Republican Party chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced Friday that the Republican National Committee (RNC) voted unanimously to host the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
“Milwaukee is a world-class city, and we are eager to see it shine in the spotlight come 2024,” McDaniel said in a tweet. “We look forward to working with the mayor and everyone in the community to make this an event that highlights not just our nominee … but the great city that Milwaukee is.”
Republican Party leaders first recommended Milwaukee as a 2024 convention host city in early July. Nashville, Tennessee was also considered as a potential host city but was sidelined due to disagreements about how to host the event, according to the Associated Press.
Milwaukee Democratic Mayor Cavalier Johnson celebrated the announcement despite ideological disagreements with the GOP and RNC, calling it a “business decision” rather than a political one.
“It will present an opportunity for us to have millions of dollars of economic impact … for us to fill our restaurants, our bars, our hotels and to support our hospitality industry that's been battered by [COVID-19] over the last couple of years,” Johnson added.
Milwaukee business leaders praised the decision, with Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce president Tim Sheehy calling it “another step forward” for the region.
“It is remarkable for an American city to secure two straight major party nominating conventions — a ringing endorsement for everything Milwaukee has to offer,” Sheehy told FOX6 News on Friday.
Republicans, including former Lt. Gov. and current GOP governor candidate Rebecca Kleefisch as well as former Gov. Scott Walker, also celebrated the convention announcement.
“Democrats abandoned Milwaukee in 2020, and when we get to showcase Wisconsin to the nation in 2024, a Republican governor will be there to greet them,” Kleefisch tweeted Friday.
Democrats originally planned to host their 2020 convention in Milwaukee but were forced to severely limit attendance due to COVID-19. Few party officials visited the city as result, dealing an economic blow to hotels, restaurants and other venues already struggling amidst the pandemic, according to Politico.
Current polling from Harvard CAPS-Harris still largely favors former President Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican Presidential primary, should he choose to run as he has previously told New York Magazine.
The current runner-up in the polls is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is also expected to run.
Ian Wilder is a senior staff writer and current men’s hockey beat reporter for The Daily Cardinal. He’s a former state politics and features reporter. Follow him on Twitter at @IanWWilder.
