Vice President Kamala Harris will break with a longstanding tradition by skipping this year's Al Smith Dinner, becoming the first presidential candidate to miss the charity event since 1984.
The New York Post reported that Harris’s decision to focus on campaigning in key battleground states comes just weeks before the election, marking a shift from the typical practice of presidential candidates attending the Al Smith Dinner.
The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner has been a staple of U.S. presidential campaigns since 1960.
The event, named after the first Catholic to be nominated for president by a major party, Alfred E. Smith, was first held in 1946. It is an annual fundraising dinner that aims to raise millions of dollars for charitable causes, primarily to help those in need across New York City.
Traditionally, presidential candidates attend the event as part of an election year custom, setting aside political differences to support a good cause.
The Al Smith Dinner has historically brought political opponents together in a light-hearted atmosphere, where humor and unity are emphasized. This year’s event, the 79th iteration, is scheduled to take place on October 17 at the New York Hilton Midtown.
Over the years, the dinner has seen its fair share of controversy and notable moments. In 1984, Walter Mondale, then Vice President under Jimmy Carter, declined to attend the event during his campaign against President Ronald Reagan, marking the last time a candidate chose not to participate.
Another memorable moment occurred in 1996 when neither President Bill Clinton nor his challenger Bob Dole was invited. This followed Clinton’s veto of a late-term abortion ban, leading to their absence from the event.
In 2016, the dinner turned tense when Donald Trump was booed after making remarks about Hillary Clinton, calling her corrupt and alleging she hated Catholics. More recently, in 2020, the dinner was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with both Trump and Joe Biden delivering pre-recorded video messages.
Vice President Kamala Harris will break with the decades-old tradition by declining the invitation to this year's dinner. Her campaign team has announced that she will instead be campaigning in critical battleground states ahead of the upcoming election, a decision that reflects the high stakes of the current political climate.
The absence of a presidential candidate from the Al Smith Dinner is a significant break from tradition, one that hasn’t occurred since 1984. Joseph Zwilling, a spokesperson for the event, expressed disappointment at Harris's decision, emphasizing the dinner’s spirit of unity.
"We are disappointed that she will not be with us, as this is an evening of unity and putting aside political differences in support of a good cause of helping women and children in need regardless of race, creed, or background," Zwilling stated. He added, "We hope she reconsiders."
Despite Harris’s absence, former President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will attend the 2023 Al Smith Dinner. Trump, who is no stranger to the event, has made headlines there in the past.
In 2016, his remarks about his then-opponent Hillary Clinton sparked boos from the audience, as he accused her of corruption and claimed she harbored anti-Catholic sentiments.
Trump also made notable remarks during the virtual 2020 Al Smith Dinner, where he positioned himself as a "defender of the sacred right to life" and accused the Democratic Party of being "anti-Catholic."
Biden, in contrast, spoke of how his faith had helped him through difficult moments in his life, reflecting on the power of religion in personal and political contexts.
Harris's campaign team did leave open the possibility that, if elected president, she would attend future Al Smith Dinners. Though her decision to skip this year’s event is unprecedented, her team suggested it is tied directly to the timing of the campaign and the importance of focusing on key battleground states.
