While a Charlotte delegation is planning to make the trip to Austin, Texas, later this month where the Republican National Committee is expected to pick the host city for the 2020 Republican National Convention, it's now not clear Charlotte's bid will have the full support of city government.
According to several media reports, some Charlotte City Council members are unsure how they will vote when bid comes before an open council meeting. So far, all council discussions of the bid have been behind closed doors.
Lawana Mayfield is the only council member who has publicly expressed opposition to Charlotte's bid, WSOC-TV reports. The station says liberal activists plan to protest the convention bid at future council meetings.
The Charlotte Observer reports another council member, Justin Harlow, a Democrat representing northwest Charlotte, is concerned about protests. At-large council member Democrat Braxton Winston said in a Facebook video that the decision to host the convention should be about more than economic development.
The Charlotte City Council has a 9-2 Democratic majority. Mayor Vi Lyles announced her support the the RNC 2020 bid in February. “I think we’re going to have an opportunity to once again showcase our great city,” Lyles said at the time.
NCGOP Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse, who has worked with Charlotte on the bid, said in a statement: "We are proud of the strong partnership between NCGOP, city, county and tourism officials to bring N.C. and Charlotte the 2020 RNC Convention. N.C. should be proud so many can set politics to the side for economic development opportunities."
The GOP hosts its quarterly meetings in Texas starting July 18.