Democrats Urge Biden to Make Chicago Location of 2024 Democratic Convention to Energize Crucial "Blue Wall" States

Last week leading democrats endorsed a letter sent to President Biden and Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison arguing that Chicago be named the site of the 2024 Democratic National Convention to reassure and engage democrats in several critical states

1996 Democratic National Convention. the last time it was held in ChicagoPhoto byLaura Patterson/Wikimedia {CC BY 2.0]

Democrats across the Midwest are urging President Biden to back Chicago as the host city for the 2024 Democratic National Convention. According to reports, these Democrats believe that the party needs to send a strong message of support to the Midwest in order to maintain the "blue wall" of states that helped secure Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election.

The "blue wall" refers to a group of states in the Midwest, including Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, that have traditionally been Democratic strongholds. In recent years, however, these states have become increasingly competitive, with Republicans making gains in some areas.

The states making up the so-called "blue wall" have consistently voted for the Democratic candidates in every presidential election since1992. There has only been one exception – Donald Trump in 2016.

Democrats believe that this occured because the assumed they'd automatically gain the support of the midwest states as they had for so many years and took their eye off the ball.

"Those states were taken for granted until ominous warning signs flashed on Election Day, at which point they were already lost," the letter stated. "That single exception proves the rule: When the future of the country hangs in the balance, we cannot afford to overlook the Midwest." 

Democrats are concerned that if they don't show strong support for the Midwest, they could lose these states in the 2024 presidential election. By hosting the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, they believe they can send a message of support to the region and energize voters in these key states.

Chicago has hosted the Democratic National Convention twice before, in 1932 and 1996. The city is known for its strong Democratic base and has long been a hub for progressive politics. Democrats believe that by choosing Chicago as the host city for the 2024 convention, they can tap into this history and reenergize and engage voters in the region.