On Tuesday, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) revealed that Chicago had been chosen over other competing cities, such as New York, Atlanta, and Houston, to host the event where the final Democratic presidential nominee will be selected.
President Biden praised the decision, stating, "Chicago is an excellent location for the 2024 Democratic National Convention. This gathering of Democrats will highlight our significant achievements, like building an economy focused on the middle class and lower-income citizens, rather than catering to the wealthy."
Although Biden has indicated his intention to run for reelection, he has not yet made a formal announcement. In 2020, the DNC originally planned to host the convention in Milwaukee, but the pandemic necessitated a shift to a primarily virtual event. The choice of Chicago for 2024 was based on its strategic position within the crucial "Blue Wall" of Midwestern states that Democrats need to secure, including Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. Biden was victorious in all four states in 2020.
The announcement comes just a week after Chicago elected a new Democratic mayor, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court switched to liberal control for the first time in 15 years. Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel stated in response, "We eagerly anticipate the DNC's convention, where their extreme platform will be exposed for the world to see. Voters will decisively reject the Democrats' out-of-touch liberal candidate in Chicago and instead choose our Republican nominee as the next President of the United States."
Chicago has a long history of hosting DNC events, having been the site of 12 conventions since the party's inception in 1832. The city's first convention took place in 1864, when George McClellan and George Pendleton were nominated as presidential and vice-presidential candidates during the Civil War. Chicago also hosted the Democratic National Convention in 1932, when Franklin D. Roosevelt was nominated and introduced his "New Deal" proposal. In fact, three out of the four times Roosevelt was nominated for the presidency, the DNC convention took place in Chicago.
The 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago was marred by violence as demonstrators, law enforcement, and others clashed over the Vietnam War, leading to hundreds of arrests and injuries. Vice President Hubert Humphrey and Senator Edmund Muskie were eventually nominated for president and vice president but were defeated by Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew in the general election.
