Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin will serve as the keynote speaker at the 2026 Roosevelt-Kennedy Dinner on Saturday, October 3, in Charleston.
Martin will be the first sitting Chair of the Democratic National Committee to deliver the keynote address at the annual Roosevelt-Kennedy Dinner, marking a historic occasion for West Virginia Democrats as they head into the final weeks of the 2026 election.
“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Ken Martin to West Virginia,” said West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin. “Ken understands something that West Virginia Democrats have been saying for years: Democrats cannot write off any state, any county, or any community. If we’re going to rebuild this party from the ground up, we have to show up, organize everywhere, and give state parties the resources they need to compete.”
Since becoming DNC Chair in February 2025, Martin has made rebuilding Democratic strength at the state and local level a centerpiece of his leadership. His “Organize Everywhere, Win Anywhere” strategy has emphasized year-round organizing, competing at every level of the ballot, and investing in Democratic infrastructure in red, blue and purple states alike.
That strategy has been accompanied by a remarkable run of Democratic victories and overperformances across the country, including flipping 31 state legislative seats from red to blue since the beginning of 2025. Democrats have flipped Republican-held seats, broken GOP legislative supermajorities, and significantly outperformed previous Democratic margins in races from deeply Republican districts to traditional battlegrounds.
“Under Ken Martin’s leadership, Democrats aren’t waiting for presidential election years to organize,” Pushkin said. “We’re contesting races everywhere, winning races people said couldn’t be won, and demonstrating that when Democrats show up and fight for working people, voters respond.”
Tickets for the October 3 Roosevelt-Kennedy Dinner will go on sale soon. Democrats and supporters interested in attending should watch the West Virginia Democratic Party website at https://www.wvdemocrats.com/ for ticket information and additional announcements.