The Republican National Convention Will Be Held In Charlotte In 2020
The Latest:
Sources say the Republican National Convention Site Selection Committee voted unanimously to bring the 2020 RNC Convention to Charlotte.Β The meeting, and first vote, was held in Austin, Texas Wednesday morning.
A second vote, with the full committee, will take place on Friday.Β Officials from Charlotte are going to Austin ahead of Friday’s vote.
Original Story:
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte City Council voted yes to bring the controversial Republican National Convention to the Queen City in 2020.
It’s not official yet – the Republican National Committee is going to make the announcement as early as Wednesday. And they are expected to choose Charlotte over Las Vegas.
After the 6-5 vote, Mayor Vi Lyles called for unity.
“I think that this is probably one of the most difficult decisions and the most tested for us as a council,” Lyles says.
The approval allows the city manager to execute contracts needed if Charlotte wins the bid.
The vote came after three hours of public comment – with more than 100 people voicing their opinions.
Business leaders representing hotels and restaurants touted the economic benefits, while others argued the financial impact isn’t worth dealing with protesters and potential chaos.
Both Republicans on council voted yes while the Democrats were split.
Braxton Winston delivered a stinging rebuke of Donald Trump saying the president is why he voted no.
“I don’t really see him as a Republican. I see him as a human avatar of white supremacy,” Winston said.
Fellow Democrat Larken Egleston voted yes.
“To paint with broad strokes and insinuate all Republicans share the moral shortcomings of the current president is reckless and doing so prohibits us from any claim to the moral high ground,” Egleston said.
Republican Tariq Bokhari says it’s time to move forward and join the mayor’s call for unity.
“Now is not the time for a victory lap. Now is the time to remember there’s a huge chunk of our city that passionately did not want this to be here,” Bokhair said.
