Politics
Chicago Won’t Host 2028 Democratic National Convention
Gov. J.B. Pritzker surrounded by the Illinois delegation during the roll call vote on Aug. 20, 2024. (Emily Soto / WTTW News)
Chicago will not host the 2028 Democratic National Convention, officials announced Thursday.
Chicago and Atlanta were eliminated in the first round of cuts made by officials with the Democratic National Committee, leaving Boston, Philadelphia and Denver to battle it out to host the gathering planned for Aug. 7-10, 2028, officials said.
All five cities put forward “incredibly strong bids” to put on an “inspiring celebration of our party’s future nominee,” Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin said in a statement that did not explain why Chicago and Atlanta fell short.
Chicago, which hosted the 2024 Democratic National Convention, has also bid to host the 2032 convention. A decision on a host city for that convention has yet to be made.
Houston will host the 2028 Republican National Convention.
It would have been unprecedented for Chicago to host back-to-back nominating conventions in the modern political era. Had the city’s bid advanced, it could have been seen as a boost for Gov. JB Pritzker, who is running for a third term while refusing to rule out a presidential bid in 2028.
Pritzker, a billionaire, is one of the top donors to Democratic National Committee, and Democratic candidates across the country.
While Colorado, Massachusetts and Illinois have reliably voted for the Democratic nominee for president in recent years, Pennsylvania and Georgia are among the most crucial swing states. President Donald Trump lost Pennsylvania and Georgia in 2020, but won them in the 2024 election, sending him back to the White House.
Pennsylvania is led by Gov. Josh Shapiro, another potential candidate for president in 2028.
In Georgia, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat, and Rick Jackson, a Republican are running to replace Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican.
The Associated Press contributed.
Contact Heather Cherone: @HeatherCherone | (773) 569-1863 | [email protected]
