We’re thrilled to announce that Daily Kos and Netroots Nation will be holding a joint Presidential Candidate Forum in Philadelphia at the annual Netroots Nation conference next month. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Gov. Jay Inslee are the first candidates to confirm their participation in the forum, which is scheduled for July 13. Other candidates are expected to be added soon.
Our own founder and publisher Markos Moulitsas will moderate the forum with Cheryl Contee, chair of the Netroots Nation Board of Directors. Netroots and Daily Kos community members—representing millions of politically engaged activists from across the country—will have a chance to submit questions for consideration in advance of the event.
The forum will take place on the final day of Netroots Nation, the annual progressive conference that brings together more than 3,000 activists, organizers, and progressive organizations. With interest in the primary election at an all-time high, organizers expect this year’s gathering to be the largest turnout in the conference’s 14-year history.
Markos and Cheryl Contee shared their thoughts on the forum in a Netroots Nation press release.
“Daily Kos is thrilled to partner with Netroots Nation to present a presidential candidate forum that will give our talented field of candidates an opportunity to speak to these critical activists about why they deserve our time, money and votes” said Markos. “As a community, the Netroots has come a long way—from a small and motivated core of die- hard activists to the very lifeblood of a modern political campaign. If a candidate can’t appeal to the politically engaged online community by building support and a small-dollar army, that candidate has no business running for president.”
“Netroots Nation’s attendees are among the most active, politically engaged supporters each election cycle,” said Contee. “Candidates must have the support of this diverse group of activists and leaders to win in 2020.”
The forum will take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Saturday, July 13 from 3:30 to 6 PM ET.
More speakers will be announced in the coming days. For more on Netroots Nation, please visit http://www.netrootsnation.org/.