Nashville has short deadline to bid for 2028 Republican National Convention

Cassandra Stephenson, Sandy Mazza and Adam Friedman, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read

Nashville rejected the opportunity to host the 2024 Republican National Convention, but the door remains open to bid on the 2028 RNC — if the city meets a short deadline.

Republican Party leaders told the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. that Nashville has until Oct. 15 to submit an application to host the RNC in 2028.

"We inquired and were given until Oct. 15 to submit," Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. CEO Butch Spyridon said. "Whether or not the city does so is still to be determined. We have no further updates at this time."

It's unclear if Nashville leaders intend to apply by the deadline, which was first reported by Axios Nashville.

The city's 40-member Metro Council, which has a progressive majority, voted down a draft agreement to host the 2024 convention in August.

Nashville council members voted 10-22 with three abstentions on Aug. 2, 2022 to quash a bill that would have approved a draft agreement for Nashville to host the 2024 Republican National Convention.
Nashville council members voted 10-22 with three abstentions on Aug. 2, 2022 to quash a bill that would have approved a draft agreement for Nashville to host the 2024 Republican National Convention.

Council members cited concerns over hosting a large political convention, including security in a time of high political polarization, cost and resource implications. Republicans selected Milwaukee for the 2024 RNC days later.

"Nashville is open for business, but there has been no meaningful effort or engagement to address any of the concerns raised since Metro Council’s vote just a few months ago," TJ Ducklo, a spokesperson for Mayor John Cooper's administration, said Thursday.

Analysis:Why Nashville didn't get the 2024 Republican National Convention

Gov. Bill Lee and Republican state lawmakers strongly advocated for Nashville to host the 2024 convention, touting the event's economic potential, but they ultimately failed to secure necessary buy-in from Nashville's Democratic-leaning council.

City leaders maintain their concerns were never fully addressed. State lawmakers chalked up the loss to partisan politics, hinting at retaliation when the legislature convenes in January.

"I am hopeful the longer time horizon on the 2028 convention will encourage Nashville’s leaders to put partisan considerations aside and embrace the opportunity to showcase all that Nashville has to offer the country and the world," Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, said in a statement.

Potential retaliatory measures could include reducing the size of the Metro Council, preempting Metro's regulations for short-term rentals or withdrawing state funding from Nashville projects, Metro lobbyists reported this summer.

"We are all watching to see if the statements made by Metro a few months ago were political gibberish or if they were truly interested in hosting in 2028," House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, said in a statement. "We will find out in a week where Metro really stands.”

Cassandra Stephenson covers Metro government for The Tennessean. Reach her at ckstephenson@tennessean.com. Follow Cassandra on Twitter at @CStephenson731.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville could bid to host 2028 RNC, if city meets a short deadline