The Republican National Convention welcomed 50,000 guests in Milwaukee, including the delegates who nominated Donald Trump and J.D. Vance as the party’s president and vice president candidates.
The GOP host committee raised a record $85 million for the convention, which went towards venue rental, transportation costs, and opening and closing parties.
Visit Milwaukee estimated the city could benefit from at least $200 million in “direct, indirect and induced” spending at hotels, restaurants, vehicle rentals and increased foot traffic at local businesses.
“It wouldn’t be a national political convention without balloons!” the Visit Milwaukee account stated on X.
Over 100,000 red, white and blue balloons are expected to be dropped when former President Donald Trump accepts the Republican nomination on Thursday.
Among 2,429 delegates in attendance at the convention, only 1,780 reported an ethnicity. Of those 1,780 delegates, 975 are women, nearly 40%. Delegates ranged in age from 18 to 89 years old, according to the RNC.
Of the reported delegates, 318 are active duty service members and veterans.
Additionally, over 50% (1,341) are small business owners.
The number of Black delegates at their convention increased this year to at least 55, up 300% from 2016 when there were 18 Black delegates reported.
Among delegates who reported ethnicity, 234 are non-Caucasian and represent several major religious backgrounds including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, & Hinduism.
Outside the convention, the number of protesters who came to demonstrate against the GOP is about 3,000, according to Omar Flores, co-chair of the Coalition to March on the RNC.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.