In October 2019, then-party leader Mmusi Maimane announced that the party would seek to hold a policy conference and early elective congress in 2020.

Federal Council chair James Selfe announced in June 2019 that he would retire in October of the same year, opening up a senior leadership position within the party.

[8] At the gathering, Maimane proposed that the party should head to an early elective congress and policy conference in 2020.

[11][12] Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba announced his resignation the next day due to irreconcilable differences with party leadership following Zille's return.

Deputy federal chair Ivan Meyer, DA Women's Network leader Nomafrench Mbombo, Gauteng MPL Khume Ramulifho, and Buffalo City councillor Dharmesh Dhaya announced that they would contest the election for interim chair.

[21] The party's elective congress was set to be held in May 2020, but this was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa.

[26] In May 2020, some party officials proposed that the elective conference be held virtually in October 2020,[27] however, this was met with disapproval since critics argued that it would favourable to Steenhuisen's campaign.

[30] In July 2020, the Federal Council, second-highest body, endorsed the proposal and announced that it would be held between 31 October and 1 November 2020.

[36] Refiloe Nt'sekhe, Anton Bredell and Jacques Smalle were announced as the first, second and third deputy federal chairpersons, respectively.