Some recent news on the 2020 Milwaukee Democratic National Convention:

• Milwaukee is upgrading its mass transit.
• Philly did not keep track of their $50 million federal security grant. The Feds will be watching Milwaukee. And planning is underway.
• AirBnb rates are over $1000 in some places
• The firefighters were happy Houston was not chosen
• 12,000 volunteers are needed. You can apply here.

Milwaukee’s political moment has arrived.

The city will host the 2020 Democratic National Convention, edging out two large and deep-pocketed rivals over a months-long campaign waged behind the scenes through phone calls, contract negotiations and quiet lobbying by some of the most powerful political figures in the country.

The announcement will be made in Milwaukee at a 3 p.m. press conference, according to DNC spokesman Brandon Gassaway. – Milwaukee Journal Sentinal

It’s a classic convention bid site battle: In one corner: Mid-west Milwaukee, with the swing-state power, a brand new arena, and the pleasant, no hurricane summer weather, but hotels in the ‘burbs. In the other corner: Big-city Houston – not a swing state yet (sorry), but with hotels galore, and a better place to make an immigration statement. Milwaukee’s opponents seem to be making one last push to bring the convention to Texas:

The tension point is a view among some DNC members that Milwaukee might not be equipped to handle the needs of delegates in terms of hotel rooms in close proximity to the center of the convention action and easy transportation

… Continue Reading...

All indications are that the host of the 2020 Democratic National Convention will be announced next week. Milwaukee is still considered the front-runner, although Houston is fighting to the end. (Miami is the 3rd city in consideration). First, Milwaukee is getting help from its neighbors:

Top Midwestern Democrats and business leaders are engaged in a frenzied, last-minute effort to bring the Democratic National Convention to Milwaukee next year, insisting that a Wisconsin convention presence would help repair the frayed relationship between the party and heartland voters.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been involved in the behind-the-scenes overtures, offering up his own political muscle to lure the marquee political event to his neighboring state. Pritzker told POLITICO on Wednesday he spoke to Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers this week about helping to land the convention. Continue Reading...

The mid-west may win out:

Our sources tell us MILWAUKEE is the odds-on favorite for the 2020 Democratic National Convention….
— PLUSES FOR MILWAUKEE: DNC CHAIR TOM PEREZ has a personal connection to the city. His wife went to high school there and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The two were also married in Milwaukee.
— THERE’S ALSO THE POLITICAL FACTOR: Democrats need to win Wisconsin in 2020. The city has a new arena that has a lot of open space around it that could add some flexibility for planning and events.
— NEGATIVES FOR MILWAUKEE: There’s always concern about fundraising and having enough hotels when party committees look to second-tier cities.

It will be interesting to see how far delegates or the media have to travel from far-flung hotels if Milwaukee is chosen. A decision is expected later this month.