Salt Lake expected to bid on 2024 Republican National Convention

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Utah could host the next Republican National Convention in 2024. The event held every four years is considered the official coronation of the party's presidential candidate.

Visit Salt Lake and the Utah GOP met with national Republican officials in Washington, D.C this week along with other interested cities.

The convention would bring in tens of thousands of people, millions of dollars, and journalists from around the world. It’s not the city's first attempt at hosting the convention. Bids were made most recently in 2012 and again in 2016.

Other cities hoping to host include Las Vegas, Nevada; Houston, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Utah GOP presidential race is already making headlines with former President Donald Trump, a possible second-time candidate. Other rumored candidates include former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, and Senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz, just to name a few.

Carson Jorgensen, chairman of the Utah Republican Party, said the formal bid will be made by the convention and visitor bureaus but is backed by the state GOP.

The process is much like what happens when a city makes a bid for the Olympics. Hosting space, costs, preparation and hotel space will all be considered.

New hotels in downtown Salt Lake, and a newly renovated Salt Lake International Airport will help in the bidding process.

Utah made a name for itself on the national political stage in the last election hosting the state's first ever vice presidential debate at the University of Utah.

The 2020 RNC was held online due to the pandemic.

The 2016 Republican National Convention was held in Cleveland with an estimated 50,000 visitors. The city received a federal grant of $50 million dollars to offset costs including insurance and extra security.

KUTV’s Heidi Hatch and Rod Decker covered the RNC and DNC in 2016 in Cleveland and Philadelphia, respectively.

Editor's note: A previous version of this story stated that officials from Utah are meeting in Washington, D.C. next week. The meeting took place earlier this week.