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 formatimpacted 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 MayorTom Barrett was open to the city hosting either a Democratic or Republican convention in 2024.[10]
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]
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 2022Exterior of the United Center during the 2017 NHL DraftInterior 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]
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]
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