is expected to finally announce his running mate at the convention, if he hasn't done so before then.
How are presidential candidates chosen at party conventions?
National conventions did not exist at first and are not even mentioned in the U.S. Constitution. Presidential candidates were chosen first by the Electoral College and then by congressional parties or state legislative caucuses that consisted of party debates. National conventions began in 1832, but even in states that held primaries, candidates were still chosen primarily by party leaders.
The first presidential primary was established by Florida law in 1901 as part of the Progressive movement to recognize the will of the voters rather than the power of party bosses in so-called “smoke-filled rooms.”
That year, rules were passed requiring a majority of all votes to nominate a candidate, and ballots had to conform to Florida's general election law. Florida's primary election laws were further amended in 1913. By the 1916 election, more than half of the states had primaries.
After a decline between the two world wars and an increase in primaries in the 1950s, binding presidential primaries were adopted nationwide after Vice President Hubert Humphrey won the nomination at the 1968 Democratic National Convention without winning a primary. Many state parties now choose to hold primaries rather than caucuses.
How do presidential candidates earn delegates?
During the primary election period, American voters cast their votes in primaries or caucuses for their preferred candidates, and based on the results, the candidates receive delegates to represent their local voters at the party convention. Delegates are awarded in a variety of ways based on the candidate's performance.
- Democratic Party: The number of delegates is determined according to the percentage of votes a candidate receives.
- Republican: Delegates are allocated by state either proportionally based on the statewide vote, on a winner-take-all basis, or a combination of the two.
In Florida, former President Donald Trump won the Republican presidential primary on March 19. The Florida Democratic Party did not hold a primary in this election because President Joe Biden was nominated as the sole candidate.
At party conventions, thousands of delegates (both pledged and unpledged) vote for candidates. To win the nomination, a Democratic candidate needs to receive about 1,969 votes, while a Republican candidate needs to receive at least 1,215.
In recent years, nominations have become a foregone conclusion, with candidates known well before party conventions.
But this year there are some surprises in store: One candidate has been convicted of 34 felonies, and the other has faced calls from the party to step down after a disastrous first debate performance and concerns about his age. If either candidate withdraws or is otherwise unable to run, the convention will become an open convention.
What happens at the Open Convention?
An open convention is held when no pre-determined candidates are selected, the selection takes place at the convention, and delegates are free to vote for any candidate. This is similar to the more turbulent method used before primaries.
Democrats haven't held a public convention since 1968, amid the controversy over the Vietnam War.
When and where is the Republican National Convention?
The 2024 Republican National Convention will take place from Monday, July 15 through Thursday, July 18 at the Fiserv Forum convention site in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with select events also being held at the nearby Baird Center and other local venues.
There will be two security perimeters for the tournament: The “hard zone” — an area controlled by the Secret Service and requiring identification for entry — will surround Fiserv Forum, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Panther Arena and the Baird Center.
It will be surrounded by a larger “pedestrian-restricted zone” stretching from West McKinley Avenue on the north to just past West Wisconsin Avenue on the south, surrounding Pere Marquette Park on the east and extending beyond North James Lovell Street on the west.
The restrictions will begin from 6pm on Sunday 14 July.
When and where is the Democratic National Convention?
The 2024 Democratic National Convention will begin on Monday, August 19th and run through Thursday, August 22nd at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, about 90 miles south of Milwaukee.
