Could the Republican National Convention move to Georgia? GOP scouts coastal city
The Republican National Committee will descend on Savannah, Georgia, on Monday as the party continues its search for a potential new host for the upcoming 2020 convention.
The RNC is set to tour the coastal Georgia city after plans by President Donald Trump and national Republicans to move the event out of Charlotte, North Carolina, following a “stalemate with local Democrats” over coronavirus restrictions, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has urged the president to keep the Peach State “on his mind” as a possible host site, saying on Twitter that it would be an honor to “safely host” the convention.
“With world-renowned southern hospitality, first-class facilities and a top-notch workforce, ‘The Hostess City of the South’ will leave a lasting impression on Marcia Lee Kelly and her team,” Kemp said of the RNC’s CEO, local TV station WTOC reported.
The committee is also eyeing a few other cities including Atlanta, Dallas, New Orleans,; and Phoenix, according to Axios, which first reported on the RNC’s planned trips last week. Tours of the potential convention sites will occur over the next several days, a senior official with knowledge of the plans told the news site.
Kemp, who will attend Monday’s tour, said he looks forward to working with local leaders “to highlight the best of what Savannah has to offer,” according to WTOC.
The state’s entire Republican delegation has been lobbying for Trump to choose Georgia, the AJC reported. However, their efforts have mainly focused on Atlanta, which has experience hosting large events, including the 1996 Olympics.
Last week, the governor expressed skepticism that Savannah could accommodate the RNC when asked if it was being considered, the Savannah Morning News reported.
“I think for a GOP or Democratic convention, as big as they are in today’s world — [ Savannah Tourism Leadership Council President] Michael Owens may disagree with me — but you may not have enough hotel rooms to do something like that here for the number of people who are coming,” Kemp said, the newspaper reported.
“That’s one reason we’re working on the [Savannah] Convention Center and trying to expand that so we can continue to have large events,” he added.
On Monday, the governor promised the Peach State would offer “a truly unmatched experience” to convention organizers.
This story was originally published June 8, 2020 at 12:38 PM.