Here & Now

Democrats Will Flock to Milwaukee for 2020 Convention

Frederica Freyberg:
The Democrats are coming, lots of them, to Milwaukee, because the city is the newly-selected site of the 2020 Democratic Party Convention. Milwaukee beat out Houston and Miami to become the host city. We begin tonight with a look at what this means economically and politically for Milwaukee, the home of 4th District Congresswoman Gwen Moore. She joins us from Washington at the headquarters of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Thanks for being here.

Gwen Moore:
Thanks for having me, Frederica.

Frederica Freyberg:
I know that you helped lead the effort to get the convention. What was your reaction when the decision was announced?

Gwen Moore:
I was over the moon. So happy. So exhausted. The anticipation and anxiety was so intense, Frederica, because we had very stiff competition from, as you mentioned, Miami and Houston, places with lots of venues, lots of hotels. But it made so much sense, because Milwaukee, of course, is ground zero for the struggles and values of the Democratic Party. As Chairman Tom Perez pointed out, Milwaukee was a choice because it really demonstrates our Democratic values. It’s a town of working-class people. It’s a state that helped start the union movement. People died, shed blood for working people. Some of the more progressive ideals that the Democratic Party stands for, like protecting social security, unemployment compensation, these are ideas that generated from Wisconsin. And so, you know, when you stop and think about it going full circle, Milwaukee was the only choice.

Frederica Freyberg:
What will it mean for Milwaukee economically?

Gwen Moore:
Well, you know, the convention in Philadelphia generated about $230 million in revenue. And we expect that that will happen in Wisconsin as well. We’re going to have so many venues available to us. We’re going to have Summerfest during that period of time. We have the Harley Museum, all of our breweries, numbers of riverboat cruises that could be done. And there will be meetings outside of the Fiserv Forum Center, outside of the arena, probably about 2,000 meetings that will happen outside of that arena. So there will be a lot of opportunity for restaurateurs, for hotels. But we’re going to also focus on our diversity and make sure that Native Americans, African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, that we showcase not only our diverse population, but try to make sure that small businesses get an opportunity to participate in the $200 million economic impact of this convention.

Frederica Freyberg:
Logistically, I understand about 50,000 people are expected to descend on Milwaukee. Is the city up to that task?

Gwen Moore:
We are so up to it. Of course, it’s going to take a lot of cooperation and coordination. Again, it’ll will be opportunities for transportation services, to provide transportation from hotels that might be in nearby suburbs. We have taken the time to reserve every single room. If there are bed and breakfast facilities, we have some lovely ones in Milwaukee, some of our older mansions that will be there and be available for people. And we’re going to work very, very hard. But they would not have chosen us if we hadn’t met those thresholds. And I’m really, really proud of the fact that the Milwaukee business community stepped up to the plate. What we’ve learned since the bidding process is over with, that Milwaukee had the most solid commitment to finance this initiative than the other two cities. And we’ve still got to raise about $70 million, but our business community has really stepped up to the task.

Frederica Freyberg:
Now, I don’t have to tell you this, but Wisconsin will be the battle ground state in 2020. How will having the DNC Convention in Wisconsin, in Milwaukee, affect the politics of that election?

Gwen Moore:
You know, Frederica, it made so much sense to come back to the Midwest, from some of the people who felt that they were forgotten, not just by Republicans, but by Democrats as well. And, again, Wisconsin is home to small farmers. It’s a home to a city that is struggling to recover from what people have called the Rust Belt. We want to be able to showcase that we have come back and that we’re the fresh coast now. And I think this is an opportunity to really renew our commitment to bring in those delegates from the Midwest that are so often aggrieved by the technological advances that have been made and trade policies that have seemed to have left some people behind. And so the ability to showcase our trade unionist, worker, small farmer background is very precious to us.

Frederica Freyberg:
Did you ever speak to Hillary Clinton about why she wasn’t coming and didn’t come to Wisconsin during the 2016 general election?

Gwen Moore:
Well, you know, Frederica, I don’t think we should relitigate that. I think Hillary Clinton was a fantastic nominee. And, as we know, there are lots of different moving parts to why we lost that election, up to and including pronouncements that were made by the Justice Department right before the election and the interference with Russians. And I think that, you know, it just goes to show that you can’t take any state for granted. And while Wisconsin has, you know, produced the Democratic vote time and again, we have had a history of supporting– of being a purple state. And so I think this is a great opportunity for our nominee and our candidates to make sure that they don’t ignore Wisconsin. I remember Barack Obama, in both his campaigns, he was in Wisconsin within 24 hours of the November elections. And so that’s a lesson learned.

Frederica Freyberg:
All right. Congresswoman Gwen Moore, thanks very much.

Gwen Moore:
Thank you, Frederica. You take care. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everybody.

Frederica Freyberg:
Thanks.