WASHINGTON — Democrats have selected Philadelphia as the site of the party’s 2016 national convention, choosing a patriotic backdrop for the nomination of its next presidential candidate.
The Democratic National Committee said Thursday the convention will be held the week of July 25, 2016. The two other finalists were Brooklyn, New York, and Columbus, Ohio.
“Philadelphia’s deep-rooted place in American history provides a perfect setting for this special gathering. I cannot wait to join Democrats across the country to celebrate our shared values, lay out a Democratic vision for the future, and support our nominee,” said Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the DNC chief, said in a statement.
The site could serve as a passing of the baton from President Barack Obama to Hillary Rodham Clinton, the leading contender for the party’s nomination should she run for president, as is widely expected.
The event will come the week after Republicans hold their national convention in Cleveland.
For Democrats, the choice came down to whether to set the stage for the next nominee in a big city or in another closely contested state. Obama was nominated in Denver in 2008 and in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2012, allowing his campaign to use the events to register new voters and recruit volunteers in states crucial to his political map.
Democrats bypassed New York, which is expected to be the headquarters of Clinton’s campaign, and Columbus, the capital of one of the most contested states in recent presidential elections.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio had promoted his home borough of Brooklyn as an ideal location for the convention and stressed the city’s large network of financial donors who would help underwrite the event.
Columbus said it would have offered a fitting location to respond to the Republican gathering in Cleveland, ahead of the fall campaign. The last Democrat to win the White House without carrying Ohio was John F. Kennedy in 1960, and no Republican ever has.
Philadelphia’s organizers pointed to the city’s heritage as the home of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were adopted, along with its convenient East Coast location and compact, easy-to-navigate community.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said the city has a “proven track record of hosting big events safely and efficiently” and offered “tremendous amenities, its accessible location and historical significance.” The city held Democratic conventions in 1948 during Harry S. Truman’s presidency and in 1936, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt was nominated for the second time.
Philadelphia has been the home to a variety of large events and played host to the Republican convention in 2000. The Vatican chose Philadelphia as the site for the World Meeting of Families, which Pope Francis will attend in September.
Clinton also has ties to Pennsylvania. Her father was born in Scranton and she has allies in the state such as former Gov. Ed Rendell, an ex-chairman of the DNC. Democrats have carried Pennsylvania in every presidential election since 1992.
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