For anyone wondering, Where Is The Rnc Convention? In 2024, the Republican National Convention (RNC) was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Maddie Davis, a rising second-year student at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy (G ‘25), found herself right in the heart of it. If you had told a younger Maddie, with her deep-rooted Democratic background, that she’d be spending time at the RNC in Milwaukee, she would have been incredulous.
Maddie’s engagement with politics is far from recent. Her childhood memories are peppered with watching Democratic National Convention speeches alongside her father and participating in events for Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner’s reelection campaign with her mother. Political discourse was a staple in her household, shaping her and her brother’s understanding of global affairs and their roles within them.
Maddie Davis in professional attire with the US Capitol in the background
Photo featuring Maddie Davis in business professional clothing, with the iconic US Capitol Building visible in the background, symbolizing her political pursuits in Washington D.C.
This early passion solidified during her undergraduate years at the University of Virginia and now as she pursues her master’s at the McCourt School of Public Policy. For Maddie, politics isn’t just an interest; it’s a mission. She’s dedicated to acquiring the technical skills and institutional insights necessary to make meaningful contributions in the political arena. Her current summer internship on Capitol Hill for a Democratic representative allows her to bridge classroom learning with real-world political action, a long-held aspiration.
However, her first year at McCourt broadened her perspective significantly, emphasizing the critical importance of engaging with diverse viewpoints. Progress, as she learned, necessitates collaboration and understanding across divides, even when consensus seems unattainable.
This understanding is what propelled her to attend the RNC with GU Politics. Beyond fleeting glimpses of Fox News or the occasional Thanksgiving dinner table debate, Maddie’s direct exposure to Trump supporters and the inner workings of the Republican Party was minimal. She was driven by curiosity to witness firsthand the logistical undertaking of hosting a massive event like the RNC, accommodating 50,000 attendees for a week, and to analyze the core messages the Republican Party aimed to convey to its base and the wider world.
Throughout the week in Milwaukee, Maddie and her cohort gained unparalleled access, meeting with Republican party officials, seasoned journalists, and passionate delegates. These interactions provided real-time reactions to convention proceedings, insightful reflections on the current state of the Republican Party, and informed predictions about its future trajectory.
To illustrate the immersive nature of their experience, here’s a glimpse into a typical day at the 2024 Republican National Convention.
A Day in the Life at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee
Their day began in the pre-dawn hours, with a 4:00 AM meeting with Kasie Hunt, the host of CNN This Morning. Maddie and her group were invited to observe a live broadcast at the CNN Politico Grill. This temporary media hub, set up in a restaurant, became a focal point for live panels and continuous convention coverage. Throughout the week, journalists and key political figures circulated through the Grill, dissecting the convention’s events and their broader implications for the 2024 election and the nation. Following the panel discussion, they had the valuable opportunity to converse with influential figures like Mike Dubke, former White House communications director and a member of the GU Politics Advisory Board and Fall 2017 Fellow, alongside Matt Gorman, former senior advisor to Senator Tim Scott’s (R-South Carolina) presidential campaign. These discussions centered on forthcoming speeches and the prevailing sentiment within the Republican Party, providing a rich, on-the-ground understanding of the convention’s atmosphere and key concerns.
