Politics

Party officials will conduct site visits in Boston and four other cities this spring before making a final decision on the 2028 convention.

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Boston was named as one of five finalists in the running to host the 2028 Democratic National Convention this week. 

Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, and Philadelphia are also in the running, the Democratic National Committee announced Monday. The convention is scheduled to take place from Aug. 7 to Aug 10. 

The five finalists will receive site visits this spring from DNC leaders and members of the party’s Technical Advisory Group before a host city is chosen. Officials will use the site visits to “assess the logistical and operational components” of each bid. 

The DNC offered some examples of factors that will be considered, including the strength of potential partnerships between the DNC and local leaders, how much a city “shares Democratic values,” and a willingness to use “innovative approaches” to handle a major national event like the Democratic convention. 

“The DNC is proud to be moving forward with our 2028 Democratic National Convention plans, another critical step toward retaking the White House and finally putting an end to Republicans’ betrayal of working families. We look forward to celebrating our future nominees on the national stage and highlighting Democrats’ commitment to building a better, safer, and more affordable future for our country,” DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement. 

Boston has only hosted the Democratic convention once before, in 2004. John Kerry, then a U.S. senator, accepted the party’s nomination for president that year. He eventually lost in the general election to President George W. Bush. Jimmy Carter, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, and Ted Kennedy all delivered speeches. 

The 2004 convention may be best remembered now for the keynote address delivered by Barack Obama, who was a state senator from Illinois at the time. Obama’s speech received a rapturous response from Democrats, making him a national political star and laying the groundwork for his 2008 presidential campaign. 

Both Gov. Maura Healey and Mayor Michelle Wu released statements expressing their support for the prospect of the Democratic convention returning to Boston. 

“Boston is proof that we can build the democracy our founders fought for, and we’re excited to advance in the process to host the people and party dedicated to defending it,” Wu said. “We look forward to welcoming the nation to the city where it all began as we chart the course for our future.”

Steve Kerrigan, who has been serving as the chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party since 2023, is leading the effort to bring the convention to Boston. He thanked Healey and Wu in a statement, saying that they had been “instrumental” in the process so far. 

“We are grateful to advance to this next round of consideration and look forward to working with the DNC, our many partners, and the greater community to demonstrate how Boston is a world-class city and the right choice to host the Democratic National Convention in 2028,” Kerrigan said. “We are excited about the potential of hosting this major event in Boston, which would be a moment of great civic pride and could bring as much as $400 million of economic benefit to our Commonwealth.”

The 2024 Democratic convention in Chicago generated $371.4 million in economic impact for the city, according to organizers. This was the most in Democratic convention history and exceeded expectations, they said. 

As Democrats work to rebound from their loss in 2024, the 2028 field is wide open. Potential candidates include California Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and many more. 

It is unclear when DNC leadership expects to make a final decision on a host city. If Boston is the winner, the convention would be held at TD Garden. 

“Boston set a high standard as host in 2004 at TD Garden, and we are ready to build on that legacy once again,” Glen Thornborough, president of TD Garden, said in a statement.