DNC 2020: A chance to share our stories with the world watching

// By JOE SOLMONESE, Chief Executive Officer of the 2020 Democratic National Convention Committee.

This summer, I moved to Milwaukee to spend the next year planning the 2020 Democratic National Convention right here in the Badger State.

I came to Milwaukee for the first time in 2004 to help elect Congresswoman Gwen Moore, and I was back here again in 2012 – because like every other gay man in America, I answered the call to campaign for Senator Tammy Baldwin.

Over the past few months, as I’ve walked around this city, toured the venues, and met with leaders and citizens alike, I’ve been reminded of why I fell in love with Milwaukee in the first place. The excitement and the collaborative spirit here is palpable.

It’s the honor of my life to serve as CEO of this convention, and I look forward to continuing to build what we hope will be the most successful convention in recent memory.

I knew when I accepted this job that it would not be easy. But I wouldn’t have said yes if I didn’t think we could create something spectacular.

It’s going to be big and complex, but I love big and complex. Because that describes just about every challenge I’ve taken on throughout my whole career.

Focused on human rights

I was president of the Human Rights Campaign, the country’s biggest LGBTQ organization, as we fought for marriage equality. I led

EMILY’s List as we worked to elect more women across the country. And last year, I served as transition chair of Planned Parenthood while they searched for a new CEO, managing the day-to-day operations of an organization under constant attack.

But my fight for Democratic values really began in the 80s. I came out as gay during the darkest days of the AIDS epidemic. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my life, it’s that activism is the daughter of adversity.

I knew I needed to make a difference. And that experience propelled me into the world of electoral politics, where I first cut my teeth as a staffer on Michael Dukakis’ presidential campaign.

Convention experience

I’m also no stranger to conventions. In fact, I have been to every single Democratic convention since 1988.

Remember 1988? Neither Bush had been president yet. A portable CD player cost $400. George Lucas told Congress that people who alter films for profit are barbarians. And the most innovative and unstoppable juggernaut in the entertainment industry was Blockbuster Video.

I recently read this news clip about what the campaign trail looked like in 1988: “The trail is hightech, a Silicon Valley on wheels. On any given campaign, on any given morning, the bus hums with the tap-tap-tap of eager fingers typing on briefcase-size lap-top computers. Reporters wearing Walkmanstyle earphones hunch over their notebooks transcribing tapes.”

Now, the 1988 convention must’ve been on a tight budget because we didn’t even have bulky laptops – we had typewriters.

I have nothing against typewriters. I know Milwaukee is where the typewriter was invented. But if they could run a convention on typewriters, there’s no problem we can’t solve.

A lot has changed since my first convention. The CD players and typewriters are gone. We’ve seen two Bush presidencies. George Lucas altered all of his old movies, then sold the rights to Disney for $4 billion. And as for Blockbuster Video, Netflix better watch out because they have one store left in Oregon and I hear their selection is amazing. But you know what hasn’t changed? My commitment to putting on a historic convention that celebrates and respects the host city.

Every day, my team will be rooted in the vision and values that made us choose Milwaukee in the first place.

// JOE SOLMONESE

A transparent & inclusive convention

I’ve seen firsthand how these things can go sideways. A bunch of outsiders come into a local community, throw a big mess of a party, pull up the tents, and leave.

I promise – that is not the convention I am going to run. Everything we’re going to do will be transparent, inclusive and respectful of this city.

Of course, it goes without saying that there are logistical challenges with every city and every convention. And over the next year, it will be easy to lose the forest through the trees.

But we can’t let small problems get in the way of solving the big ones. Every day, we’re going to have to remind ourselves of what matters and what doesn’t. Every day, my team will be rooted in the vision and values that made us choose Milwaukee in the first place.

Milwaukee and the Democratic Party don’t just share values, we also share a story. A story of hope in the face of hardship. A story of grit and perseverance, even when the odds were stacked against us.

Milwaukee, I can’t wait to share your story and ours with the world. And I can’t wait to work with all of you to make the 2020 Democratic National Convention a success.