(The Center Square) – There aren’t any fears about running short on money for Milwaukee’s Republican National Convention.
Former Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman, and current chairman of the RNC Host Committee, Reince Priebus said Tuesday the “money is solid” for next month’s convention.
“I think there's a first time that I can remember where, you know, the money's been solid and there's been no shortfalls. It's been really supported by the local community,” Priebus told New Talk 1130 WISN’s Jay Weber.
Priebus did not say just how money has been raised, or just how much the 2024 RNC will cost.
The last in-person convention, in Cleveland in 2016, cost an estimated $114 million. About $50 million of that came from the federal government for security and planning, and the other $64 million was raised by the Cleveland host committee.
Priebus said being able to secure that kind of money is a win for Milwaukee, regardless of the fact that the cash has been raised for the Republican National Convention.
“That's great for everybody, not just because it's the convention, that's not the point for the local community. The point is you can fund and help pay for an event with charitable dollars that is like four Super Bowls in a row, with mostly help from the local community,” Priebus added. “What that says to other convention-type events where there’s more economic stimulus to the local community is ‘Hey, these people can put on a big show, and they can help fund it and you're not going to have money problems when you pick Milwaukee.’”
Priebus also said it’s to Milwaukee’s credit that the Democratic mayor, Democratic county executive and Democratic governor are all on-board with the convention even though it’s not their political party.
“[Other cities] couldn't separate the economic value to a community from the politica. But in Milwaukee and Wisconsin people could,” Priebus added. “I'm sure there are plenty of people on the Milwaukee Common Council, on the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors said ‘You know, we don't want anything to do with the party.’ But in this case that didn't happen. They said this is too much money for the local community to pass up, and it's not right. And they supported it.”
Priebus said there are some questions about convention security and convention protests that remain to be answered, though he is confident in the plan to protect the convention.
Milwaukee’s RNC begins July 15, and runs until July 18.
