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Could this mean Charlotte will host 2020 Republican National Convention?

By Mark Becker, wsoctv.com
By Mark Becker, wsoctv.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Four Charlotte city council members and Mayor Vi Lyles plan to head to Austin, Texas, this summer to attend Republican National Committee meetings, sources told Channel 9.

The host city for the Republican National Convention will likely be announced at those meetings.

An RNC insider said the Charlotte leaders’ trip could indicate that the Queen City is getting the convention in 2020.

RNC meetings will be held from July 18 to July 20 at the Fairmont Hotel in Austin.

[PAST COVERAGE: Report: Charlotte, Las Vegas 2 cities left in the running to host Republican National Convention]

Charlotte and Las Vegas are the two cities still in the running to host the 2020 convention.

“We know how to do this,” political expert Eric Heberlig said. “We've put on a good show for the Democrats in 2012.”

He said it also doesn’t hurt that North Carolina once again figures to be a swing state in 2020 where Republicans will be looking for any edge they can get.

“It makes sense to go to the city in the more politically competitive state because it's not going to hurt you to go there, and more concentrated media coverage,” Heberlig said.

There would also be risks, he said.

Every political convention comes with some protests and he said the growing political divide over President Donald Trump’s presidency promises to bring more protestors than usual to the convention.

“The risk for Charlotte is that there's going to be mass demonstrations, riots things like that that could get out of hand, and damage the city's image or reputation,” Heberlig said. “And I think the risk is particularly inherent in this convention.”

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