DNC Chicago: Officials outline plans for 2024 Democratic National Convention
Convention to be held from August 19-22, 2024
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Officials with the Democratic National Committee will be in Chicago Wednesday ot outline more details about the city hosting the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
Chicago has beat out New York and Atlanta to host the DNC. It will have a major impact on our city, bringing a big boost for businesses.
The DNC will be held at the United Center and at McCormick Place from August 19-22, 2024.
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Beneath a brilliant blue sky, set against a postcard-perfect backdrop of the lakefront and city skyline, Governor JB Pritzker, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, and a host of local political and community leaders joined Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison to celebrate the DNC's decision and reveal some more of the details around the decision.
Harrison said it was a tough decision to pick Chicago, but ultimately the city's labor connections and its immediate readiness to handle 15,000 visitors expected to come to the convention, helped it win the bid.
"We are thrilled to bring the Democratic Convention back to the Midwest," Harrison said. "This region was critical to President Biden and Vice President Harris's 2020 victory. We won big here and in 2022, and it will be a part of how we win big again in 2024."
City leaders pledged to work with state and federal partners to ensure everyone coming to the convention can feel safe, and talked about how they will make sure it's not just downtown and areas near convention activities that will take part in what is expected to be a $150 million boost to the Chicago area.
"So a commitment that we made to the DNC is that minority- and women-owned businesses were going to be prominently featured, that our workers from Chicago were going to benefit and we expect that promise to be made manifest," said Mayor Lightfoot.
Gov. Pritzker was confident the convention can be financially successful, but he made no personal financial commitments to cover costs.
Who is big winner from Chicago's selection to host DNC?
"Here in Chicago we have a business community and a very giving community that wants to stand up for the best things for the city of Chicago. We've already received some commitments even since yesterday to make that happen," Prtizker said.
Last time the DNC was in Chicago was in 1996, and that convention managed to break even.
At the convention, Democrats will choose who will be at the top of the next presidential ticket.
The largest city in the Midwest has long been considered a bastion of the pro-labor movement that helped Brandon Johnson's progressive campaign for mayor.
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"I am going to work hard those neighborhoods that have experienced drought for a generation, that we re-route the river if you will to make sure that there is a real flow of investment to those communities," Johnson said on cable news Tuesday night.
While President Biden was on his way to Air Force One ahead of his trip to Ireland, he called Governor Pritzker to tell him Chicago would be his convention city.
"I told him how thrilled that we were and how we are going to put on the best convention that the Democratic Party has ever had and it will be Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' convention," Pritzker said.
Tourism industry leaders in the state are looking forward to the worldwide media contingent that converges on the city to cover the convention, They believe that will help send out positive images of Chicago, rather than the crime that has dominated much national media coverage in recent years.
"We want to draw attention to what we are good at. We are good at showcasing our city, good at serving people. You couldn't find a more friendly city anywhere in the country than Chicago," said Sam Sanchez of the Illinois Restaurant Association.
Leaders say the hospitality industry has rebounded pretty well from the pandemic and the convention will likely boost the city's image for years to come. And as a bonus, the timing of the convention may be one of the best times of year to showcase the beautiful sites and features of Chicago.
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"Look at the lasting impact this will have on the perception of Chicago. We'll have one week of 24/7 worldwide media coverage with the Chicago skyline in the background," said Michael Jacobson of the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association.
The Republicans will be hosting their 2024 convention in nearby Milwaukee.
