OGDEN – In a gathering that’s sure to attract Democrats statewide, Ken Martin will be the featured speaker at the 2026 Orton & McKay Dinner hosted by members of the Weber County Democratic Party.
Martin, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, is scheduled to address Utah Democrats at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Mar. 15 at the Ogden Eccles Conference Center.
State party officials emphasize that Martin’s appearance will highlight the DNC’s commitment to organizing in every state and investing in Utah as local party affiliates build toward the 2026 midterm elections.
During his visit to Utah, they say, Martin will share his vision for strengthening state parties, expanding grassroots engagement and building the infrastructure that Democrats need to compete in and win elections.
Shannon Rhodes, the chair of the Cache County Democratic Party, is urging local Democrats to attend Martin’s address.
“It will be well worth the drive to support (Weber County Democrats) and hear from someone at a national level who has a vision for Utah Democrats,” she says.
In addition to serving as a fundraiser, the Mar. 15 gathering in Ogden will also honor the legacy of Bill Orton and Gunn McKay in Utah politics, according to Jeremy Thompson, the chair of the Democratic Party in Weber County.
A political maverick, former congressman Bill Orton served three terms as a Democrat hailing from one of Utah’s most conservative districts.
Orton served what was then Utah’s 3rd Congressional District from 1991 to 1997. He famously described himself as someone who hated politics, hated campaigning and hated fundraising.
A native of Ogden, Gunn McKay represented Utah in Congress from 1971 to 1981.
A confirmed Democrat, he supported President Jimmy Carter’s bid for reelection in 1980 and was defeated while seeking a sixth term in Congress by the Ronald Reagan landslide that same year.
Following a Latter-day Saint mission in Scotland, McKay ran unsuccessfully to return to Congress in 1984 and 1986.
Martin joins local Democrats in observing that Utah voters deserve leadership that prioritizes opportunity, fairness and real solutions for working families.
Tickets for the Orton & McKay Dinner event can be purchased by going online to https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ortonmckay26.
The Ogden Eccles Conference Center is located at 2415 Washington Blvd. in downtown Ogden.