Atlanta Mayor Condemns DNC for Excluding City From 2028 Convention Host Cities

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens delivered a forceful critique of Democratic National Committee leadership Thursday, asserting that party officials have forsaken Black voters and the American South after removing the city from consideration to host the 2028 presidential convention. The DNC narrowed its search to Boston, Denver and Philadelphia, prompting Dickens to pen a pointed missive to Fox News Digital that directly challenged DNC Chairman Ken Martin and his decision-making.

Dickens’ objections reflect broader concerns raised by southern Democratic officials in recent months, who contend the party cannot ignore the South and its substantial Black voter base as it heads into 2028. South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain emphasized last month that “the South is not the past, it is the future,” while chairs from five additional southern states previously warned the DNC against signaling to Black voters that their support is taken for granted.

“They are afraid to leave their comfort zone and blind to the fact that the South is the answer,” Dickens wrote, adding the DNC is “abandoning Atlanta, abandoning the South, and once again abandoning Black voters.” He underscored that Atlanta has not hosted a Democratic convention for nearly 40 years, while Republicans have chosen to hold their gathering in the region multiple times.

The DNC declined to directly address Dickens’ criticism but highlighted party efforts throughout the South and released a statement from Martin praising the three finalist cities. “Boston, Denver, and Philadelphia all presented incredibly strong bids to host the convention, and we look forward to continuing to work with them as the DNC makes a final selection in the coming months,” Martin said.

The party also referenced its recent decision to position South Carolina first in the 2028 nominating calendar, with voting scheduled for January 22, 2028. DNC officials emphasized the racial composition of the six early-voting states, noting approximately 4.6 million Black residents live across those jurisdictions.

The Democratic National Convention Committee will conduct a thorough contracts and logistics review of the three finalists over the coming months before announcing a final decision for the August 7-10, 2028 convention. Atlanta and Chicago were eliminated from the original five-city field after site visits conducted in April and May assessed factors including arena capacity, hotel availability, fundraising potential and alignment with Democratic values.

Dickens concluded his letter by asserting that the moment demands Democratic leaders who will confront challenges directly rather than retreat to familiar territory. Atlanta, which also lost the 2024 convention hosting duties to Chicago, has not held a Democratic National Convention since 1988.