Milwaukee wins tight race to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention

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 official announcement came Monday during a news conference at Fiserv Forum, which will serve as the centerpiece for the event that will be held July 13-16, 2020.

"Don't forget folks, 490 days and this place will be hopping," Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez said. "Four hundred ninety days and we will have a discussion about how to retake our democracy in the city of Milwaukee. That discussion will not only ripple across Lake Michigan, it will ripple across the world."

Perez, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Alex Lasry, the Milwaukee Bucks senior vice president who leads the local bid committee, signed the contract that was accidentally — and perhaps appropriately — sealed with a splash of Wisconsin beer during a ceremonial toast.

Relying on Midwestern grit to overcome glitzier rivals, Milwaukee snagged the event over Houston and Miami.

"We had a dilemma, an enviable dilemma," Perez said about a bid process that effectively went into overtime.

This will mark the first major-party convention in Milwaukee's history, and it will be the first Midwestern convention for Democrats since 1996 in Chicago.

"Where you hold a convention is a statement of your values," Perez said, calling Milwaukee a diverse and "proud union town."

Perez's connections to Milwaukee have always been part of the backdrop to the competition. His wife is from Wauwatosa, they were married in Milwaukee and one of their daughters attends the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

But his decision wasn't personal — it was political. Winning Wisconsin and other Midwestern states is critical if the party is to unseat President Donald Trump.

Barrett got the official call that Milwaukee had been chosen to host the event shortly after delivering his "State of the City" address early Monday at Fiserv Forum.

He was back in the afternoon to lead the celebration.

"As a city, we could not be more proud," Barrett said. "As a state, we could not be more proud."

"We all know that competition for conventions like this is fierce," he added. "There's competition from the East Coast, there's competition from the West Coast, there's competition from the Gulf Coast. And I am here today to welcome all of America to America's fresh coast."

The Milwaukee Common Council, by a 9-0 vote Monday, approved a resolution on the city contract for the convention. The city won't be on the hook for costs related to the convention, the document said.

Separate contracts were to be signed between the DNC and the local bid committee and the DNC and the arena.

Barrett and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, both Democrats, said no city or state taxpayer money will be used to fund the convention.

It's up to the local bid committee to raise the cash, up to $70 million. Perez said the local committee has already received firm fundraising commitments for $11 million.

In addition, the local committee has secured a $10 million line of credit, a backstop that would be used only in the event organizers fall short of the fundraising goal.

For Milwaukee and the area, the payoff could be huge, with local organizers saying the convention could bring in up to $200 million in economic impact.

Up to 50,000 people are expected to attend, including delegates and their families, media from around the world and tourists.

Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said Monday that the force will be up to the task in helping secure the convention. The U.S. Secret Service oversees the security operation and the federal government provides a $50 million stipend.

"It's huge because this is going to be one that's not just the Milwaukee Police Department," Morales said. "The surrounding jurisdictions are going to play an important role — again local, state and federal are going to be involved."

Volunteers will also play a key role. Barrett said organizers are looking for "12,000 of our closest personal friends to volunteer at the convention."

In their winning campaign, Milwaukee's organizers accentuated the city's heartland location, political importance as a swing state and mild summer weather.

Recent Democratic history also may have helped Milwaukee's bid.

In 2016, the party's presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, failed to campaign in Wisconsin during the general election and the state went to Trump.

As the 2020 campaign shapes up, Wisconsin is in the line of swing states from Pennsylvania through Iowa that will likely help determine the winner of the presidential race.

Barrett, Lasry and U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore of Milwaukee spearheaded the city's effort. The leadership group was expanded to include Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Evers and Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.

"This is our chance to reintroduce the city on the international stage," Lasry said.

"The next time somebody tries to say Milwaukee can't handle something, Milwaukee is too small, not capable, this is our punch back," Lasry added. "We can do anything we want when we reach for it. We will no longer be defined by our limitations. We'll be a city that dreams big."

Through the long, drawn-out campaign, local officials had to assure Democrats they could handle the event.

Were there enough hotel rooms? Milwaukee secured 15,000 rooms in the area.

Could they raise the cash needed? The $11 million in firm commitments did a lot of talking.

Was the city fancy enough, a jibe launched at Milwaukee from others? Turns out it could just be itself.

"Milwaukee is a brand that we are rolling out and introducing and reintroducing," Moore said. "People know us as the place where Laverne and Shirley came from."

But Moore put the emphasis on the art museum, the lakefront and Summerfest.

"We have a bronze Fonz," Barnes added. "And as they say, the Cream City always rises to the top."

For Democrats, the road to Milwaukee will certainly be crowded, with more than a dozen candidates likely vying for the party's presidential nomination.

Milwaukee was among eight cities originally in the running for the event.

In June, the field was cut to a final four. Denver quickly dropped out, leaving Milwaukee, Miami and Houston.

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Wisconsin Republicans have supported bringing the Democratic convention here because it will boost the state's economy. Scott Walker backed the idea when he was governor and tweeted congratulations to Milwaukee when news of the decision broke Monday.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a Republican from Rochester, last month told reporters he wanted to see the convention come to Milwaukee. 

"I hope that they bring lots of limousine liberals who have all kinds of dollars to spend and that they do it in Milwaukee if they’re going to do it anywhere," he said. "If you look at the pure economics, it's good to have any convention of any size come to our state and have people spend their money here."

The Republican Party of Wisconsin pointed out Milwaukee's distant past of electing socialist mayors. The GOP is trying to portray Democrats as out of the political mainstream.

"No city in America has stronger ties to socialism than Milwaukee," RPW Executive Director Mark Jefferson said. "And with the rise of Bernie Sanders and the embrace of socialism by its newest leaders, the American left has come full circle. It’s only fitting the Democrats would come to Milwaukee."

Republicans will hold their national convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, Aug. 24-27, 2020.

Patrick Marley, Ashley Luthern and Molly Beck contributed to this report.