In one in every of her first strikes since taking workplace, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is asking the Democratic Nationwide Committee (DNC) to decide on San Antonio for the occasion’s 2028 nationwide conference.
Each Democrats and Republicans host a nationwide conference earlier than every presidential election, drawing tens of hundreds of occasion devoted to formally nominate their candidates for president and vice chairman and kick off their political efforts.
The occasions additionally draw main media consideration and tourism {dollars} to their host cities, which compete arduous for the privilege of being chosen.
“Our metropolis — daring, inclusive, and emblematic of the American future — can be a becoming and provoking residence for this historic occasion,” Jones wrote in a July 1 letter to DNC Chair Ken Martin and government director Alex Hornbrook.
Jones has many nationwide political connections from her two congressional races and her time because the Biden Administration’s Air Power Underneath Secretary.
Her ask comes as Martin and the DNC have additionally signaled renewed curiosity Texas, the place massive investments over quite a few election cycles have accomplished little to shift the politics of a purple state.
President Donald Trump carried Texas by 14 share factors in 2024, and even reliably blue elements of the state have been shifting away from Democrats in recent times.
Nonetheless, each events agree that broader inhabitants shifts have made the state a perpetual battleground for the foreseeable future.
“The way forward for the Democratic Social gathering runs by Texas,” Martin instructed the New York Instances on a February go to to Houston.
A DNC spokesperson didn’t reply to questions on San Antonio’s bid to host the 2028 conference in time for publication Thursday.
The Republican Nationwide Committee has already introduced plans to host its 2028 nationwide conference in Houston — after an unusually early choice course of.
Democrats have had few brilliant spots to level to final November’s GOP wave, however Jones’ decisive victory over an opponent with ties to state GOP leaders final month was a rallying level for state and nationwide occasion leaders.
“San Antonio is thought for 2 issues: compassion and customary sense,” Jones stated in her DNC letter, mirroring a few of her reflections after the mayor’s race. “Our residents are heat, welcoming, and happy with the cultural richness that defines our metropolis and the way forward for our nation.”
A hefty price ticket
Regardless of San Antonio’s repute as a tourism powerhouse, town has by no means hosted a nationwide conference for both political occasion.
The Republican Nationwide Committee approached native officers about coming right here in 2020, however the left-leaning Metropolis Council turned it down amid issues about logistics and potential backlash to a “divisive” Trump administration descending on blue metropolis.
That yr a gaggle of native enterprise leaders had pledged to boost the roughly $70 million price ticket famous within the RNC’s request for proposals, and had been outraged when then-Mayor Ron Nirenberg declined what they noticed as a serious income producing alternative.
Two years later San Antonio hosted the Republican Social gathering of Texas’ conference, which town bid for in opposition to Fort Price.
Like different main occasions, nationwide political conventions include massive upfront prices that cities should weigh in opposition to the potential tourism {dollars}.
Chicago reportedly spent about $75 million to host Democrats’ nationwide conference in 2024, and town’s tourism arm stated the occasion generated about $371.4 million in financial influence.
Go to San Antonio, which has been serving to with town’s utility course of, estimated the 2028 conference would result in $127 million in direct spending, and about $250 million in complete financial influence.
Jones stated Thursday that it’s nonetheless early within the utility course of, and particulars about fundraising and a possible bid committee can be hashed out later if the DNC alerts curiosity.
“There’s a fundraising element to this … however I feel because the DNC is taking a look at contemplating a wider vary of communities than is beforehand checked out, these necessities could evolve,” Jones stated.
If San Antonio had been chosen, Democrats’ subsequent presidential nominee might be named within the 60,000-seat Alamodome, which simply underwent massive renovations for the 2025 NCAA Males’s Closing 4 basketball match.
Jones’ letter additionally famous town’s ample lodge choices, conference middle facilities and different tourism sights, which she stated provide “an unparalleled customer expertise.”
“Clearly this might be an excellent financial alternative,” Jones stated. “But in addition an excellent alternative to spotlight our metropolis as nicely.”
