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Milwaukee Courts the 2020 Democratic National Convention

Streeter Lecka
/
Getty Images
Former U.S. President Bill Clintonspeaks on stage during day two of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 5, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Rank-and-file Democrats and loyal Republicans don't agree on much in Wisconsin. But a new effort to lure a major event to Milwaukee has won approval from both sides of the aisle. 

The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce - a generally pro-business and often politically conservative group - is backing a bid to lure the 2020 Democratic National Convention to Milwaukee. Prominent Democrats are behind the effort as well, including Mayor Tom Barrett. Advocates say it would bring in tens of thousands of visitors and hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact.

The week-long event would be held at the new arena being constructed for the Milwaukee Bucks, slated to open this year. The man leading the bid process is Bucks senior vice president Alex Lasry.

While Lasry says the effort is separate from his work with the team, he does believe this effort is about more than politics.

"We’re just really trying to show that, 'Hey look, Milwaukee can not only handle a massive political convention, but it can handle all other types of conventions and events,' and people need to start taking Milwaukee seriously, and people need to be put on notice that Milwaukee is ready," Lasry says.