CHICAGO — Chicago won’t be hosting the 2028 Democratic National Convention.
The city is out of the running to host the 2028 convention, ending its bid to bring the party back to town after hosting the most recent convention, which culminated in the nomination of former Vice President Kamala Harris for president.
The Democratic National Committee on Thursday narrowed its list of potential host cities to Boston, Denver and Philadelphia, eliminating Chicago and Atlanta from consideration. The convention is scheduled for Aug. 7-10, 2028.
The DNC has not said why Chicago and Atlanta were cut. Party officials visited all five cities in April and May and evaluated factors including fundraising and logistical capacity.
In a statement, DNC Chairman Ken Martin called the remaining bids “incredibly strong” and said the eventual convention would be an “inspiring celebration of our party’s future nominee.”
Chicago’s bid would have been unusual if it had been granted, as no city has hosted back-to-back Democratic conventions since New York City did in 1976 and 1980. Chicago last hosted consecutive conventions in 1952 and 1956.
But local officials had still pushed for Chicago hosting another convention.
Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson supported bringing the DNC back to Chicago in 2028, and the city ultimately submitted bids for either the 2028 or 2032 convention.
The 2024 convention brought tens of thousands of visitors to Chicago and generated hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity. The city also set a convention fundraising record, with the Chicago 2024 Host Committee raising more than $90 million.
Boston, Denver and Philadelphia have all previously hosted Democratic conventions. Boston hosted in 2004, Denver in 2008 and Philadelphia in 2016.
Philadelphia may have an especially strong political argument. Pennsylvania is one of the country’s most closely watched swing states and was won by President Donald Trump in 2024. Colorado and Massachusetts, like Illinois, have leaned Democratic in recent history.
The 2028 convention will also come at a particularly consequential moment for Democrats. The party will be choosing a nominee in an open presidential race to succeed Trump.
Chicago has hosted more national political conventions than any other U.S. city. Its most infamous Democratic convention came in 1968, when violent clashes between Chicago police and antiwar demonstrators became a defining image of the turbulent year.
Democrats returned to Chicago 28 years later for the 1996 convention, when President Bill Clinton was renominated without the chaos that defined 1968.
Pro-Palestinian protesters march around the United Center during the March on the DNC around the United Center during day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. Credit: Block Club Chicago
Then, in 2024, the United Center became the center of the political universe for four days as Democrats nominated Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Despite concerns about unruly protests and the potential response by police, the convention ended without a repeat of the violence associated with 1968.
The DNC is expected to select the 2028 host city later this year. Houston is hosting the 2028 Republican National Convention.