Kamala Harris has decided not to attend this year’s Al Smith Dinner, breaking a longstanding tradition of both presidential candidates attending the event. The decision to skip the dinner comes during an election year and marks the first time a presidential hopeful has not attended since Walter Mondale in 1984. While Donald Trump has agreed to go, Harris’ campaign confirmed she would instead focus on campaigning in key battleground states ahead of election day.
The Al Smith Dinner is an annual charity event held by the Archdiocese of New York, which raises millions of dollars each year to support people in need in New York City. The tradition of candidates attending began in 1960 when Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy appeared together. At the dinner, contenders give speeches roasting each other, offering a light-hearted moment for political rivals to come together for a good cause.
This year’s event will be held on October 17th at the New York Hilton Midtown. Although Harris’ team has informed organizers that she would attend as President if elected, her decision not to go this year has been met with disappointment from the Archdiocese and its spokesperson, Joseph Zwilling.
While it is unusual for a presidential candidate to skip the Al Smith Dinner during an election year, there have been some notable exceptions in the past. In 1996, the Archdiocese decided not to invite then-President Bill Clinton and his Republican challenger, Bob Dole, following controversy over Clinton’s veto of a late-term abortion ban.
The 2016 Al Smith Dinner saw Trump being booed for allegedly crossing a line when he accused Hillary Clinton of being corrupt and disliking Catholics. In 2020, both Trump and President Biden gave pre-taped video remarks at the first-ever virtual Al Smith Dinner due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the election approaches, it remains to be seen whether other political figures will follow in Harris’ footsteps or continue attending this storied charity event.
