Republican National Convention

Following a weeks-long public debate, a heated city council meeting and a final stamp of approval that came Friday, Charlotte will host the 2020 Republican National Convention. But, throughout the debate, city leaders were tight-lipped on details of the event contracts. Now, bid documents and signed agreements give a deeper understanding of how the convention will be run, planned and paid for.

The Republican National Committee formally picked Charlotte today for its 2020 convention. And that's despite considerable hesitation from some of Charlotte's city leaders. Dallas Woodhouse, the executive director for the North Carolina Republican Party, spoke with WFAE’s Nick de la Canal for “All Things Considered” about this tension from Austin, Texas.

It’s all-but-official that Charlotte will host the 2020 Republican National Convention. The Republican National Committee’s site selection panel voted Wednesday to bring the event to the Queen City.

Wednedsday, July 18, 2018

Mayor Vi Lyles’ efforts to bring the 2020 Republican National Convention to Charlotte took another step forward Monday when City Council voted 6 to 5 to approve the contracts.  We’ve heard from several members of council on both sides, both before and after the vote.  Now, we hear from the mayor. Vi Lyles discusses the 2020 RNC in a special Mike and the Mayor conversation.

Pressure was building on social media against the bid for the 2020 Republican National Convention before Monday’s vote with Democrats complaining there wasn’t enough debate about the bid ahead of time. That boiled over in last night’s council hearing and protests at the government center.

After a debate that Mayor Vi Lyles called one of the most difficult of her career, a divided Charlotte City Council voted 6 to 5 Monday to support the city's bid to host the 2020 Republican National Convention. The council's endorsement comes as the Republican National Committee prepares to meet in Austin, Texas this week to choose between Charlotte and Las Vegas.

Leaders of several Democratic groups predicted protests and other forms of unrest if Charlotte hosts the Republican National Convention in 2020. The groups held a press conference Monday in front of the Government Center to voice their opposition to the city's bid.

It’s big day for Charlotte City Council. In what’s sure to be a contentious meeting this afternoon, the council will hold a special meeting on whether to host the 2020 Republican National Convention.

Something almost unprecedented is going on in Charlotte right now. There’s a big event that might come to town, and our city leaders are actually considering saying no.

The Charlotte City Council is expected to take a vote Monday afternoon that would show support for the city's bid to host the Republican National Convention in 2020. 

Charlotte City Council member Dimple Ajmera says she'll vote against an agreement that would allow the city to host the 2020 Republican National Convention. Her reasoning then came under harsh criticism by Democratic and Republican members of council.  

"This is not a political stance, it's an economic one, because taxpayers will be on the hook for the potential liability, unknown risk and exposure," Ajmera said Friday after council members received a briefing on the proposed agreement that is scheduled for a Monday vote.

Friday, July 13 2018

Charlotte is the front runner for the Republican Convention in 2020.  Not everyone wants it, and the RNC is waiting for the city to decide.  The CIAA Conference is shopping around for a new city to host their tournament.  David Tepper, the new owner of the Panthers, talks about his goals and about the Richardson statue. Mike Collins and our roundtable of reporters tackles those stories and more on the Local News Roundup.

Thursday, July 12, 2018

The supposed finalists to host the 2020 Republican Convention have been narrowed down to two and both candidates seem lukewarm over the prospects.  We’re one of those candidates but now, some are calling for more discussion about the wisdom of hosting the event.  Is it too late for debate?  We hear from two city council members.