Republican National Committee and Fox News to Hold Official Showcase Event for 2024 Presidential Cycle in Milwaukee
The Republican National Committee (RNC) and Fox News Channel are set to hold their first official showcase event for Republican candidates in the 2024 presidential cycle in Milwaukee. This event comes as Milwaukee is also slated to host the GOP’s national nominating convention next July.
Milwaukee has previously been a debate site for both parties, including the GOP eight years ago. However, the decision to choose Milwaukee for the party’s national nominating convention raised eyebrows. Some questioned whether it made sense to have the premier event on what is fundamentally Democratic turf. Additionally, there were rumors that the Democrats were considering Milwaukee as their convention location as well.
The Democrats had initially planned to have their convention in Milwaukee in 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they held some official functions in the city while staging their media extravaganza on TV and the internet from multiple locations around the country. In August of last year, the RNC announced Milwaukee as the site for their convention in 2024, solidifying their decision.
Milwaukee, a city on the shores of Lake Michigan, had never hosted either major party’s national convention before. The decision to choose Milwaukee for both parties’ conventions within a span of four years was seen as ironic. The city had struggled to attract major conventions in the past due to competition from larger cities like Chicago and coastal metropolitan areas.
Traditionally, conventions served as platforms for political parties to determine their tickets. However, in recent years, their purpose has shifted to messaging and major fundraising. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the ability for conventions to be held remotely, diminishing the importance of the physical location.
Milwaukee’s political landscape is predominantly Democratic, with the city not having a Republican mayor since 1908. However, Wisconsin has become a closely contested state in national elections, surprising many as it had preferred Democrats for president for seven consecutive elections starting in 1988.
In 2016, Hillary Clinton’s campaign took Wisconsin for granted, resulting in a late surge for Donald Trump. In 2020, President Biden narrowly won the state with support from Madison, the state capital.
The decision to choose Milwaukee as the host city for both parties’ conventions indicates the recognition of the state’s importance in future elections. Despite its historical Democratic leanings, Wisconsin has become a battleground state, and both parties are keen on appealing to voters in the region.
The showcase event in Milwaukee will provide Republican candidates with an opportunity to make their case for the 2024 presidential cycle. As both parties shift their strategies and adapt to changing political dynamics, it remains to be seen how Milwaukee’s hosting of these events will impact future elections and the national political landscape.
Original Story at www.npr.org – 2023-08-19 15:30:00
Comments are closed.