Updated 4:05 p.m.
Democrats chose Milwaukee to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention (DNC). It was announced Monday that the Cream City beat out Houston and Miami to host the convention.
“This is a great day for the city of Milwaukee and for the state of Wisconsin,” Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said in a news release. “Milwaukee is a first-class city, and we are ready to showcase Milwaukee on one of the largest stages in the world.”
This morning I received a call from DNC Chairman Tom Perez informing me that Milwaukee was selected to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Milwaukee is a first-class city and we are ready to showcase it on one of the largest stages in the world. #DNC2020 pic.twitter.com/8feZ3izmrY
— Mayor Tom Barrett (@MayorOfMKE) March 11, 2019
It will be the first time in over a century that Democrats will be in a Midwest city other than Chicago to nominate their presidential candidate. Now, the political spotlight will be on Milwaukee. This is the first-ever major national party convention for Wisconsin, according to the news release.
Read: What Landing The 2020 DNC Means For Milwaukee
The convention is scheduled for July 13-15, 2020. More than 50,000 visitors are expected to come for the convention, which could have an estimated $200 million impact on the region.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin said, “There is no better place to showcase the Democratic Party’s vision for the future than in Wisconsin. The Midwest is a critical battleground and will be key to securing a better future for America.”
Thank you to all of the individuals and partners who convinced the DNC to make the @cityofmilwaukee the site of the #2020 convention!!
— City of Milwaukee (@cityofmilwaukee) March 11, 2019
HUGE news!! 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/EzigloCIU4
This will be massive for Milwaukee! Ask Denver, ever since they hosted the DNC convention and tourism business has been on the rise! https://t.co/rI8WJFJGFG
— Omar Shaikh (@OmarMKE1) March 11, 2019
Democrats see plenty of symbolism in Milwaukee after a bitter 2016 election defined by Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton being nearly swept in what her campaign aides had confidently called a "Blue Wall" across the upper Midwest and Great Lakes region. That band of states twice sided with President Barack Obama, but Clinton held only Minnesota, ceding Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania — a combined 64 of the necessary 270 electoral votes — as white working-class voters flocked to Donald Trump.
The president won Wisconsin and its 10 electoral votes by about 23,000 votes out of almost 3 million cast, the first time since 1984 that Republicans claimed the state in a presidential election. Afterward, Clinton took withering criticism for not once visiting Wisconsin as a general election candidate.
Since then, Wisconsin voters have re-elected Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin, ousted Republican Gov. Scott Walker in favor of Democrat Tony Evers and the state's first black lieutenant governor, Mandela Barnes.
