Why it’s important The decision, which was made public on Tuesday, offers Illinois Democrats, including Governor JB Pritzker, significant political clout.
Additionally, 50,000 visitors are anticipated to pass through Chicago, bringing with them business for hotels, eateries, and retail establishments.
The city will hold a political convention for the 26th time overall, which is the most in the nation.
Chicago hosted the first-ever political convention in the United States in 1860. The last one we had was in 1996, when the party selected Al Gore for vice president and Bill Clinton for president again.
Notably, Chicago held one of the most turbulent conventions in 1968 that “the whole world was watching.”
Overall, Chicago defeated New York and Atlanta. recent violent protests in Atlanta against a new police training facility and ongoing labor issues didn’t sit well with the party’s union supporters.
The 2024 convention will formally be held at the United Center and at McCormick Place. Informally, state delegations will throw parties at Chicago restaurants and bars.
What they’re saying: Illinois Democrats, led by Pritzker, pitched President Joe Biden and the party to bring the convention here, pointing to our proximity to battleground states and the so-called “blue wall.”
In a letter to Biden this year, Pritzker wrote, “When the future of the country hangs in the balance, we cannot afford to overlook the Midwest.”
Between the lines: Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson said he met with Pritzker on this issue and pitched it to Biden in a recent post-election phone call.
Yes, but: The victory goes to Mayor Lori Lightfoot. The outgoing mayor was front and center with the delegation during the yearslong pitch process.
The convention will join the NASCAR street race and the city casino as projects shepherded by Lightfoot, but all will be completed after her term ends.
