To the Point: Do Political Conventions Really Matter Anymore

To the Point provides insights from AU faculty experts on timely questions covering current events, politics, business, culture, science, health, sports, and more. Each week we ask one professor just one critical question about what's on our minds.

By all measures, it's been an extraordinary year for presidential politics, most recently last week's Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Amidst rumors of Beyoncé and Taylor Swift appearances (both unfounded), more than 26 million people tuned in to watch the final night of the convention when Vice President Kamala Harris officially accepted her party's nomination for president.

But in the bigger picture in terms of the nomination process, how much do political conventions really matter anymore? In the past, delegates gathered during conventions to determine their presidential nominee-a process that was filled with behind-the-scenes dealmaking. But now, primaries and caucuses determine the candidates far ahead of the party conventions, and their nominations at conventions are mostly a formality.

This got us wondering how and when everything changed-and why. We turned to Allan J. Lichtman and asked him to share some historical perspective and weigh in on the impact and importance of modern political conventions. Lichtman is an American University Distinguished Professor of History and the author of 11 books including The Case for Impeachment (Dey Street Books, 2017). He appears on Lichtman Live every Thursday at 7 p.m. EST at @allanlichtmanyoutube.

What is the history of conventions, and how much do they really matter now?