USA · 20 August, 2026 · 2 min read
Democrats Narrow 2028 Convention Host Cities to Boston, Denver, and Philadelphia
Three finalist cities are Boston, Denver, and Philadelphia for the 2028 DNC. Chicago and Atlanta were removed from consideration.
CBS and Washington Examiner spotlight Atlanta snub.
10 of 11 outlets skipped it: philadelphia 2016 convention brought about $230m in economic activity.
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CBS News
“Mayor Andre Dickens has some choice words for the Democratic Party leaders after they took Atlanta out of the running”Read the original ↗
Washington Examiner
“Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens strongly criticized the committee’s decision to snub his city”Read the original ↗
CBS and Washington Examiner spotlight Atlanta snub; others focus more on finalists’ prospects
DNC shortlist narrowed
Democrats on Thursday narrowed the list of potential host cities for their 2028 presidential convention to Boston, Denver, and Philadelphia, leaving Chicago and Atlanta out of the running.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin said in a statement the cities put forward “incredibly strong bids,” and he promised the convention would be an “inspiring celebration of our party’s future nominee.”
The convention is scheduled for Aug. 7-10, 2028, and Republicans have already chosen Houston for the site of their 2028 convention.
Officials visited all five cities in April and May, considering logistical and fundraising capacity among other factors.
The party did not specify why Atlanta and Chicago, which hosted the 2024 convention, were eliminated.
Atlanta protests decision
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens criticized the Democratic Party after it took Atlanta out of the running, saying in a letter obtained by CBS News Atlanta that it appears like "the DNC does not consider Atlanta or Georgia relevant to the past, present, and future of the Democratic Party."
Dickens also wrote, "They are afraid to leave their comfort zone and blind to the fact that the South is the answer. They are abandoning Atlanta, abandoning the South, and once again abandoning Black voters."
CBS News reported that the party did not specify why Atlanta and Chicago were eliminated, even as it said party officials visited Atlanta and the other four cities earlier this year.C
The CBS report said the last time the party held its convention in Atlanta was in 1988, when it selected former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis as its candidate.
In a separate Associated Press account, a spokesperson for Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens’s office said, “It is disappointing to learn this from the press,” and added, “We will have more to say about it in the future.”
Final decision ahead
In Philadelphia, David Cohen, president of the host committee, said the city has “a demonstrated track record of being able to not only deliver on our commitments to host these events but to over-deliver,” as it advanced as one of three finalists.
Cohen said the 2028 edition has the potential to be the biggest convention ever, adding, “There are not a lot of opportunities around to produce multiple hundreds of millions of dollars of economic impact for the city,” while Mayor Cherelle Parker said in a statement that being a finalist was an honor.
In Denver, Mayor Mike Johnston said in a statement that the visit showed “a tremendous opportunity for everyone who calls Denver home,” and he said Denver last hosted the Democratic National Convention in 2008.
The Denver Post reported that city officials previously said the convention would be an “enormous economic boon for Denver,” bringing 50,000 visitors to the city for four days in August 2028.
A final decision on the 2028 Democratic convention site is expected to be made later this year by party leaders, with the Democratic convention scheduled for Aug. 7-10, 2028.