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By Beth Stibal |

WaPo: GOP Tentatively Agrees to Move Convention to Jacksonville

Virus Outbreak-Republican-National-Convention
FILE – In this July 21, 2016, file photo, confetti and balloons fall during celebrations after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s acceptance speech on the final day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. President Donald Trump demanded Monday, May 25, 2020, that North Carolina’s Democratic governor sign off “immediately” on allowing the Republican National Convention to move forward in August with full attendance despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Trump’s tweets Monday about the RNC, planned for Charlotte, come just two days after the North Carolina recorded its largest daily increase in positive cases yet. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

The GOP has tentatively selected Jacksonville, Fla., as the host for most of the Republican National Convention this August, according to The Washington Post.

The convention, which is scheduled to take place from August 24 through 27, was supposed to be held in North Carolina.

However, President Trump was not pleased with that state’s policy on not committing to allow a large gathering due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stated several times last month that the Sunshine State would like to have the RNC, due to the potential economic benefits.

The Washington Post reports that the plans are being finalized.

Republican officials were in Jacksonville last Monday, surveying the city and surrounding areas, WaPo said.

Certain convention meetings could still take place in Charlotte, the original host city, according to two officials. Those meetings are intended to honor the RNC’s contractual obligation to hold its convention in North Carolina, and to protect the Republican party from lawsuits for moving events elsewhere.