The Democratic National Committee (DNC) dropped Atlanta and Chicago from its list of potential cities to host the 2028 presidential convention. Boston, Denver, and Philadelphia are finalist cities.
“Each city presented strong bids to host an inspiring celebration of our party’s future nominee and a critical step on our path to retaking the White House,” DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to work with them as the DNC makes a final selection over the coming months.”
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement critical of the DNC’s decision that the organization and Martin have “shown they are unwilling to do the bare minimum to support the base of the party.”
“They are afraid to leave their comfort zone and blind to the fact that the South is the answer. They are abandoning Atlanta, abandoning the South, and once again abandoning Black voters,” he added, noting that Atlanta has not been a host city for decades.
The DNC’s decision marks a pivot from its recent investment in the South. Earlier this month, the DNC announced that a new Southern States Resource Hub as part of its effort to gain support across the South. “I like to say Democrats need to skate to where the puck is going, and for the future of politics in this country, one thing we know is that the puck is heading to the South,” Martin said at the time, adding, “The new DNC Southern States Resource Hub is a historic investment to ensure Democratic state parties in the South have the resources they need to compete, protect voters, and win, because lasting power is built long before Election Day.”
