CHICAGO — The Democratic National Convention will be held in Chicago in summer 2024.
President Joe Biden said Tuesday the city has been selected for the massive political event, according to multiple reports. Chicago had been in competition with Atlanta and New York City.
Local leaders lobbied hard for about a year for the convention to take place here, inviting party leaders to the city in July to make their case. Tens of thousands of people are expected to visit Chicago during the Aug. 19-22, 2024, convention, bringing in tourist dollars to hotels, shops and other local businesses.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot previously said the convention would be a boon for Chicago, as it will have a “dramatic, positive economic impact” on the city and boost its economy. Gov. JB Pritzker has also pushed for the convention by saying it would bring millions in revenue to Chicago and benefit all of Illinois.
Local Democratic leaders released a website and video in early May nominating the city as a potential venue for the 2024 convention.
But pundits have said last week’s mayoral win for Brandon Johnson — which made national headlines as it pitted the progressive Johnson against a more conservative challenger in Paul Vallas — could have given Chicago extra momentum.
The city also got a boost because it’s part of the Midwest’s “Blue Wall” of Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, according to the Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet.
Chicago has been home to dozens of Republican and Democratic conventions throughout its history, but it’s been nearly 30 years since the last convention was held here.
The more recent Democratic National Convention to be held in Chicago was in ’96 at the United Center, where then-President Bill Clinton was nominated for reelection.
Before that, the city hadn’t held a major party’s convention since the infamous 1968 event, when riots broke out and the National Guard was called in.
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