Over 4,700 delegates and 347 alternates gathered in Philadelpia in late July to make Hillary Clinton the Democratic nominee.  Seventeen months earlier, on Feb. 12, 2015, the Democratic National Committee announced the selection of Philadelphia as the host city (+).  In April the DNC announced leadership of the Democratic National Convention Committee.  The Philadelphia 2016 Host Committee raised funds and in-kind contributions to host the convention, organized volunteers, and made preparations to welcome delegates and visitors.  The third key player is the City of Philadelphia, led by Mayor Jim Kenney.  The key to an operationally successful convention is for these three entitites to be working together.  continues...

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A major emphasis for convention organizers from the site selection process on was a focus on diversity.  On June 10, 2016 the DNCC reported that as of May, 61% of DNCC staff were women and 56% of DNCC staff are diverse.  Following the convention, the Host Committee reported that "an unprecedented 67 percent of the Host Committee’s opportunity spend [discretionary spending] was awarded to diverse- and minority-owned businesses."

The DNCC took control of Wells Fargo Center on May 28.  All told, as of June 21 the Committee had about 120 staff.  By comparison the Host Committee was much smaller, with about 12 staff and 15 full time equivalents.  One of the Host Committee's biggest expenses was transportation; running a fleet of 400 buses adds up.  The Host Committee had pledged to raise $46.5 million in cash and $15 million in in-kind contributions, and it surpassed that amount, reporting after the convention that it raised $85.5 million (+).

From a planning perspective, Philadelphia has the advantage of having hosted the Republican National Convention not so long ago, in 2000, and organizers can draw from those experiences.  To take one example the Host Committee organized a PoliticalFest event which mirrored an event of the same name put on by the Philadelphia 2000 Host Committee (+).

In addition to the official activities of the Convention, Democrats and allied groups organized hundreds of events, receptions, forums and parties.  Republicans set up a counter-convention presence. 

While Sen. Bernie Sanders and his supporters talked about a contested convention, on June 6 the Associated Press reported that Hillary Clinton had achieved the requisite number of delegates to win the nomination, and her victories in the June 7 contests sealed the deal.  The question was whether the Sanders campaign wouldl take a confrontational or more consensus-oriented approach.  At one point Sanders said the convention could be "messy."  His campaign warned that, "If the process is set up to produce an unfair, one-sided result, we are prepared to mobilize our delegates to force as many votes as necessary to amend the platform and rules on the floor of the convention."  For example, the Sanders campaign sought to remove co-chairs of two of the Convention Standing Committees, describing them as "aggressive attack surrogates for the Clinton campaign" (1, 2).  Sanders gained a voice in drafting the platform; the Platform Drafting Committee, announced on May 23, had representatives selected by the Clinton and Sanders campaigns and the DNC Chairman.  The Committee held hearings in June and on July 8-9 finalized what party chair Debbie Wasserman Schulz called "the most progressive, inclusive and ambitious" platform in the Democratic Party’s history, subject to ratification by the full Convention.  Sanders lauded the platform, pointing to successes on climate change, criminal justice reform and the federal minimum wage, and stating, "We have made enormous strides."

Hillary Clinton's selection of Sen. Tim Kaine as her running mate, announced via text on July 22 (+) was seen as something of a rebuff to Sanders.  Sanders supporters could claim a victory when hacked DNC emails* led DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz to announce on July 24 that she would resign.  Still there was tension between Clinton and Sanders supporters.  Sanders supporters were particularly boisterous on the first night of the Convention, marked by dueling chants of "Hillary" and "Bernie."  On Tuesday the roll call vote concluded with Sanders asking that Clinton be nominated by acclamation, but some Sanders supporters walked out and occupied the front of one of the media tents (+).  During the Convention proceedings on Wednesday some Sanders delegates continued to wave smuggled TPP signs, and on Thursday many donned fluorescent yellow-green tee-shirts.  Some Sanders delegates and activists vowed that they would never support Clinton.  Other Sanders delegates acceded to the calls for unity, and donned Clinton campaign buttons or shirts.  Personal interactions within state delegations, as well as powerful speeches by Michelle Obama, Vice President Biden, President Obama and others helped pave the way.  Closing speeches by Chelsea Clinton and Hillary Clinton brought the Convention to a successful conclusion, and Clinton and Kaine started a bus tour the next day.

Both conventions were designated National Special Security Events and dozens of law enforcement agencies coordinated on security operations under the direction of the U.S. Secret Service (+).  The City of Philadelphia received a $49.9 million grant from the Department of Justice for security, most of which will go to covering overtime costs of the various law enforcement agencies. 

There were protests.  Sanders supporters held marches, rallies and events (+) ranging from a "DC to DNC March for Democracy" to a "Revolutionary Celebration for We the People" (+).  Americans Against Fracking held a "March for a Clean Energy Revolution" the day before the convention opened (+).  The Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign did a "March for Our Lives" on the opening day of the convention (+).  Socialist groups from across the spectrum were represented at various events (1, 2).

Finally, some fifteen thousand media representatives covered the activity at the Convention.