Chicago is set to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention, beating out bids from big cities such as Atlanta and New York.
The convention’s selection comes after several Democratic lawmakers across the Midwest wrote letters to President Joe Biden and DNC officials arguing that holding the convention in the Midwest would be crucial for Democrats as they seek to keep their hold on the White House and congressional seats.
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The 2024 Democratic National Convention will take place from Aug. 19 to Aug. 22, expecting to draw 5,000 to 7,000 delegates and alternates and bring about 50,000 visitors to the Windy City.
Evening events will be held at the United Center, the main site for the 1996 Democratic National Convention, with daytime events being held at the McCormick Place Convention Center, where the 2012 NATO Summit was held.
To advocate for Chicago, 35 Democrats across nine states wrote letters to the president, pointing to Democrats’ success in Midwestern states, particularly in Michigan and Illinois.
“In an incredibly polarized nation, whose electoral college model has a griphold on election outcomes, the Midwest is utterly indispensable to the party’s success and should be the home of its 2024 convention,” the letter said.
Illinois serves as a cornerstone for Democratic policies. Chicago secured a strong win for Democrats after residents recently elected Brandon Johnson, who is expected to introduce more liberal policies than what has been seen in previous years.
Johnson’s predecessor, Lori Lightfoot, led the push for Chicago to receive the party’s 2024 convention, along with Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) and Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL).
Illinois leads several Democratic states in policy, including an assault weapons ban and support for abortion and workers’ rights — all three areas expected to be at the top of voters’ concerns heading into 2024.
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The convention is likely to highlight the importance of the Midwest’s “Blue Wall” states — Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. All the Democratic governors were reelected during the 2022 midterm elections.
It will also display the successes of Biden’s agenda and job performance as the president is expected to announce a reelection bid for 2024 sometime this year.
