Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has sharply criticized the Democratic National Committee's (DNC) leadership, accusing them of "abandoning" Black voters and the South after the city was excluded from the shortlist of potential hosts for the 2028 presidential convention. The DNC recently narrowed its selection to Boston, Denver, and Philadelphia, leaving Atlanta and Chicago as finalists eliminated from contention.
In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, Dickens stated, "The DNC continues to make the wrong choices," directly addressing DNC Chairman Ken Martin. He argued that party leaders are "afraid to leave their comfort zone and blind to the fact that the South is the answer." Dickens asserted that the decision "isn't by accident. It’s an intentional choice" that amounts to abandoning Atlanta, the South, and Black voters.
Dickens' critique echoes sentiments expressed by other Southern Democrats who feel the national party takes their support for granted. Christale Spain, Chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, recently stated that "the South is not the past, it is the future." Additionally, Democratic chairs from five other Southern states previously cautioned the DNC against signaling that Black voters' loyalty is unappreciated.
Atlanta, which has not hosted a Democratic convention since 1988, had aggressively pitched itself as a capable host city and a strategically important Democratic stronghold in the South. DNC officials visited Atlanta in April, touring the State Farm Arena and the Georgia World Congress Center.
The DNC declined to comment on Dickens' specific letter but pointed to its broader efforts in the South. The party recently selected South Carolina to host the first presidential nominating contest in 2028, citing the racial diversity and significant Black population across the six early states. DNC Chairman Ken Martin emphasized that the convention selection process involves evaluating bids based on factors such as partnerships with local leaders, operational capacity, fundraising potential, and alignment with Democratic values.
"At a time when Trump and the Supreme Court are minimizing Black electoral power we need a party that would come to Atlanta and galvanize the Southeast for 2028 and beyond," Dickens wrote in his letter. "Real leaders produce for the present and the future." He concluded, "This was an opportunity for Ken Martin and the DNC leadership to show they have a thoughtful plan for the party and know how to win the White House in 2028. But instead they are running scared and retreat to their safe spaces."