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Local Democratic leaders are pushing for Denver to host the party’s national convention in 2028.
Every four years, the Democratic National Convention is held in a different city, gathering thousands of delegates from across the nation to select the party’s presidential and vice presidential nominees. In 2028, the convention will determine which Democrats attempt to retake the White House after President Donald Trump’s second term concludes.
Shad Murib, chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, confirms that Denver is “exploring” hosting the convention. The city is among other hopefuls, including New Orleans and San Antonio.
“There’s no better way for the party to find its path back to power than by returning to the state that nominated President Barack Obama twenty years ago,” Murib says.
“In 2024, Colorado showed the nation how Democrats can win by organizing in and shifting dozens of rural and red counties towards our party in an election where the rest of the country moved to the right,” he continues. “We’ve accomplished this with strong, authentic candidates, an across-the-board focus on policies that save people money and strengthen freedom, and relentless year-round organizing.”
Murib declines to reveal any specifics, including whether Denver has submitted a formal bid to the Democratic National Committee. He says that party leaders are “at the beginning of the process” and have been “collaborating” with Denver Mayor Mike Johnston on the idea.
“We are honored to be in consideration to host the Democratic National Convention, but have no additional details to share at this time,” adds a spokesperson for Johnston.
The DNC has been held in Denver twice before: in 2008, when Obama was nominated, and in 1908, when William Jennings Bryan was nominated. In 2018, Denver reportedly pulled its name off the short list for the 2020 DNC, because the convention dates clashed with upcoming event schedules. In 2014, the city was a semifinalist for the 2016 Republican National Convention, which has never been held in Colorado.
Only five cities have ever hosted the DNC more than twice: Chicago (twelve times), Baltimore (nine), New York City (five), St. Louis (four) and Philadelphia (three).
While Murib and Johnston are tight-lipped about the status of their proposal, Elbra Wedgeworth says they likely face a long road ahead. Wedgeworth spearheaded the effort to bring the DNC to Denver in 2008 while she was president of Denver City Council; she recalls the application and selection process taking around a year.
Wedgeworth says that being selected as a convention site is a tremendous honor and opportunity for the host city. In 2008, then-Mayor John Hickenlooper reported that the DNC resulted in a regional economic benefit of $266 million. That’s not to mention the international media attention that was focused on the city.
“It means that we are on the map politically,” Wedgeworth says. “[In 2008,] it was about the new West. It was not only about Colorado, but also about our surrounding states. We are not flyover states, we have significance. …We had all these people, not only from across the country, but across the world, who were here visiting us.
“I wanted the world to see what a wonderful place Denver and Colorado were, and I still do.”
Based on previous release dates, the DNC is expected to publicly announce its 2028 host city in early 2027. Wedgeworth believes Denver has “a good shot” of winning the bid again.
“We’ve proven that we can do it,” she says. “We’ve done it before, and we did it very successfully.”
