Déjà blue: Pritzker, top Dems urge party to stage a repeat DNC in Chicago
The year was 2022 and Joe Biden was ensconced in the White House when top Illinois Democrats pitched Chicago to party leaders as the host city for the upcoming national convention.
They won the coveted prize, staging the DNC in August 2024. Now the state is back for more.
“Chicago truly represents the soul of America,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said at a press briefing Wednesday, amplifying the city’s bid for a Democratic National Convention repeat in 2028.
Since Monday, Gov. JB Pritzker and other politicos have feted Democratic National Committee brass for the second time in four years, showing off the city’s props and fitness for the political spectacular. Other convention contenders are Atlanta, Boston, Denver and Philadelphia.
“The last few days have been like a fabulous reunion, honestly, for the Chicago 2028 Host Committee and our friends at the DNC,” Pritzker said.
He deflected questions involving his own potential presidential aspirations, saying the convention scheduled for Aug. 7 to Aug. 10, 2028, “is long after the Democratic primary, so I don’t think it plays any role at all.”
DNC Chair Ken Martin called the 2024 gala “the most successful convention in our party’s history.”
He also noted, “it can create an economic boom for any city with over 35,000 delegates, guests and members of the press in attendance.”
But “there are five great cities vying for this opportunity,” Martin added.
Illinois’ July 2022 DNC bid launch was an ebullient affair with the Jesse White Tumblers kicking off remarks. This time, the mood was more serious, despite the sunny view from 360 CHICAGO on the 94th floor of 875 N. Michigan Ave., formerly the John Hancock tower.
“We have 174 days left until the (November) election,” Martin said. Choosing a host city hasn’t distracted from “our No. 1 goal — to make sure we win the midterm elections.”
Pritzker commented that “(President) Donald Trump can't keep Chicago out of his mouth, but the people of this city and the people of this state are tough as nails. We don't let invaders harass and kidnap our neighbors and our friends, our families,” he added, referring to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s recent Operation Midway Blitz immigration enforcement action.
“To turn this country around and win the White House, we need to reintroduce American families to a Democratic Party that is ready to stand up and fight for them.”
National Democrats are also evaluating hosts for the 2032 DNC, Martin noted.
Hosting back-to-back conventions isn’t unprecedented for the city.
Repeats occurred in 1940 and 1944, when Franklin D. Roosevelt was president, and in 1952 and 1956, with nominee Adlai Stevenson.