Milwaukee’s Mayor, No Fan of Trump, Is Thrilled to Host His Party

Mayor Cavalier Johnson was zipping in and out of Milwaukee’s City Hall this week, shuttling his children around town, meeting with his chief of staff and watching excitedly outside as tents sprang up near the site of the Republican National Convention.

“It’s becoming real,” said Mr. Johnson, Milwaukee’s first elected Black mayor, who sailed to a second term earlier this year.

Mr. Johnson, 37, is preparing for his biggest and trickiest role yet. He was one of the major supporters of bringing the Republican convention to Milwaukee, and next week, the crush of tens of thousands of visitors will arrive. Milwaukee, a city of about 560,000, has rarely hosted a convention of this size and is not accustomed to showing off on the national stage.

It’s a delicate juggling act for Mr. Johnson, who for a few days could also be the most visible face of the opposing party: blasting Republican policies and the rhetoric of former President Donald J. Trump, as Mr. Trump arrives in Milwaukee to accept the Republican nomination. Mr. Johnson has already shown his willingness to spar with Mr. Trump, knocking the former president for reportedly calling Milwaukee a “horrible city” in a recent meeting with House Republicans.

“I’m a host, and I want people to have a great time here,” Mr. Johnson said in an interview. “At the same time, on the political end, I am a Democrat.”

The convention is a major test for Mr. Johnson, a popular young mayor who grew up in Milwaukee and attended its public schools. Before he took office in 2021, he was a member of the City Council, brimming with ambition in a relatively quiet, staid city government.