Pittsburgh out of running to host 2024 Republican National Convention – TribLIVE

Pittsburgh is out of the running to host the 2024 Republican National Convention, Politico reported.

The news outlet reported from Salt Lake City where the Republican National Committee is currently meeting that RNC members are scheduled to visit other cities being considered for the political convention but not Pittsburgh. In addition to Salt Lake City, the other cities include Milwaukee and Nashville.

Allegheny County Republican Chairman Sam DeMarco, a county councilman from North Fayette, said he was disappointed to learn that Pittsburgh is no longer being considered and will miss out on the potential economic benefits of hosting a convention.

Obviously I am disappointed, because I had been optimistic about the impact of $200 million being spent on our region in 2024, DeMarco said. I understand the stiff competition we were up against.

DeMarco said the other cities still in the running have hosted large-scale political conventions in the past, while Pittsburgh has not.

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, a Democrat, initially signed a letter of support for bringing the Republican National Convention to Pittsburgh, but backtracked a bit and said his initial support was merely a matter of procedure. In a statement, Gainey said he had concerns about the RNCs potential impact on safety and covid-19 mitigation.

We are one of the most welcoming cities in America and I look forward to sharing our home with the world, said Gainey. As we look for future events to come to Pittsburgh, I am dedicated to ensuring the benefits are shared equitably with our small, local and diverse businesses and that these events reflect and embody the values of Pittsburgh.

Allegheny County Councilwoman Bethany Hallam, D-North Side, said she was elated that Pittsburgh is out of the running. She said she felt political conventions, both Republican and Democratic, would invite too much contention.

How is it actually going to benefit Pittsburgh? How does it benefit the people who have to commute next to protests and counter-protests. I do not believe that the money would help the people who live and work here.

DeMarco said the Pittsburgh hospitality and service industry would benefit from the economic boost.

He criticized local Democratic officials who opposed the bid, arguing that local leaders must go beyond this partisan thing and set forth a vision that embraces what is best for the region and not just our political parties.

Ryan Deto is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Ryan by email at rdeto@triblive.com or via Twitter .

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Pittsburgh out of running to host 2024 Republican National Convention - TribLIVE