No cracks in Blue Wall? Top Democrats vow Chicago is ready for convention, despite party divisions
Democrats are deeply focused on Wisconsin and Michigan to help bolster President Joe Biden’s re-election chances — and officials, in town for meetings hosted by the Democratic National Convention Committee, say they plan on showing voters a deep party contrast.
Minyon Moore, chair of the Democratic National Convention Committee, discusses the 2024 Democratic National Convention during a news conference at the Hilton Chicago, Thursday.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Top state Democratic Party leaders on Thursday vowed “Blue Wall” unity ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago despite party fissures over the war in Gaza and the ongoing migrant crisis — and polls that show President Joe Biden still must gain ground to win key battleground states.
Democrats are deeply focused on Wisconsin and Michigan to help bolster Biden’s re-election chances — and officials, in town for meetings hosted by the Democratic National Convention Committee, say they plan on showing voters a deep contrast between the visions of the Democratic and Republican parties.
“What we’re going to see in the Republican convention in July in Wisconsin, and in this Democratic convention here in Chicago is a tale of two parties, a tale of two dimensions and a tale of two visions for this country — one that tries to move us back, not just to the 1950s but to the 19th century,” said Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
“On the Republican side, ripping away freedoms that people have fought and died for, and on the Democratic side, a message about growing the economy from the middle and the bottom up and defending freedoms and basic principles that make this country great.”
Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, discusses the 2024 Democratic National Convention during a news conference at the Hilton Chicago on Thursday.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
In Michigan, where the legislature is led by Democrats in both chambers, party leaders plan to showcase Biden’s investments in the private sector, their work in strengthening gun laws and in repealing the 1931 abortion ban.
“Democrats in the Midwest and across the nation are focused on protecting freedoms and making real progress,” said Lavora Barnes, Michigan Democratic Party chair.
Hundreds of Democratic Party officials came to Chicago this week for tours and meetings ahead of the Aug. 19-22 convention, including an executive committee on Tuesday to select members of three convention standing committees.
Lavora Barnes, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, discusses the 2024 Democratic National Convention during a news conference Thursday.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
At a downtown news conference on Thursday, party leaders were joined by convention chair Minyon Moore, who sought to quell concerns that intra-party divisions over the war in Gaza could derail the convention — and Biden’s campaign. Biden won this year’s Democratic primary in Wisconsin but about 50,000 voters cast a ballot for an “uninstructed” delegation.
In Michigan, while Biden won the state with more than 618,000 votes, more than 100,000 voters cast ballots for “uncommitted,” securing two delegates.
The Democratic National Convention is designated a “National Special Security Event,” meaning the U.S. Secret Service is involved in planning and ensuring safety during the convention. Still, a Monday morning protest near O’Hare International Airport showed demonstrators may be plotting other areas of the city to exercise their First Amendment rights. Forty pro-Palestinian demonstrators were arrested after cutting off traffic to the airport.
“We are very sensitive to the environment that we’re walking in here in Chicago, and we have read the stories. We have seen the stories, and we have heard the stories. And we know that these protesters are coming,” Moore said. “We’re trying to create an environment where everyone is welcome. We do protect First Amendment rights, but we also want to reassure you that the people are excited about this convention coming. We have 50,000 people coming in because they want to re-nominate Joe Biden.”
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters march northbound on Michigan near. Oak Street, where President Joe Biden attended a fundraising event earlier this month.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
And as members of the Kennedy family endorsed Biden on Thursday in Washington, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. qualified to appear on Michigan’s ballot as an independent, potentially peeling votes from Biden.
Roger Lau, DNC deputy executive director, said the Biden campaign is “not taking anything for granted” when it comes to Kennedy.
“I think it’s clear that there are only two candidates … Donald Trump and Joe Biden. And our goal at the DNC is to make sure that voters know about that choice, and they know the difference between the two and they know what’s at stake,” Lau said. “We’re not taking anything for granted.”
Biden has thus far avoided talking about Trump’s ongoing criminal trials while on the campaign trail — but made a small quip on Wednesday at a Pennsylvania campaign stop.
“Under my predecessor, who’s a little busy right now, Pennsylvania lost 275,000 jobs,” Biden said.
But Biden senior adviser Louisa Terrell told reporters on Thursday that Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will continue to focus on their record — not on Trump’s legal woes.
“I think they are going to get out there and continue to hit the road a lot and talk about both their record — what the vision is and the contrast is, and let the rest of it take care of itself,” Terrell said.
Votes on $70 million to help migrants and the bond issue to fund housing and economic development now are set for Friday. The Council was, however, poised to approve a slew of other measures.
In Chicago, the Democratic National Committee leaders will pick the members of the party’s platform, rules and credentials committees at the last party meeting before the August convention to renominate President Joe Biden.
Ald. Brendan Reilly said he’s concerned paying a settlement to Bryan Mejia, who suffered a fractured leg and torn ACL, will invite protesters expected for the Democratic National Convention to wreak havoc, then bombard the city with lawsuits.
Protesters, residents and other DNC observers would be prohibited from bringing laptops, large bags, scooters and other items into certain areas closest to convention attendees under a proposed ordinance.
Pro-Palestinian protesters greeted Biden outside the Drake Hotel on the Gold Coast, where the president had a campaign meeting before making remarks at the fundraiser.
A Chicago fundraiser for President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign is expected to collected $2.5 million for the Biden Action Fund, a joint fundraising committee consisting of the Biden for President operation and the Democratic National Committee.
This week, residents and businesses near the United Center and McCormick Place will receive briefings on how they will be impacted by convention security plans.
Cristina Pacione-Zayas, having spent the last 11 months learning the ropes of city government as Rich Guidice’s top deputy, was the natural choice to replace Guidice.
The mayor made it clear he would not remove the City Council member for appearing at a rally where an American flag was burned to protest U.S. support for Israel.
The funds will help target a big problem for a city opening its doors to President Joe Biden and the Democratic National Convention in August. Just 17.94% of registered voters in suburban Cook County and 25.7% of registered voters in Chicago voted in the March 19 primary.
In between meetings with film and business leaders in California, Gov. J.B. Pritzker will fundraise for the Democratic National Convention Host Committee, including a reception in Los Angeles, and for abortion rights ballot initiatives in Arizona and Nevada.
The groups — both part of the Coalition to March on the DNC — filed for parade permits to march during the Aug-19 convention, but the city denied them, saying it would tie up traffic and require police officers it could not spare.
Whether the city’s low voter turnout on Tuesday is a sign of apathy or dissatisfaction, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and key Democrats are downplaying the significance for President Joe Biden. But one leading pollster calls it a warning bell for other key Democratic cities: ‘These cities need to be engines of turnout.’
The largest of the settlements — for $45 million — goes to Nathen Jones, who suffered a massive traumatic brain injury after an unauthorized police chase. The settlements were approved at a Council meeting that also saw Mayor Brandon Johnson introduce an ordinance authorizing drawing of boundaries for a security footprint around the Democratic National Convention.
“We want to make sure that we maintain peace,” Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling said during a news conference Wednesday about this summer’s Democratic National Convention. “We’re going to police constitutionally.”
When it comes to qualifying for perks — and this is true for Democrats and Republicans in past conventions — big donors can vault into the elite ranks either by direct giving or raising political cash. The Sun-Times has exclusive details on what is being offered to the Biden Victory Fund’s donors at this summer’s Chicago gathering.
Owner George Lemperis said Friday the damage was extensive but that he plans to reopen: “They rebuilt the World Trade Center. I can certainly rebuild this.”
The legendary peace priest plans to lead a protest Feb. 15 demanding the Democratic National Committee set aside funds to house Chicago’s homeless residents. “Our message is simple: ‘No money put aside for the homeless: No convention,’ ” said Pfleger.
The city has denied a group’s permit to hold a demonstration at Jane M. Byrne Plaza during the Democratic National Convention in August. A judge this week will decide whether an alternate route is acceptable.
Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler Jr. has led the FBI’s fourth-largest field office for the past year. His team is prepping for Chicago’s DNC and the Republican convention in Milwaukee, 90 miles north.
As new documentary and album sum up band’s first 50 years, the New Wave pioneers consider their next de-evolution into holographic avatars or touring heads in jars.
The move would ease tax burdens on pot shops, currently prohibited from deducting expenses from income associated with Schedule I or II substances. Those savings could be passed on to customers, industry leaders said.
