Report: Phoenix out of running for 2016 GOP convention
Apr 2, 2014, 11:00 AM | Updated: 11:43 am
PHOENIX — The Valley of the Sun is reportedly no longer in the running to host the 2016 National Republican Convention.
According to CNN, Republican officials said high competition was the reason Phoenix fell out of favor.
“In any other year, Columbus and Phoenix could have topped the list, but with so many strong cities competing, the committee had to make the difficult decision to narrow the field,” Enid Mickelsen, chair of the RNC’s Site Selection Committee said in a statement. “Phoenix and Columbus are great American cities, and I hope they’ll pursue a future bid for an RNC convention.”
Phoenix was also a finalist to host the convention in 2012.
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer learned from reporters Wednesday morning that Phoenix had been cut out of the mix just moments after the decision was made.
“I am disappointed,” she said. “I thought we could be a great host in Arizona.”
Brewer said she doesn’t believe the recent controversy surrounding vetoed Senate Bill 1062 contributed to the decision.
Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City and Las Vegas are the remaining cities in the race.
Earlier Wednesday, Robert Graham, chairman with the Arizona Republican Party, said he was hopeful the convention would come to Phoenix.
KTAR’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.
