Philly pitches DNC bid at party meeting in New Orleans
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Patti LaBelle performing in 2025. Photo: Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
Philadelphia took its bid to host the 2028 Democratic National Convention on the road last week, with the "Godmother of Soul" Patti LaBelle in tow.
Why it matters: The battle to put on the party's biggest event is heating up among the five finalists: Philly, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and Denver.
The big picture: Securing the convention would be a coup for the chosen city — bringing prestige, bragging rights and an economic boost.
State of play: The host city hopefuls sent contingents to the party's spring meeting in New Orleans, attempting to woo party members by throwing parties and doling out freebies like coffee, swag and more.
Zoom in: Philly's delegation — the nonprofit Pick Pennsylvania — positioned a cart serving free cups of coffee from Philly-based roaster Rival Brothers between large screens displaying fun facts about the city.
- Plus: Philly native LaBelle was at Pick Pennsylvania's happy hour event, where she greeted guests and appeared in photos. The event also featured centerpieces with Tastykake treats.
- Worth noting: DNC chairperson Ken Martin attended that event along with other party officers, Aren Platt, a senior adviser for Philly's host committee, tells Axios.
Reality check: "They're wooing all these people, but there's only one person that makes that decision and that's me," Martin told Axios of host cities at the meeting.
- He added that he's currently focused on the midterm elections.
Inside the room: We're told Atlanta trolled the Philly folks by showing up outside their party venue Friday night and playing "Welcome to Atlanta."
The other side: "If Atlanta did troll us, they did it in such a subtle way that nobody noticed," Platt says.
👀 What we're watching: Martin told Axios New Orleans' Carlie Kollath Wells that the next presidential races will likely run through the South and Sun Belt — not the North and Blue Wall states such as Pennsylvania.
- Martin says the party needs to start laying the groundwork in these fast-growing states now "so that by the time this map shifts, we're in a position to actually compete and win down here."
What's next: The Democratic National Committee will conduct a site visit to Philly from April 29 to May 1 as part of the selection process.
- Expect a delegation of DNC officials to be in town, including Martin.
Editor's note: This story was corrected to show that Patti LaBelle appeared at the happy hour event (but did not sing).