www.charlotteobserver.com/…
Democratic Governor Roy Cooper sent a letter to the Republican National Convention refusing to guarantee a full scale traditional convention in Charlotte August 23rd as Donald Trump demands.
In a letter, the governor told RNC officials that face coverings and social distancing are “a necessity” as they plan a convention during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Republican leaders and President Donald Trump had asked for 19,000 people in attendance with no social distancing and no masks.
In a move that may affect the fall elections in North Carolina, Republicans are considering moving the convention to Atlanta, Nashville, Texas, Florida, or Las Vegas. The Republican Party and the City of Charlotte have already spent millions preparing for the convention and any move will result in contentious law suits.
Officials in other states including Georgia, Florida and Texas — all with Republican governors and all which Trump claimed in 2016 — publicly announced they’d be interested in hosting the event if it were to leave Charlotte.
North Carolina is a swing state that Trump won by 3.8% in 2016 and also has a key Senate race. Democrat Cal Cunningham is challenging Republican Thom Tillis in a close race. Governor Cooper himself is up for re-election, but has had a clear lead in the polls.