Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer will address Kentucky Democrats at annual dinner in August

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will be the keynote speaker at the Kentucky Democratic Party’s Forward Together Dinner in August. 

KDP announced Whitmer’s appearance Tuesday. She is the vice chair of the Democratic Governors Association and serves with DGA Chair Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. 

Beshear praised Whitmer in a press release, saying she “expanded access to healthcare for nearly 1 million Michiganders, closed a $2.2 billion budget deficit and increased public school funding — without raising taxes.

“Who your governor is has never mattered more and, with 36 races for governor on the ballot this year, I am proud to be working with Gretchen to make sure Americans have leaders focused on the issues that matter most to our families,” Beshear said. 

Beshear spoke at the Michigan Democratic Party’s annual Legacy Dinner fundraiser in April. 

KDP’s 2025 Forward Together Dinner in Owensboro featured Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin as the keynote speaker. KDP’s press release said the event is its largest annual fundraiser. 

The 2026 dinner will be held on Aug. 15 in Lexington at the Hyatt Regency. 

KDP Chair Colmon Elridge said that the party is “honored to provide a platform where Kentucky Democrats can hear Governor Whitmer’s plan to build on a growing blue wave.” 

“As Republicans openly admit they don’t care about your financial situation, Americans are looking for strong leaders like her and Governor Beshear,” he said. “Under their leadership, the DGA is on track to reclaim a majority of governorships across the country, meaning millions of Americans will finally have Democratic leaders focused on creating jobs, strengthening schools and expanding access to healthcare.” 

The Republican Party of Kentucky’s annual dinner, the Statewide Lincoln Dinner, is next month on June 20. Following last week’s primaries, the party said U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, the GOP nominee for U.S. Senate, will be a featured speaker, along with Republican members of the federal delegation, statewide officers and state legislators. 

The Republicans’ 2025 keynote speaker was West Virginia U.S. Sen. Jim Justice.