DNC

The Democratic presidential nominations may still be up in the air, but preparations for the party’s 2020 nominating convention are very much in progress here in Milwaukee.

Thousands of Democratic party officials will gather at the Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee from July 13-16 to decide who will face off against President Donald Trump in November. Milwaukee was chosen over three other finalists: Denver, Miami, and Houston, two years ago.

The Democratic National Convention will bring tens of thousands of people to Milwaukee. But not all of them will be here for the convention itself — many people will be coming for demonstrations. Conservatives and liberals, alike, will be in the city to bring attention to issues they find important.

The ACLU of Wisconsin will also be in the city with a team of legal observers — people like Dorothy Wobick and Hope Owens-Wilson, who are trained to ensure demonstrators can exercise their first amendment rights safely.

An unexpected hot-button issue came up before the state Senate Wednesday: whether to keep the bars in Wisconsin open until 4:00 a.m. during the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee. The convention, scheduled for July 13-16, is expected to bring 50,000 visitors to the city.

An Assembly committee passed a bill last week that would extend tavern hours during the event. While the Senate rejected the plan Wednesday, the issue isn’t over yet.

Updated Thursday at 1:56 p.m. CT

Milwaukee's mayoral primary election is a week away. Incumbent Tom Barrett delivered his State of the City address Monday morning, laying out his track record to a packed ballroom at the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino.

The mayor’s address mostly hailed the positive accomplishments of the city — starting with Milwaukee’s successful bid to host the Democratic National Convention.

"For the first time in the history of the state of Wisconsin, we are hosting a major national political convention," Barrett said.

Updated at 10:15 p.m. CT

The two leaders of Milwaukee's host committee for the 2020 Democratic National Convention have been terminated. This comes after they were placed on leave pending an investigation into allegations that they oversaw a toxic work environment, a dramatic shakeup less than six months before the showcase political event in swing state Wisconsin.

This July, the Democratic National Convention is expected to bring tens of thousands of people to the city of Milwaukee — and many Milwaukeeans aren’t sure what to expect.

As part of our Wisconsin 2020 series, we've been asking you tell us what you want to know about the DNC. Now, it's time to answer them. 

Updated Thursday at 12:18 p.m. CT

The Democratic National Convention Committee invited local and national media outlets to Milwaukee for a day of logistics planning and presentations on people and politics. Hundreds attended informational breakout sessions and a city bus tour.

The day started early with a tour of the Fiserv Forum, along with speeches from Wisconsin politicians like Gov. Tony Evers, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and convention CEO Joe Solmonese.

Liz Gilbert sees the Democratic National Convention (DNC) as a huge opportunity for Milwaukee and Wisconsin. For many of the 50,000 people expected to attend, this will be their first time visiting. Gilbert, the host committee president, sees it as a chance to shape people's perception of the city.

"When we talk about the amount of influence this convention can have on stories and messaging about this town and about this incredible state, the opportunities really are endless," she says.

With 240 days until the Democratic National Convention is in Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) is preparing for the event. MPD shared its plans for security during the convention with the Common Council’s Public Safety and Health Committee on Thursday.

The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is nine months away, but people around Milwaukee are eager to learn what it might mean for the city. The anticipation was felt Thursday night when about 300 people filed into a UWM ballroom to listen to a panel of experts talk about the DNC's possible impacts. 

The local host committee for next summer's Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Milwaukee says it's still looking for money, hundreds of sites, and thousands of volunteers.

The convention runs July 13-16, 2020.

Officials have been trying to raise $70 million to pay for buses, parties and other things for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination event, including more than $20 million locally. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says the fundraising is coming along.