2024 Democratic National Convention

2024 Democratic National Convention
2024 presidential election
United Center, the planned convention venue (photographed in 2014)
Convention
Date(s)August 19–22, 2024[1]
CityChicago, Illinois
VenueUnited Center
ChairMinyon Moore[2]
Keynote speakerTBD
Notable speakersTBD
Candidates
Presidential nomineeJoe Biden of Delaware (presumptive)
Vice presidential nomineeKamala Harris of California (presumptive)
Voting
Total delegates3,934
Votes needed for nomination1,968
‹ 2020 · 2028 ›

The 2024 Democratic National Convention is a presidential nominating convention in which delegates of the United States Democratic Party will select the party's nominees for president and vice president in the 2024 United States presidential election. It is scheduled to be held August 19 to 22, 2024, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.[3][4]

By tradition,[5] because the Democratic Party currently holds the White House, its convention will be conducted after the 2024 Republican National Convention, which is scheduled for July 15 to 18, 2024.

Site selection

Early developments

Amid the downsizing of the 2020 Democratic National Convention held in various parts of the United States, including its main host city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in a virtual format impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was discussion among some notable individuals in Milwaukee about the city pushing to receive the 2024 convention as consolation.[6][7][8] Speculation existed that, due to the circumstances surrounding the downsizing of the 2020 convention, Milwaukee would be a front-runner to host the convention if it pursued it.[9] Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was open to the city hosting either a Democratic or Republican convention in 2024.[10]

In the summer of 2021, Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison sent letters to over twenty cities inviting them to bid to host the convention.[11]

Officials in Columbus, Ohio had, since at least 2019, discussed trying to seek either the Democratic or Republican convention in 2024.[12]

After being one of approximately twenty cities that Harrison invited to bid, Milwaukee Mayor Barrett wrote Harrison a letter indicating the city's interest in hosting the party's 2024 convention.[13][14] Milwaukee was also bidding to host the 2024 Republican National Convention.[15]

Nashville, Tennessee had taken action to pursue the Democratic Convention. Nashville also bid to host the Republican National Convention.[15]

Top Democrats from Illinois, including Governor J. B. Pritzker, Senator Tammy Duckworth, and Mayor Lori Lightfoot, laid the groundwork to host the Convention in Chicago.[16] Chicago has hosted the most major-party presidential nominating conventions of any city (14 Republican, 11 Democrat). The 1968 Democratic National Convention was mired in violence between anti-war demonstrators and the Chicago Police Department. The most recent convention (1996 Democratic National Convention) saw the renomination of Bill Clinton and Al Gore.[17] On May 3, 2022, Chicago launched a website to promote the city as a potential host for the convention.[18] Facilities in Chicago that had been mentioned as potential primary venues include the United Center, Wintrust Arena, and Navy Pier.[19]

On May 14, 2022, Atlanta, Georgia announced its plans to bid.[20] In late May 2022, New York City, New York announced its bid for the convention.[21] New York City had not previously been expected to bid.[22]

Official bid process

Grant Park and the Chicago skyline in 2022
Exterior of the United Center during the 2017 NHL Draft
Interior of the United Center, set up for a 2016 Chicago Bulls game

Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, and New York City submitted bids by the May 28, 2022 deadline.[22] In January 2023, Democratic National Committee officials confirmed that the finalist cities would be Atlanta, Chicago, and New York City, with Houston no longer being considered.[23]

Early into Chicago's bid, in addition to proposing United Center as the primary venue and McCormick Place as a possible venue for secondary convention business, Museum Campus, Navy Pier, and Wintrust Arena were also additionally floated as facilities that could additionally be used for secondary convention business.[22][24][25] The Chicago bid was chiefly championed by Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.[26] Those campaigning on behalf of Chicago's bid to host the convention touted the city's large airports, cultural attractions, as well as the central location within the city of the proposed convention venues and the hotels where delegates and other visitors would stay.[26] They argued that Chicago's location in the Midwestern United States would be wise given the perceived high importance for the Democrats of the nearby "Blue Wall" states of Wisconsin and Michigan.[26] Democratic Party leaders in other Midwestern states threw their support behind Chicago's bid.[27] They also touted that the city's hotels generally employ union laborers.[26] Governor Pritzker, a billionaire who had contributed large sums to the organization fundraising for Chicago's effort, had made a pledge to the Democratic Party that the party itself would not incur any financial losses from the organization of the convention. It was promised that he and other wealthy supporters would be willing to cover funding shortfalls.[26][28] After Lori Lightfoot failed to advance to the runoff round of the 2023 Chicago mayoral election, the two remaining mayoral candidates, Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas, vowed to provide their support the city's effort to host the convention.[29] The victory of the progressive Johnson over the more conservative Vallas in the city's runoff election was speculated to have potentially helped Chicago's prospects.[30]

Supporters of Atlanta's bid argued that a convention in their city could aid the Democrats in making political inroads in the South.[31] Supporters of Atlanta's bid touted the city's history in civil rights activism and its state's recent ascendence in 2020 to become a key swing state in presidential and U.S. Senate elections. These points were countered by New York and Chicago backers, who criticized the city's lack of unionized hotels and the state's "Right to Work" law as discordant with the party's alliance with organized laborers.[26]

On April 11, 2023, it was announced that Chicago had been selected as the convention's location, with the United Center to serve as the primary venue and McCormick Place to be a secondary facility used for various early-day convention activities.[26] Chicago and the previously selected Republican National Convention host city, Milwaukee, are approximately 90 miles apart on the coast of Lake Michigan. This is a highly unusual proximity for two different cities hosting major party conventions in the same year. Not since 1972, when both conventions last shared a host city, have the major party convention sites been so closely located.[32] Illinois is regarded to be a "solidly Democratic" state.[33] No party had previously opted to hold their convention in a non-"swing state" since the 2004 election.[34]

Bidding cities
City State Status Proposed venue(s) Previous major party conventions hosted by city
 Chicago  Illinois Winner United Center (primary venue)
McCormick Place (secondary venue)[26]
Democratic: 1864, 1884, 1892, 1896, 1932, 1940, 1944, 1952, 1956, 1968, 1996
Republican: 1860, 1868, 1880, 1884, 1888, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1916, 1920, 1932, 1944, 1952, 1960
 Atlanta  Georgia Finalist State Farm Arena (primary venue)[35][26]
Georgia World Congress Center (secondary venue)[26]
Democratic: 1988
 New York City  New York Finalist Madison Square Garden (main venue)
Javits Center (secondary venue)[22][26]
Democratic: 1868, 1924, 1976, 1980, 1992
Republican: 2004
 Houston  Texas Non-finalist Democratic: 1928
Republican: 1992

Logistics

A portion of Chicago's McCormick Place convention center, to be utilized for secondary convention business

The convention is scheduled to be held August 19–22, 2024. The United Center, previously the location of the 1996 Democratic National Convention, will be the convention's primary location. McCormick Place will host secondary business of the convention. The convention is anticipated to be attended by between 5,000 and 7,000 delegates and alternate delegates. Approximately thirty separate hotels in the city will be used to provide lodging to convention delegates. The convention is expected to bring an overall 50,000 visitors to the city of Chicago.[26]

There will be three funding sources for the convention. The committee which bid on behalf of Chicago to host the convention pledged that the host committee would raise $84.697 million. Additionally, through 2024 Democratic National Convention Committee Inc., money will be raised in accordance with the Federal Election Commission's regulations. Additionally, $50 million will be received in federal funds for security costs, as has been the case for all major party conventions since 2004. An effort is underway to urge Congress to increase this to $75 million. The Democratic National Committee also requested the bidding cities agree to open a $30 million line of credit, which Chicago agreed to do.[36]

Convention leadership

On August 8, 2023, convention leadership was announced. Minyon Moore was named the chair of the convention.[37] Alex Hornbrook was named executive director, and Louisa Terrell was named a senior advisor. In his role as senior advisor to the Biden Victory Fund, Roger Lau was assigned an expanded role to provide advice to the convention leadership.[38]

Security

$50 million in federal funding will be provided for security spending.[36] As a major party presidential nominating convention, the 2024 Democratic National Convention will be designated a National Special Security Event. It will be the second such event held in Chicago to receive this designation, with the first having been the 2012 NATO Summit. By June 2023, the United States Secret Service had begun collaborating on preparations for the convention with the Chicago Police Department and other police departments that will be involved in convention security.[39]

See also

References

  1. ^ "DNC Announces Chicago to Host 2024 Democratic National Convention". Democratic National Committee. April 11, 2023.
  2. ^ Korecki, Natasha (August 8, 2023). "DNC names leadership posts for 2024 presidential convention in Chicago". NBC News.
  3. ^ Korecki, Natasha (April 11, 2023). "Democrats choose Chicago as the site of the 2024 convention". NBC News. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  4. ^ "DNC Announces Chicago to Host 2024 Democratic National Convention". Democratic National Committee. April 11, 2023.
  5. ^ "Whose Convention Goes First?". Slate Magazine. August 3, 2000. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  6. ^ Calvi, Jason (August 6, 2020). "In light of DNC changes, some ponder Milwaukee hosting 2024 convention". WITI. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  7. ^ Jannene, Jeramey (May 25, 2020). "Will Milwaukee Get DNC in 2024?". Urban Milwaukee. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  8. ^ Jacobo, Victor (August 6, 2020). "With 2020 DNC nearly gone, calls grow for a bid to host in 2024". WDJT-TV. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  9. ^ Schmidt, Mitchell (August 15, 2020). "Democrats adapt to the downsized Milwaukee Democratic National Convention". madison.com. Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  10. ^ Calvi, Jason (April 23, 2021). "Could Milwaukee host 2024 DNC? 1-on-1 with committee chair". WITI. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  11. ^ Muchya, Sarah (July 30, 2021). "First look: DNC kicks off host city competition for 2024 convention". Axios. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  12. ^ Colombo, Hayleigh (November 13, 2019). "Should Columbus bid to host the DNC or RNC in 2024? Tourism leaders say it's a question of ROI". Columbus Business First. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  13. ^ Hess, Corrinne (September 28, 2021). "Milwaukee To DNC: We're Ready To Host In 2024". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  14. ^ Vetterkind, Riley (August 2, 2021). "Milwaukee one of 20 cities invited to consider hosting 2024 Democratic National Convention". Madison.com. Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  15. ^ a b Petre, Linda (January 11, 2022). "Search for 2024 convention sites ramps up in both parties". The Hill. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  16. ^ "Pritzker, Lightfoot, Duckworth working on pitch for 2024 Democratic National Convention to be held in Chicago". Chicago Sun-Times. March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  17. ^ "Political Conventions". www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  18. ^ "Chicago Unveils Bid to Host 2024 Democratic National Convention". WTTW News. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  19. ^ "Where Could the 2024 Democratic National Convention Be Held If It Came to Chicago? Lightfoot Weighs in". NBC Chicago. March 31, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  20. ^ Amy, Jeff (May 14, 2022). "Atlanta will bid for 2024 Democratic nominating convention". ABC News. The Associated Press. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  21. ^ Durkin, Erin; Gronewold, Anna; Garcia, Deanna (May 27, 2022). "New York City throws in for DNC". Politico. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  22. ^ a b c d Sweet, Lynn (May 28, 2022). "New York jumps in race to host 2024 Democratic National Convention: Big competition for Chicago". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  23. ^ Glueck, Katie; King, Maya (January 27, 2023). "'Does This City Fit Who We Are as a Party?' Mayors Jockey for 2024 D.N.C." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  24. ^ Sweet, Lynn; Sfondeles, Tina (May 3, 2022). "Exclusive details on Chicago's bid for 2024 Democratic convention: Bid due May 27". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  25. ^ Sweet, Lynn (July 19, 2022). "Democratic 2024 convention site team visits Chicago next week; Republicans poised to pick Milwaukee". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Sweet, Lynn (April 11, 2023). "Chicago to host 2024 Democratic National Convention". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  27. ^ Sforza, Lauren (March 22, 2023). "Midwest Democrats push for 2024 convention in Chicago". The Hill. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  28. ^ Kapos, Shia (March 13, 2023). "Pritzker, allies to DNC: We'll cover the bill — if Chicago gets the '24 convention". Politico. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  29. ^ Sweet, Lynn (March 3, 2023). "Chicago mayor rivals Paul Vallas, Brandon Johnson pledge support for city's 2024 Democratic convention bid". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  30. ^ Burnett, Will Weissert and Sara (April 12, 2023). "Dem, GOP convention picks show Midwest's political influence". The Detroit News. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  31. ^ "A Midwest Rivalry: Chicago to host 2024 DNC in political competition of Milwaukee's 2024 RNC". Milwaukee Independent. The Associated Press. April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  32. ^ Wise, David (April 11, 2023). "Chicago selected to host 2024 Democratic National Convention". WisPolitics. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  33. ^ "Dems select Chicago for 2024 convention". PBS NewsHour. April 11, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  34. ^ Petre, Linda (January 11, 2022). "Search for 2024 convention sites ramps up in both parties". The Hill. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  35. ^ "Atlanta one of four finalists to host 2024 DNC". 11Alive.com. July 28, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  36. ^ a b Sweet, Lynn (May 26, 2023). "Inside Chicago's 2024 Democratic convention bid: $30 million line of credit deal was key". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  37. ^ Korecki, Natasha (August 8, 2023). "DNC names leadership posts for 2024 presidential convention in Chicago". NBC News. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  38. ^ Kapos, Shia (August 8, 2023). "Democrats name Minyon Moore convention chair". Politico. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  39. ^ Tressel, Christine (June 8, 2023). "US Secret Service training Chicago police in advance of 2024 Democratic National Convention". ABC7 Chicago. WLS-TV. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
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