CNN "CNN Newsroom" - Transcript: Mayor Tom Barrett (D), Milwaukee Discusses Democratic Governor Suspending In-Person Voting And Republicans Vowing To Sue In Court & Joe Biden Calling For Virtual Convention

Interview

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Tom Barrett is the mayor of Milwaukee.

Mayor, you've been pushing for this move to stop in-person voting in tomorrow's primary. Are you confident the order is going to stand up in the Wisconsin Supreme Court?

MAYOR TOM BARRETT (D), MILWAUKEE: I can't say that I'm confident. I'm certainly hopeful. But whatever happens, I could say this, Governor Evers' decision places him on the right side of public health and history because his actions today, I think, save lives and protected our democracy.

COOPER: Why are Republicans in Wisconsin so adamant about having in- person voting for this primary and fighting efforts to extend absentee voting?

BARRETT: That defies logic in my mind. Because when you think about it, every single other state, every other state that had a primary in the month of April, moved it.

I believe that if we had this election tomorrow, it would be the largest public event in the country. And here we are in this pandemic that does not have a scientific exemption for elections to go forward with it. I think, would put many, many people at risk.

So I can't give you a logical explanation as to why they're so adamantly opposed to it. But again I'm proud of the governor for what he did today.

COOPER: You're on the ballot against a few challengers. If the Supreme Court orders the election to go on as scheduled tomorrow, what should voters do?

BARRETT: Well, again, we've had a lot of people that have voted absentee. And it is not a primary for me. Tomorrow is my general election. And I would love nothing more personally than to have the election done. But I can't ask people to go in-person vote if I think they're putting their lives on the line. I can't do that.

As much as I love my job, I put the public safety and the public health first.

And we're going to figure this out. We can do this. Every other state was able to protect public health and protect their democracy. There's no reason why we can't do that here.

COOPER: Your city, Milwaukee, set to host the Democratic convention. And Joe Biden in the summer, is talking about a virtual convention. I'm wondering what you think the chances of having the convention in Milwaukee are?

BARRETT: I'm still very optimistic. And I think we, all as Americans, as human beings, we all want this pandemic to end as quickly as possible.

August is a long way away. And we know the decision to move the convention to august, a week before the Republican convention, buys us another five weeks.

But I know two things. For certain, the Democrats are going to nominate a candidate for president and they're going to do it in Milwaukee. Now what form that takes, I think it is way too early to predict. But we're excited now and proud.

But right now, all of the resources, because the city put resources into this, and all of our recourses and energy are directed toward COVID-19 and preventing its spread. And that is where it should be.

We will have time, and I think the party will have time, everyone will have time for the convention. But right now, our focus is clearly on public health.

COOPER: Mayor Tom Barrett, I appreciate it. Thank you.

BARRETT: Thank you. Thank you.

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