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Democratic leaders in Southern states urge Biden, DNC to select Atlanta as 2024 convention host

ATLANTA — Top Democratic leaders from Georgia and 12 other states addressed a letter to President Joe Biden throwing their support behind Atlanta to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

Channel 2′s Richard Elliot has learned that the choice is down to three cities: New York, Chicago, and Atlanta. The city last hosted the convention 35 years ago.

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In a letter sent to President Joe Biden, 60 southern lawmakers, including Atlanta’s mayor, pointed out that New York and Chicago are Democratic bastions, but if they want to continue to make inroads into the South, then their convention should be held in Atlanta.

“We had Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, and beyond all saying bring it South,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said Tuesday morning. “You have New York, and you have Chicago, which have been blue for a long time, and now here we are showing that when you make investments in Georgia, good things happen in the entire South.”

In the letter, the group argued that Democrats turning out in Georgia is the top reason why Biden won the presidency and how Democrats secured the U.S. Senate with victories by Sen. Jon Ossoff and Sen. Raphael Warnock.

“Everything we have accomplished as a party since January of 2021 can be traced back to Georgia, and specifically, to the metro Atlanta area which swung the state in our favor.”

The group also says selecting Atlanta can inspire Democrats in other competitive states to run.

“Hosting the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta, Georgia will reignite the sense of enthusiasm that led him to victory and inspire Democrats around the country down the home stretch in 2024.”

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Channel 2 Action News has been following Atlanta’s bid process since Dickens first announced it during the Democratic Party of Georgia State Dinner in May 2022.

Channel 2 Action News was there last summer as Democratic party chair Jamie Harrison joined the mayor touring State Farm Arena as a potential site for the convention.

He told us then that Georgia may be key to future Democratic success

“You’ve got to invest and compete everywhere, and we know how important Georgia is right now in terms of the national political scene,” Harrison said.

Back at the state capitol, Senate Minority Leader Gloria Butler said hosting the 2024 convention would be a big boost to Atlanta’s economy and Democratic hopes.

“I would love to see that happen. It would boost everything, not just democrats but the entire state,” Butler said.

Dickens believes the president and the DNC could make their choice within the next few days or weeks.

The last time the DNC was held in Georgia was in 1988. At the convention Gov. Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts was nominated for president and Sen. Lloyd Bentsen of Texas for vice president.

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