Texas Democrats are meeting online today to host the Democratic Party’s first large-scale virtual convention.

Plans for a traditional national convention this summer remain unsettled because of the coronavirus.

The weeklong Texas convention began today at noon, and it will conclude Saturday night.

Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are among the convention speakers. Democrats in Minnesota had also planned on holding their state convention online this weekend but postponed amid unrest over the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer used his knee to pin Floyd’s neck down for several minutes.

Texas Democrats scrapped plans for an in-person convention in San Antonio because of the pandemic. Regardless, they hope the virtual gathering will serve as a springboard toward November, when Democrats have a rare shot at reclaiming power in Texas. Big gains in 2018 have put them within nine seats of flipping the Texas House for the first time in two decades.

The two Democrats in a July primary runoff to challenge Republican Sen. John Cornyn — Air Force veteran M.J. Hegar and state Sen. Royce West — will also debate Saturday.

The Democratic National Convention postponed its  Milwaukee convention from July until August, but Democratic leaders are open to the idea of it unfolding virtually.

Meanwhile, Texas Republicans are still planning to hold their state convention in person in July.

The speakers will include:

• Former Vice President Joe Biden — closing remarks
• House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — special guest speaker
• Former presidential candidate Julián Castro
• Former presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke
• Sen. Kamala Harris
• Sen. Elizabeth Warren
• Rep. Hakeem Jeffries