CHICAGO, Ill. – August 22, 2024: Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris addresses the 2024 Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago. (Photo credit: Ben Von Klemperer / Shutterstock)
Denver is among five cities named Monday by the Democratic National Committee as finalists to host the party’s 2028 national convention.
The 2028 Democratic National Convention will mark the 20th anniversary of the last time Denver hosted the event, when Barack Obama accepted the party’s 2008 presidential nomination in front of a crowd of more than 80,000 people at what was then known as Invesco Field at Mile High.
“I’m thrilled the Democratic National Committee is considering Denver as the host city for the 2028 convention,” Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said in a news release. “Denver not only offers everything a successful convention needs, but we are a shining example of how to lead America forward by dreaming big and delivering bigger.”
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia were also named as finalists. Each city will receive a site visit by party representatives this spring “to assess the logistical and operational components of each city’s bid,” Democrats said.
Johnston’s office said it anticipates an economic impact measured in the hundreds of millions of dollars if Denver is selected as the DNC’s host city.
The 2028 DNC will follow the party’s yet-to-be-finalized schedule of presidential primaries and caucuses throughout the first half of the year, awarding the nomination to the candidate the party picks in its bid retake the White House from Republicans in November 2028. President Donald Trump is term-limited.
Prior to the 2008 event, Denver also hosted the Democrats’ convention in 1908. Colorado has never hosted a Republican National Convention.
Colorado was a battleground state when it hosted the Democrats’ 2008 convention, having delivered its electoral votes to the Republican candidate in nine of the previous 10 presidential elections, alongside an equally strong record of electing Democratic governors.
Since then, the Centennial State has shifted decidedly towards Democrats at the state and federal levels, a trend driven by the in-migration of younger, more progressive voters and the rapid growth of the Front Range suburbs. Republicans haven’t won a statewide contest in Colorado since 2016, and Democrats have captured large, durable legislative majorities at the state Capitol.
Colorado Democratic Party Chair Shad Murib said in a statement that the state party is “excited to show what Colorado can deliver for our party and our country.”
“Colorado is ready to lead, and our country is ready for a new direction,” Murib said. “Our mission to protect everyone’s family, freedoms and future has united people across our state — and that unity has built the infrastructure, energy and capacity to host at the highest level and share that mission with the nation.”