A Democratic woman will headline this year’s Jefferson Jackson dinner, an important event on the Iowa Democratic Party’s calendar — but it’s not Hillary Clinton.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., has accepted an invitation to speak at this year’s event, the Iowa Democratic Party announced Tuesday.
The dinner is traditionally an important proving ground for Democrats who hope to run for president, and Klobuchar’s speech will no doubt stoke further speculation that she is laying the groundwork for a bid.
“We invited Sen. Klobuchar because she’s a great speaker and a strong advocate for our candidates, and we’re pleased she’s joining us to support our Iowa Democrats at this year’s Jefferson Jackson Dinner,” party Chairman Scott Brennan said in a statement.
The dinner will be held in Des Moines on Oct. 25.
Klobuchar has already visited Iowa a handful of times in recent months, stirring rumors that she will run for president, but her Jefferson Jackson speech marks a bold new level of engagement in the Hawkeye State.
In 2007, the Jefferson Jackson dinner was an important launching pad for then-Sen. Barack Obama, whose well-received remarks launched him into the national political conversation as a contender for the presidency.
The 2006 dinner, which fell before the midterm election — like this year’s will — also had presidential campaign undertones. President Bill Clinton headlined the event, in part as a proxy for his wife, who planned to run for president.
