2024 Convention Site Selection

(ema, revised Aug. 8, 2022) The COVID pandemic transformed the 2020 conventions into mostly virtual affairs, but the 2024 conventions are expected to return to full, in-person gatherings.  Democratic and Republican party officials have been at work selecting the cities to host their respective 2024 national nominating conventions.  Perhaps two dozen American cities have the wherewithal to host a major party convention.  Hosting a convention can provide a significant economic boost to a city, but a convention also poses significant challenges in terms of housing, transportation and security.  In addition to paying close attention to these infrastructure requirements, party officials may also factor in political considerations.  For example, there might be an advantage in holding the convention in a battleground state, or a particular city might fit well with the message the party wants to send.  

Republican National Convention
Anne Hathaway, the RNC committeewoman from Indiana, chaired the Site Selection Committee, charged with researching and recommending a city to host the 2024 Republican National Committee.  Four cities made the final cut: Milwaukee, Nashville, Pittsburgh and Salt Lake City.  Kansas City, MO also submitted a bid, but withdrew from consideration on Dec. 23, 2021.  Pittsburgh was eliminated in February 2022 (reported Feb. 4) and Salt Lake City was eliminated in March (reported Mar. 17).  Milwaukee and Nashville remained in contention.  On June 1 the Milwaukee Common Council unanimously approved a framework agreement [PDF] with the RNC and the Milwaukee host committee.  By contrast, in Nashville, the Metro Council backed away from a July 5 vote on the framework agreement [PDF], and on Aug. 2 the Council voted 22 to 10 with 3 abstentions against the agreement.  By then the RNC Site Selection Committee had already gone ahead and on July 15 recommended Milwaukee.  On Aug. 5 at its summer meeting in Chicago, the RNC announced its selection of Milwaukee (1, 2).

Democratic National Convention
A Democratic National Convention brings together about 4,750 delegates and alternates, which is almost twice as many as the Republican National Convention.  When considering a city and venues, the large number of delegates makes a for a significant challenge when it comes to seating and logistics.1

The Democratic site selection process started in summer 2021 when the DNC sent out letters to about 20 cities.  Four cities—Atlanta, Chicago, Houston [PDF], and New York City—submitted bids by the May 27, 2022 deadline.  DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison and the technical advisory group visited the four cities in July 2022:

July 13-14 - Houston
July 21-22 - New York
July 26-27 - Chicago
July 28-29 - Atlanta

Harrison says he expects the DNC will announce its choice at the end of 2022 or beginning of 2023.

Note.
At the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting on Aug. 5, 2022, for example, several members expressed the sentiment that, "Our conventions have gotten too big."