Democrats Cut 2028 Convention Field to Three Cities

Democrats Cut 2028 Convention Field to Three Cities

The News

The Democratic National Committee has narrowed the race to host its 2028 presidential convention to Boston, Denver and Philadelphia, cutting Atlanta and Chicago from the list.

DNC Chairman Ken Martin said in a statement that the three cities submitted "incredibly strong bids" and promised the convention would be an "inspiring celebration of our party's future nominee."

The party gave no reason for dropping Atlanta and Chicago, which hosted the 2024 convention. Party leaders are expected to make the final choice later this year.

Timeline

April and May 2026

DNC officials visited all five candidate cities to size up fundraising capacity and logistics. In Atlanta, Mayor Andre Dickens and city and state leaders pitched new downtown hotels and businesses.

Aug. 20, 2026

The Associated Press reported the three finalists: Boston, Denver and Philadelphia.

By the end of 2026

Party leaders are due to name the host city.

Aug. 7-10, 2028

The convention is scheduled to run, the traditional moment a party introduces its nominee and launches the general election campaign.

Reactions

Martin's statement praised the bids but did not explain the cuts. Atlanta had made a hard public push: "They want walkability and proximity to the main venues that are going to be taking place, which is State Farm Arena, Georgia World Congress Center, et cetera," Dickens said during the DNC visit. "These are all walkable hotels and great proximity to those venues."

WSB-TV reported Thursday it had asked the city of Atlanta and Georgia Democrats for comment.

Martin himself is under fire inside the party over money. Democrats are running a fundraising deficit against Republicans and carrying existing debts, and Martin has drawn criticism over his management of party finances. At a recent party meeting in Texas he brushed off his critics and called for unity heading into the midterms.

What's Next

A final host city announcement is expected before the end of the year. Republicans have already picked Houston for their 2028 convention.

Before any of that, Democrats are focused on this year's midterms and their bid to take back the narrow Republican-led House and possibly the Senate. The 2028 race is an open primary to succeed President Donald Trump, whose second term ends that year.

More

All three finalists are liberal hubs ringed by the suburbs that have become central to Democratic strategy, with access to labor unions, key voter blocs and serious fundraising money. Colorado and Massachusetts reliably back Democrats in presidential races; Pennsylvania remains a battleground, and Trump carried it in 2024.

Philadelphia last hosted the convention in 2016, Denver in 2008 and Boston in 2004. Atlanta has not hosted since 1988.

Colleges Condemn Students Mocking Kirk Assassination Anniversary

Charleston White Arrested Again on Florida Battery Charge

Border Patrol Rescues MS NOW Crew in Desert

Supreme Court Restores Missouri's Old House Map

Alaska Drops Felony Voter Charges Against Samoans

Trespasser Breaches Harris' Malibu Estate; No Arrest

Hegseth Pressed Downed Airmen Into 60 Minutes

Houthis Seize Mokha, Choking Saudi Oil Exports

Altman Rules Out OpenAI IPO This Year

Jury Acquits Lil Durk in Murder-for-Hire Case

Judge: Trump Broke Law Halving FEMA Staff

Maher Calls Democrats' Gaza Genocide Claim a Lie

Blizzard Revives StarCraft, Sends Diablo to Netflix

Trump's Queens Childhood Home Sells for $1.93M

Scientists Find New Virus in Tick Invading US

Britain Bans Settlement Imports; US States Threaten Payback

Prison Fire Kills 7 as Kurds Protest Killing

Kosovo Rallies for Ex-President Before Hague Verdict

Cruz Booed at GameDay Over College Sports Bill

Blast Hits Bulgarian Arms Plant Supplying Ukraine