Frequently Asked Questions

The Democratic National Convention (DNC) occurs every four years and is a gathering of delegates elected from all 57 U.S. states and territories to conduct vital business of the Democratic Party. This includes officially nominating the Party’s candidates for President and Vice President of the United States and adopting the Party’s platform.

This year, the DNC will take place in Chicago, Illinois from August 19-22, 2024 at the United Center and McCormick Place. Democrats will formally renominate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for President and Vice President of the United States.

The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) is the convention arm of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), responsible for planning the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago from August 19-22, 2024.

Chicago is the perfect place to tell the story of the Biden-Harris administration and the Democratic Party to the American people. Chicago represents the diversity of the Democratic Party and the country. It’s a union city that sits at the heart of the Midwest, and it’s a Democratic stronghold that was part of the “blue wall” crucial to the Biden-Harris victory in 2020. Across the city and entire region, Midwesterners are seeing the impacts of the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda, including a manufacturing boom that has created good-paying jobs and uplifted communities who have been left behind.

For delegates and non-delegates alike, the 2024 Democratic National Convention will present an incredible opportunity to be a part of history in the making. In addition to the over 5,000 delegates and alternates who will convene in Chicago this summer, 12,000 volunteers will help keep the convention running smoothly. 

Being a DNC volunteer is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and the DNCC highly encourages members of the Chicago community and beyond to participate in the convention by signing up to become a volunteer. Volunteer roles include supporting security, transportation, wayfinding, event staffing, technology, operations, communications, and more. Individuals who register to volunteer will receive a questionnaire asking about availability, interests, skills and any considerations needed for accommodations due to a disability. 

People can also connect with the Democratic National Convention on social media. You can follow the DNCC on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter.

We look forward to welcoming 50,000 total visitors to the city for the convention, including 5,000 delegates and alternates and 15,000 members of the media.

The Democratic National Convention Committee will work with the 2024 Chicago Host Committee to ensure the DNC leaves a positive impact on neighborhoods and communities across Chicago. We expect to see an incredible economic impact across the Chicagoland area, benefiting the entire metro region, in line with the hundreds of millions of dollars past host cities have seen.

The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau found that the 2016 Democratic National Convention hosted in Philadelphia generated $230.9 million in total economic impact. An independent economic impact study concluded that the 2012 Democratic National Convention resulted in an estimated $163.6 million benefit to the Charlotte regional economy. After hosting the 2008 convention, Denver reported an estimated $266.1 million in regional economic benefit to Metro Denver, of which $153.9 million occurred within the City and County of Denver.

The Chicago 2024 Host Committee launched its DNC Vendor Directory and Venue Map, which include more than 1,700 businesses and venues available for this summer’s Democratic National Convention. 

The vendor directory and venue map aim to connect the 50,000 delegates and other visitors to the wealth of local vendors available in Chicago leading up to, during, and after the Convention. 

The vendor directory and venue map are made up of Chicagoland businesses, individuals, and venues––of which more than 70% identified as diverse. 

If you are interested in contracting with the Host Committee, DNCC, or with ancillary events surrounding the week of the Convention, please complete the Vendor Interest Form on the Chicago 2024 Host Committee’s website. 

If you are interested in responding to a specific request for proposal (RFP) related to the Convention, please visit the RFP Information Page.

If you have questions regarding the Vendor Interest Form, please contact vendors@Chicago2024.com.

Only credentialed delegates, media, and guests can attend the convention in-person. We are building a convention to reach all Americans and will provide opportunities to participate.  

The DNCC highly encourages members of the Chicago community and beyond to participate in the convention by signing up to become a volunteer. Volunteer roles include supporting security, transportation, wayfinding, event staffing, technology, operations, communications, and more. 

People can also connect with the Democratic National Convention on social media. You can follow the DNCC on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter.

Hotel allocations and reservations will be managed by the DNCC Housing Department who will remain in close touch with official state delegations and other stakeholders to understand and meet their housing needs for convention week.

We have contracted thousands of hotel rooms at more than 40 properties around the city for delegates, alternates, media, and members of the Democratic family. 

All delegate hotels are located downtown within a five-mile radius and 15-20 minute drive from the United Center and/or McCormick Place.

In addition to Chicago’s robust public transit options, the DNCC transportation team will coordinate buses and shuttles to ensure guests can easily travel between official convention locations.

Official proceedings, primetime programming, and speeches will take place at the United Center, which has hosted 70 million guests since its opening in 1994, including the 1996 Democratic National Convention. Home to the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls, the arena will host more than 200 events this year, including the convention. 

Official daytime party business, meetings, and briefings will be held at McCormick Place, North America’s largest convention center. Hotels on the McCormick Place campus will also serve as the headquarters hotel for Democratic staff and media. McCormick Place hosts more than 200 conferences each year that draw 1.8 million guests and create an estimated $1.8 billion in economic impact. 

In 2020, Democrats held a virtual convention – breaking new ground using technology, creativity, and ingenuity. Democrats produced programming that reached historic numbers of Americans and allowed more Americans than ever to participate in the convention in real and meaningful ways. In 2024, we are going to build on that success – reaching not only delegates in the United Center but people watching, gathering, and participating across the country.

The Department of Homeland Security has designated both parties’ conventions as National Special Security Events (NSSEs), putting the U.S. Secret Service in charge of coordinating security efforts across federal, state, and local law enforcement, who have been working together since last August. 

The safety and security of convention delegates, guests, and the public is a top priority, and Chicago has a proven track record of hosting safe, large-scale events. The DNCC will continue to work closely with law enforcement partners and support them in their efforts to host a safe and secure convention, which includes planning for citizens expressing their First Amendment rights.

The U.S. Secret Service is coordinating public safety efforts with the Chicago Police Department and Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC). More information on public safety efforts, including how the public can sign up for updates, is available at: Chicago.gov/OEMC.

For specific security needs related to guests at official DNC events, please reach out to security@demconvention.com.

The DNCC has added an Accessibility Advisor to their team in pursuit of its mission of hosting the most accessible Democratic National Convention in history. The Accessibility Advisor will work closely with the DNCC, Host Committee, United Center, McCormick Place, airports, hotels, and other venues as well as the Mayor’s Office for Persons with Disabilities and other key experts to ensure the physical infrastructure and material presented during the 2024 Democratic National Convention meets and exceeds all relevant accessibility standards.

Please contact accessibility@demconvention.com. 

All information regarding press credentialing for the Democratic National Convention in Chicago from August 19-22 can be found at DemConvention.com/media/credentials. For any additional questions on credentialing, you can reach out to medialogistics@demconvention.com.

Sign up for media updates from the DNCC here and contact press@demconvention.com with any additional questions. People can also connect with the Democratic National Convention on social media. You can follow the DNC on Instagram, Facebook,  LinkedIn, and X/Twitter.

For media organizations that do not receive credentials by the Congressional Press Galleries, the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) will review applications to receive credentials through the DNCC Press Gallery. Relevant applicants would include student media and media with political or religious affiliation. To request a DNCC Press Gallery application, please email medialogistics@demconvention.com.

Media outlets will be notified by their respective galleries in the late spring.

Yes, after receiving a credential through the respective press gallery, media will then apply for a USSS credential. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Requests were due by Thursday, February 29. If you would still like to make a request for housing, please email medialogistics@demconvention.com for an application. 

Allocations will begin on a rolling basis through the spring.

Outlets will be contacted directly via a designated point of contact for each media outlet. Outlets will have one week following the allocation notification to confirm whether they will use the offered rooms. Thereafter, unconfirmed rooms will be released back to the DNCC and assigned to other organizations.

During convention week, there is a four-night minimum stay starting the evening of Monday, August 19, 2024 through the evening of Thursday, August 22, 2024.

Media can request parking spaces on the workspace applications through their respective credentialing gallery. Media will be notified directly by the DNCC regarding their requests and parking locations. Additional details including any associated fees per parking spot will be announced closer to the convention.

Yes. The details of the locations will be communicated closer to the convention.

Yes. The details of the locations will be communicated closer to the convention.

Yes. There will be buses that run to and from the United Center and contracted media hotels. We will have more information available on the transportation, including hours of operation closer to the convention.

The DNCC is working extensively with cellular carriers to encourage them to provide cellular coverage for all attendees in and around Convention venues including with the use of additional cell phone towers and equipment.

The DNCC is working extensively with technology partners to provide WiFi for the general public at Convention venues. The United Center will have public WiFi and we are working with additional venues to provide WiFi as well.

There will be a mobile version of the website www.demconvention.com which will be formatted and optimized for cell phones and tablets. The mobile website will have extensive logistical information for Delegates, Media, and other attendees.