Biden, Buttigieg among presidential hopefuls heading to Rainbow PUSH convention

Presidential candidates Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg will head to Chicago later this month to speak at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s annual convention.

Biden’s campaign on Monday confirmed the former vice president would be visiting Chicago once again on Friday, June 28. Biden attended a private fundraiser on the Gold Coast last week.

According to Rainbow PUSH, both Biden and Buttigieg, the South Bend, Ind. mayor, are confirmed to attend the convention. This year’s theme is “400 Years Later: Repairing the Damage Done 1619-2019. Each day will focus on different areas of inequity, including business, technology, education and health.

Biden will speak at a labor luncheon at noon at 1901 W. Carroll, alongside Kenneth Rigmaiden, the president of the Painters & Allied Trades.

Buttigieg will give the keynote address at a business luncheon on the closing day of the convention on Tuesday, July 2 at the Sheraton Hotel. Mayor Lori Lightfoot will also attend the Biden event, and speak at the business luncheon, Rainbow PUSH officials said.

Rainbow PUSH told the Sun-Times last week that Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Kamala Harris of California and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont would also attend. Rainbow PUSH spokesman Don Terry said there are other presidential hopefuls scheduled to attend events during the five-day convention, but Biden and Buttigieg are the only confirmed presidential hopefuls as of Monday.