MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson greeted hundreds of journalists at Fiserv Forum Thursday, where Republicans will hold their national nominating convention next July.
Johnson, who calls himself a proud Democrat, said the Republican gathering will be good for residents and businesses in the city and state.
“I want workers and restaurants and hotels in this city to earn excellent wages. I do,” he said. “I want local small businesses to profit, and I want our hospitality industry to welcome great events well into the future beyond 2024.”
About 50,000 people are expected to visit Wisconsin for the convention, where Republicans will formally nominate their candidates for president and vice president.
Convention CEO Elise Dickens, a veteran Wisconsin Republican operative and fundraiser, said Republicans hope the gathering is a launching pad to win back the White House.
“Number one, of course, is launching our nominee to victory. Period. That's the number one goal,” she said.
Republicans hope that holding the convention here will give them a leg up in a state that swings in presidential elections. Milwaukee was supposed to host the Democrats’ 2020 convention, but it was moved online due to the pandemic.
Dickens gave a shoutout to RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel for choosing Milwaukee to play host, even though the city is solidly blue.
“Chairwoman McDaniel didn't choose a city that's reliably in our corner,” Dickens said. “Since the onset of her chairmanship, she has opened community centers and been a part of communities that aren't traditionally red.”
Dickens said there are 23 staff members on the ground in Milwaukee already prepping for the convention and interacting with the community at volunteer events.
A month after the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next July, Democrats will gather in Chicago for their nominating convention.