Republican leaders criticized the Democratic National Committee over its decision to host its 2024 nominating convention in Chicago, blasting the party for choosing the Midwestern city for its high-profile event amid rising crime rates.
The DNC announced on Tuesday it would hold the event in Chicago in August 2024, ending a monthslong battle between several Democratic cities to host the coveted convention. Republicans quickly seized on the news to criticize the Windy City over its high rates of violent crime.
CHICAGO WILL HOST 2024 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
“What’s the bigger concern: Sirens drowning out nominating speeches or what items attendees must leave at home to make room for their bulletproof vest in their suitcase?” Will Reinert, press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement.
Other Republican leaders predicted the decision would come back to bite Democrats, arguing the convention’s location would turn off voters.
“We look forward to the DNC’s convention, where their radical agenda will be on full display for the world to see,” said Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. “Voters will soundly reject whichever out-of-touch liberal the Democrats nominate in Chicago and instead elect our Republican nominee as the next president of the United States.”
The rising crime rates in Chicago have attracted national headlines over the last few months, especially as they were believed to be partially responsible for the ouster of former Mayor Lori Lightfoot in late February. The city went on to elect progressive Brandon Johnson despite attacks from GOP opponents that he would work to defund the police.
Several members of the Chicago Police Department threatened to resign if Johnson was elected, rejecting his plan to redirect law enforcement funds to create a more “holistic approach” to fighting crime.
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The convention is scheduled to take place next year from Aug. 19-22 and is expected to attract more than 50,000 visitors to Chicago. Democratic leaders praised the city as being representative of the party’s diversity, noting it would be crucial to securing President Joe Biden’s reelection in 2024.
“Democrats will gather to showcase our historic progress including building an economy from the middle out and bottom-up, not from the top-down,” Biden said. “From repairing our roads and bridges to unleashing a manufacturing boom, and creating over 12.5 million new good-paying jobs, we’ve already delivered so much for hardworking Americans — now it’s time to finish the job.”
