Denver gets ready for Democrats' 2028 convention site visit -- and will show it's not just the 'nostalgia' choice

Elliott Wenzler, The Denver Post on Apr 29, 2026

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DENVER — National Democrats will visit Denver next week as the race to host the party’s next presidential convention heats up.

During the three-day site visit, which begins Tuesday, Denver bid leaders will showcase the city’s best features as they attempt to persuade the party officials to choose the city for the 2028 event, Mayor Mike Johnston’s office confirmed.

The city is facing off against Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia. Democratic National Committee leaders have begun visits to each of the cities to evaluate their logistical capabilities, including hotels and transportation infrastructure.

“The goal is to make sure that (DNC Chair) Ken Martin and the rest of the great team at the DNC — from landing to visiting sites to engaging with our community — can feel the energy and excitement that a delegate might feel in 2028,” said Shad Murib, the chair of the Colorado Democratic Party.

Murib added that local leaders will also try to convey their confidence in the city’s ability to host thousands of people.

In a news release in March, the DNC said its leadership, like Martin, and representatives from the party’s Technical Advisory Group would attend the site visits.

The party said those officials would consider factors such as the importance of “forging a strong partnership between the DNC and the host city,” the city’s shared Democratic values and the city’s ability to address challenges that could arise from the event.

Denver hosted the Democrats’ convention in 2008, when then-candidate Barack Obama accepted his presidential nomination in front of tens of thousands of people at Empower Field at Mile High, then called Invesco Field.

Last week, the 2028 committee visited Atlanta. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Georgia Democratic Party Chair Charlie Bailey described their city as the “ultimate battleground” for winning back faith and trust from voters. They pointed to major downtown upgrades made ahead of the FIFA World Cup games that will be played there later this year.

Dickens also took shots at other finalists, including Denver, saying: “Boston is history. Philadelphia is played out. Denver is nostalgia. Atlanta is now,” according to the AJC.

On Wednesday, the national Democrats arrived in Philadelphia for its evaluation.

The Denver Post reported in January that the city was making a bid for the event. In March, the DNC announced that Denver was among the five finalists. Earlier this month, Johnston and U.S. Rep. Jason Crow were among Colorado Democrats who attended the DNC’s spring meeting in New Orleans to pitch the city’s credentials.

During the upcoming site visit, Denver leaders will likely try to demonstrate that the city is accessible, safe and vibrant.

The city submitted a video earlier this year as part of the bid that touts Red Rocks Amphitheatre as well as the city’s professional sports teams, museums, outdoor access, breweries and restaurants. The video, narrated by Johnston, also highlights some of the city and state’s policy accomplishments, including decreases in street homelessness and crime, expanded affordable housing, universal preschool and abortion access.

Presidential nominating conventions, which happen every four years, are where Democratic and Republican party delegates formally select their presidential and vice presidential candidates. The event could bring a major economic boost to the city, which saw major budget cuts last year amid stagnating sales tax revenue.

The other cities have also hosted the event before, with Chicago doing so 12 times. The DNC was in Philadelphia in 2016, Boston in 2004 and Atlanta in 1988.

The national committee hasn’t said when it will announce its city selection, but the 2024 location was announced about a year and a half before the convention. The next Democratic convention is set for Aug. 7-10, 2028.

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