Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is part of the effort to bring the Democratic National Convention to Milwaukee. | Scott Olson/Getty Images Politics Midwestern Dems launch behind-the-scenes offensive to land Milwaukee convention

CHICAGO — Top Midwestern Democrats and business leaders are engaged in a frenzied, last-minute effort to bring the Democratic National Convention to Milwaukee next year, insisting that a Wisconsin convention presence would help repair the frayed relationship between the party and heartland voters.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been involved in the behind-the-scenes overtures, offering up his own political muscle to lure the marquee political event to his neighboring state. Pritzker told POLITICO on Wednesday he spoke to Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers this week about helping to land the convention.


In recent weeks, Evers, who in November narrowly defeated longtime Republican Gov. Scott Walker, has worked the phones, reaching out to potential stakeholders about bringing the convention to his state’s largest city.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) is making fundraising calls to individuals, Wisconsin companies and companies with strong bases in Wisconsin, her campaign said. Baldwin has personally lobbied Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez, who himself has ties to the state. His wife is from a suburb of Milwaukee — less than a 20-minute drive from where the proposed convention site is located — and his daughter attends the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

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Pritzker, a billionaire who served as a major fundraiser and bundler for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 run, has also reached out to Perez and is working his own connections in the organization, he said.

“I know a few of the folks at the DNC and I’m continuing to express my support for Milwaukee,” Pritzker said. “As they make their decision, I hope they realize the Midwest is one of the most important regions to take back the White House. Michigan and Wisconsin were extraordinarily important and, unfortunately, Donald Trump had managed to win both states.”

Midwestern Democrats say locating in Milwaukee would help heal the wounds left by a 2016 general election campaign that saw Clinton skip Wisconsin and then unexpectedly lose the state to Trump.

Trump also went on to win Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, each of which voted twice for Barack Obama.

Milwaukee is among three finalists — Houston and Miami Beach are the other two — in the running to host the 2020 convention. The DNC is expected to announce its pick as early as next week.

“If the decision is made on the basis of where in the nation we need to focus our attention, then Milwaukee will be the choice,” Pritzker said.

Aside from Pritzker’s involvement, Chicago donors and business leaders are engaged in the effort, including Chicago Bulls CEO and President Michael Reinsdorf, a source close to Reinsdorf confirmed.



In August, a coalition of Midwestern senators signed on to a letter to the DNC calling for a Milwaukee selection, including Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), as well as former Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.).

Klobuchar announced her bid for president Sunday while Brown is seriously considering a 2020 bid.

“Democrats have not held a convention in the Midwest since 1996, and a Milwaukee convention would send a strong message to the nation that winning America’s heartland is a priority in the 2020 election cycle and beyond,” the senators wrote. “Wisconsin is a state with a deep progressive and Democratic history. It is an ideal place for our party to showcase our values, priorities and agenda in our commitment to fight for everyday Americans.”

Daniel Strauss contributed to this report.