Chicago selected site of 2024 Democratic National Convention

CHICAGO — Chicago has been selected as the host of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, a huge economic and prestigious boon to the city, national Democratic Party officials announced Tuesday.

Chicago was selected over Atlanta and New York among the finalists to host the anticipated re-nomination of President Joe Biden. Though the choice was announced by the Democratic National Committee, the selection rested with Biden.

The convention is tentatively scheduled to run from Aug. 19 through Aug. 22 next year. The main events in the evening will be held at the United Center.

In announcing Chicago as the host city, the DNC cited the Midwestern “blue wall” of states — Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota — as crucial to Biden’s 2020 victory and to Democratic midterm victories last year.

”Chicago is a great choice to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention,” said Biden said in a statement.

”Democrats will gather to showcase our historic progress including building an economy from the middle out and bottom up, not from the top down,” he said. “From repairing our roads and bridges, to unleashing a manufacturing boom, and creating over 12.5 million new good-paying jobs, we’ve already delivered so much for hard working Americans — now it’s time to finish the job.”

In a statement, Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, who pitched Biden for the convention in a post-election phone call, 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.”

After Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Johnson held a private meeting in the governor’s office on Friday, the Democratic governor said he thought Johnson’s election as mayor enhanced the city’s appeal to the DNC.

”Look, he brings a real excitement to the job, I think, to the people of Chicago and I think that’s being felt in Washington, D.C.” Pritzker said of Johnson.