Brooklyn's Barclays Center would host the DNC should New York be selected. 2016 DNC: Convention finalist cities named

The 2016 Democratic National Convention will take place in either New York City, Philadelphia or Columbus, Ohio.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, announced the finalist cities on Monday; Phoenix, Arizona, and Birmingham, Alabama, didn’t make the cut.


The decision on the winning city is expected early next year, and the convention itself will be held either the week of July 18, July 25 or Aug. 22, according to the committee.

( PHOTOS: Cities and political conventions)

New York City officials have proposed that the convention’s main venue be the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the home borough of Mayor Bill de Blasio. The city has hosted the national political conventions in the past, though not in Brooklyn.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is likely to run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 and would be the presumed frontrunner if and when she declares her candidacy.

Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, have been reported as supportive of the Brooklyn bid. But people close to the couple say they are agnostic on the de Blasio administration’s plans, and that they see the merits of holding the convention in a swing state.

Among the issues with the convention being in New York City? It would immediately become about de Blasio, who is trying to become a national figure, according to the sources, as opposed to being focused mostly on the nominee.

Columbus is a growing city and the capital of a key swing state. But, because the Republicans are holding their convention in Cleveland in 2016, there have been questions about whether Ohio has a big enough donor base to raise the money for two such gatherings.

At a celebratory City Hall press conference on Monday, de Blasio sounded supremely confident about New York’s chances.

He noted that when the Republicans held their 2004 convention in New York it injected over a quarter-billion into the local economy. He said New York’s host committee has already received $10 million in pledges and will raise over $100 million to make the 2016 convention a success.

“It will be a shot in the arm that will be felt all over this city,” the mayor said.

The Democrats’ three finalist cities were selected after site visits by a technical advisory group. The group considered logistics, such as whether there are sufficient venues to handle an onslaught of 30,000-plus visitors and the required security. Birmingham was always seen as an underdog.

Phoenix leaders took solace that the city will host the 2015 Super Bowl, the 2016 College Football Championship and the 2017 NCAA Final Four.

“It’s the first time we’ve made it this far in pursuing a major political convention,” Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said in a statement. “We look forward to hosting a DNC or RNC convention in the future.”

The GOP’s 2016 convention in Cleveland is likely to be held in early July, meaning the Republican convention will precede the Democratic one.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), joining de Blasio at his press conference, talked up the Brooklyn renaissance. He joked that “Philly has cheesesteaks” but that New York has so much more.

“Unlike Sarah Palin, when I say I can see the Barclays Center from my house, it’s true,” he said. “I can!”

Maggie Haberman contributed to this report.