Chicago announces bid to host 2024 Democratic National Convention
CHICAGO - Chicago on Tuesday announced a bid to bring the Democratic National Convention that will choose the party’s presidential nominee to the city in 2024.
The video announcement touting the bid, including a voiceover supplied by Avalon Park-native Common, was accompanied by endorsements from top Illinois Democrats such as Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
"Hosting the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago will create tremendous opportunities for job creation and business growth," Lightfoot said, "and I am excited for the chance to show the world why Chicago is an important global city and the epicenter of the Midwest."
Pritzker said, "Illinois has led the way delivering for America’s working families," including raising the minimum wage and expanding health care coverage, voting rights, and child care. He noted former President Barack Obama is from Chicago.
"I’m proud to invite the nation to explore the Land of Lincoln and Obama," Pritzker said.
There's no doubt any kind of boost is badly needed by the city's pandemic-damaged tourism industry. Restaurants, bars, hotels, motels and cultural institutions are collectively Chicago's biggest employer.
"This could potentially be a $150 million boost to the Chicago economy just in terms of the sales tax, hotel tax, restaurants being full once again with up to 50,000 guests from literally all over the world," said. Ald. Brian Hopkins.
With former President Donald Trump currently the front runner to become the Republican presidential nominee in 2024, the video embraced Obama, who remains far and away the most popular figure among Democrats.
But it may make more political sense for the Democratic Convention to go to a swing state.
Milwaukee was supposed to host the convention in 2020, but it was preempted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Milwaukee was also too small to handle it all, with many state delegations staying in Illinois and a few even planning to lodge in downtown Chicago.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.