Chicago's United Center will host the Democratic National Convention. Photo Credit: United Center
The Democratic National Committee has selected Chicago to host next year's Democratic National Convention, which will be held at the United Center, Aug. 19-22, 2024. Related business during the day will occur at McCormick Place Convention Center. Chicago's bid won out over competition from New York City and Atlanta.
Chicago officials expect the convention will bring 5,000-7,000 delegates to town and attract as many as 50,000 people overall, according to the Chicago Sun Times.
The selection means the DNC will return to the Midwest, after choosing Milwaukee to host in 2020 — a convention that ultimately occurred mostly online, due to the pandemic. In a statement, the DNC referred to the "blue wall" of Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota has being crucial to President Biden's victory in 2020. Each of those states re-elected a Democratic governor in the 2022 midterms.
To sweeten the deal, last month Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker pledged to raise the money for the convention and not create any debt for the DNC.
"The 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago will welcome people from across the nation to an unforgettable event highlighting our party’s vision for lifting up working families and those who too often have been left out and left behind," said Pritzker when the DNC made the selection official. "Our great global city and its diverse communities, unparalleled hospitality and world renowned venues show off the best of America, and its people represent the heart of our country."
DNC director of convention planning Alex Hornbrook led the site-selection process, accompanied by a technical advisory group of experts. The advisors traveled to Atlanta, Chicago, Houston and New York to research logistics, and in late 2022 began negotiations with the top three contenders.
Progressive Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, who just won Chicago's runoff vote last week, will be given a national stage to showcase the city. "We are unmatched when it comes to hosting events of this scale," he said. "I look forward to working closely with the DNC to facilitate a spectacular convention that showcases Chicago’s diverse culture, our beautiful lakefront, our renowned hospitality sector and our best asset: our amazing people."
The Great Lakes region of the Midwest will be very much in the spotlight in the summer of 2024, as the Republican National Committee voted last August to hold its 2024 convention in Milwaukee.