CHICAGO — The city is at the center of the political spotlight as the 2024 Democratic National Convention gavels to order on Monday.
The four-day event, which takes place at the United Center on the Near West Side, runs from Monday, Aug. 19, through Thursday, Aug. 22, and thousands are expected to be traveling throughout the city.
The convention is expected to bring in at least 5,000 delegates, more than 50,000 visitors, 15,000 members of the media and another 12,000 volunteers.
Local leaders are now responsible for making sure everyone has a good time and that the city remains safe.
Just as the Republicans did in Milwaukee last month, Democrats will spend four days celebrating their party platform and nominee.
Vice President Kamala Harris is now the Democratic standard-bearer, having already officially been confirmed as the presidential candidate.
At around 7 p.m. on Sunday night, Vice President Harris landed in Chicago where Mayor Brandon Johnson greeted her on the tarmac.
Harris, who is trying to become the first woman president, will close out the convention on Thursday night with prime time remarks. Her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, is set to speak on Wednesday.
Democrats have all of their A-listers on the program this week.
For Governor JB Pritzker, this is a dream come true. Pritzker, who was vetted as a possible running mate for Harris, for a time hoped to star Wednesday in the VP speaking slot, instead he will address the convention on Tuesday.
Pritzker, Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth and former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot are those most responsible for landing the DNC. It was among the topics Pritzker discussed in a sitdown interview with WGN-TV, on Friday.
“Very excited for this and I think the city is ready, the excitement level is very high, the electricity, I think, among Democrats for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. I am so excited, and you know, we’ve worked at this for a couple of years now. First to win the convention for Chicago and then starting back in April of ’23 to get ready for this moment,” Pritzker said.
According to Pritzker, the process of getting the DNC to the city has not been easy.
“This is a, it’s a long process, and we were competing against three great cities, Houston, Atlanta, New York. So, you know, making the case for Chicago, I knew I could do that, I do that every day, making the case for Illinois, as I do. And then I think every time I saw President Biden, and I quite a lot, I would start out shaking his hand and saying to him ‘Now we’re going to have the convention in Chicago, right?’ And you know, he would laugh after the second or third time because he understood that was not going to let up on this,” Pritzker said.
Across the city this week, there is going to be a bit of a party scene as Pritzker has booked an A-list artist to perform at a premier concert venue.
“We’ve got John Legend performing at a really great event on Tuesday night. I get to speak in prime time earlier on Tuesday and then Barack Obama is, I think one of the big featured speakers that night. So right after that, we’re going to have this great event at the Salt Shed, celebrating what happened that night and also the couple of days ahead when we’re going to finally have Kamala Harris officially as our presidential nominee,” Pritzker said.
Also in the spotlight this week is Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. The DNC is by far the biggest test he’s faced as he deals with security, protests and demands from democratic heavy hitters.
As he caters to party insiders, Johnson is trying to make sure all Chicagoans benefit from the convention.
On Friday, Mayor Johnson sat down with WGN-TV at The Duplex, a black-owned restaurant in Logan Square.
When asked where he would tell the Vice President to eat when she arrives in Chicago, Johnson said there were several choices.
“Well, we’ve got to start off on the West Side of Chicago first. So well, we’ll send her to ‘Soulé’ in North Lawndale. It’s a black-owned business there. A Black woman who’s hiring individuals who are returning from jail and incarceration. There’s ‘Truth,’ another black business on the South Side of Chicago. I got Virtue. Uncle Remus on the West Side, right? Kitchen and Cocktails. There are so many different places to eat. You know, I hope she’s able to, you know, get her steps in because you come to Chicago, you’re going to eat very well,” Johnson said.
Working with the Secret Service, Johnson and Chicago police are implementing a plan to keep everyone safe that they say also respects demonstrators’ right to protest.
Johnson told WGN-TV that there is no place for potential bad actors or those looking to instigate violence or cause trouble. He added that protecting the right to protest is fundamental.
“Protecting the fundamental right to protest is a hallmark of our democracy. In fact, I don’t exist without protest. If I could be so audacious, we don’t exist without protest. From our ability to vote to ensuring that equal protection under the law. And so that’s important, but what I’ve also said was that we have to have a safe well protected demonstration. Protecting the right of the First Amendment also includes protecting the individuals who are actually expressing their First Amendment right. That is paramount and their voices will be heard, we’ve made staging available for them, amplification for those stages with microphones, porta potties and anything else that individuals need. But the most important thing is that we’re ready,” Johnson said.
On Monday, President Biden, First Lady Jill Biden and Mayor Johnson are set to deliver remarks. Governor Pritzker and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff will both speak on Tuesday.
Former Illinois Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger will also speak on Thursday, a source confirmed to WGN-TV.
Other notable names set to speak at this weeks convention include, former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Senator Chuck Schumer and Minority Hosue Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Several street closures and parking restrictions are in place this week because of the event and organizers anticipate high volumes of people to be at the United Center from 3 p.m. until 11 p.m. each night.
Several thousand activists have also arrived in Chicago for the DNC. On Sunday, a large group of demonstrators marched down Michigan Avenue.
Democrats will host their nominating convention in Chicago August 19-22. Chicago has hosted Democrats 12 times, the last being nearly 30 years ago when President Bill Clinton was nominated for a second term.