| PARTY TIME: Well, Tuesday’s Playbook was pretty timely. Chicago’s set to host the Democratic National Convention next year. Thousands of people and the eventual Democratic presidential nominee, will descend on the Windy City August 19-22, 2024. It’ll be the first in-person one in years, too — Milwaukee’s scheduled convention mainly went online in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic. Tuesday's Democratic National Committee announcement follows several months of speculation and debate around holding the convention in Chicago over New York City and Atlanta. The Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet broke the story Tuesday morning. The DNC will hold a press conference today in Chicago: Gov. JB Pritzker, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) will attend to discuss more details. The governor, alongside other Democratic leaders like Lightfoot and Duckworth, has been instrumental in securing the convention since the process started more than two years ago, even offering to help cover the costs to ensure the expensive event remains debt-free. “You know that Chicago is your kind of town,” Pritzker told President Joe Biden during the DNC call, which came before the president left for Ireland, according to the Sun-Times. “We’re going to throw a huge party, and it’s going to be a real big celebration of all of your successes.” Behind the scenes: Read more about how this all came to be from our very own Shia Kapos, Christopher Cadelago and Sally Goldenberg. The pull: The city was chosen after the DNC’s Technical Advisory Group gave Chicago top grades in factors like hotel capacity, transportation and other logistics. After all, the United Center is the largest arena in the country, and the McCormick Center is the largest convention center. Even though Atlanta is located in one of the most politically important Southern states that helped garner a Biden presidency and Democratic Senate, Chicago still stands out for its near-even split among Black, Latino and white residents. And while Georgia is a right-to-work, Republican-led state, Chicago’s a union town — one of Biden’s personal priorities. And, of course, there’s the Blue Wall nature of Illinois, neighbor to Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, who have had plenty of Democratic victories of their own. Top Dems from surrounding states have sent letters and held meetings to push Chicago — and with it, the Midwest — to victory. Follow the money: Those organizing Chicago’s bid expect the price tag to hit anywhere from $80 million to $100 million. Simultaneously, the event is expected to bring in major business in the city’s tourism and business sectors, boost union workers here — and maybe Pritzker and Johnson’s relationship, too. History of conventions: The DNC has come to Chicago 11 times before, with the first being in 1864, the most recent in 1996, and the most infamous in 1968, which was marked by police brutality and civil unrest over the Vietnam War. The city holds the record for hosting conventions with 25 total since 1832. GOP pushback: Some Republicans have disparaged the idea of a Chicago host even before the announcement, claiming crime and homicide rates will negatively affect the city’s ability to hold the convention. “What's the bigger concern: sirens drowning out nominating speeches or what items attendees must leave at home to make room for their bulletproof vest in their suitcase?" Will Reinert, spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement. Crime rates have decreased in Chicago, though they remain higher than pre-pandemic levels, and the city does not have the highest murder rate per capita. Republicans will hold their 2024 convention in Milwaukee. Some key quotes from the DNC’s official statement: — Lightfoot: “The DNC will create once-in-a-generation opportunities for job creation and business growth here in our city, and I’m proud that we got it done for the people of Chicago.” — Duckworth: “The Midwest is key to a victory in 2024, and there is no city better positioned to reach those voters than Chicago.” — Johnson: "Chicago is a world-class city that looks like America and demonstrates the values of the Democratic Party. We are unmatched when it comes to hosting events of this scale.”
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