Pete Buttigieg to Keynote 12th Annual Johnson-Jordan Dinner

DALLAS, TX —  Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation and national Democratic leader Pete Buttigieg will headline the Texas Democratic Party’s 12th Annual Johnson-Jordan Dinner on Saturday, September 19. Buttigieg will join Texas Democrats for one of the party’s signature annual gatherings, bringing together Democratic leaders, elected officials, candidates, activists, and supporters from across the state. 

The Johnson-Jefferson Dinner is named in honor of two influential Texas Democrats, President Lyndon B. Johnson and Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, whose legacies reflect a commitment to public service, opportunity, civil rights, and strengthening democracy. This year’s event, to be held at the Embassy Suites Grapevine/DFW Airport North, will bring Democrats together at an important moment as Texas prepares for the 2026 general election and works to build a stronger future for communities across the state.

The decision to hold this year's dinner in the Dallas-Fort Worth area also underscores Tarrant County's growing importance to the future of Texas. Once a Republican stronghold, Tarrant County has become the site of significant electoral gains, and Taylor Rehmet’s victory in Senate District 9 last January marked a historic milestone. With nearly 8% of all Texas Democrats living in Tarrant County, the region will play an important role in shaping the political future of Texas. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Pete Buttigieg to Texas for this year’s Johnson-Jefferson Dinner,” said Kendall Scudder, Chair of the Texas Democratic Party. “This will be an opportunity for Democrats from across Texas to come together, celebrate the work happening in communities across our state, and look ahead to the work still to be done. We look forward to welcoming Democrats to DFW.”