A group of civic leaders are putting the “party” in Democratic party, hosting dinners and parties in support of candidates locally and nationally featuring local and national celebrity chefs. 

Dubbed Dine4Democracy, the group led by former U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein and ex-Microsoft executive Suzi LeVine, and designer and community builder Gemma Daggatt, is organizing a series of 47 parties through mid-October ranging from casual barbecues to multi-course dinners featuring celebrities from the culinary world, music, acting and politics. Costs range from $47 per couple to $4,700 per guest. 

For a complete list of events head to the site. 

Gemma Daggatt leads Dine4Democracy’s efforts to support Democratic candidates through local events.

“I felt like we have a lot to celebrate for the future,” Daggatt says. “I see a lot of exclusive dining events for campaigns. I wanted to build something that was more widely available for people who want to support the campaign.” 

The Washington State Republican Party is hosting a statewide tour dubbed “The Heart of the Party” featuring state party chair Jim Walsh and candidates around the state. Walsh has already made stops in Yakima, King, and Cowlitz Counties. He will visit Whatcom County on Oct. 12. For more information call (425) 460-0570 or go to wagop.org. 

Dine4Democracy started out as a plan for a single dinner by the late Tamara Murphy and her partner, Linda di Lello Morton of Terra Plata on Capitol Hill. Murphy died from complications of a stroke in August. Organizers, including Di Lello Morton, LeVine, Daggatt, Rally Hospitality founder Angela Dunleavy, and Google executive Leslie Redd, continued to press forward in Murphy’s memory, and the campaign grew to multiple events in late September and through mid-October. 

Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard played a secret show at a Lake Union studio. The concert and reception were catered by Kamala Saxton of Marination, who served her unique cuisine of Polynesian, Asian, and Caribbean fare. 

Restaurateurs Tom Douglas and Jackie Cross will serve a private dinner at their home on Oct. 9. Robin Wehl Martin of Hello Robin will provide dessert. The $4,700-a-plate dinner is sold out. Tom Douglas Restaurants’ Managing Partner Eric Tanaka hosted a dinner of his own along with former Washington Gov. Gary Locke and actor Tom Skerritt. Ethan Stowell also hosted a sold-out dinner at a private home with Congresswoman Kim Schrier, who is up for re-election in Washington’s Eighth congressional district. 

LeVine recently hosted a wine reception with her husband, Eric LeVine, also an ex-Microsoft leader and founder of the online wine database CellarTracker.com. Donna Moodie catered the fête. Moodie plans to open the latest version of her restaurant, Marjorie, by the end of October in Midtown Square on the Southeast corner of 23rd Avenue and East Union Street in the Central District. 

“My motivation for supporting Dine4Democracy is pretty straight forward,” Moodie says. “I know that this is an election of a lifetime. For me, it is really important to have a democratic president in office. I was a little concerned when it was Joe Biden leading the ticket. I changed my mind when Kamala Harris stepped up. It makes me want to support their campaign, especially when a woman’ right to choose is at stake.”

Dingfelder’s Delicatessen will be catering brunch on Sunday, Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to noon at a Queen Anne home. SIFF Board President Diana Knauf and ex-Microsoft executive Bjorn Levidow will be hosting a cocktail, wine and beer reception at their Lower Queen Anne penthouse on Oct. 13. Dick’s Drive-In will also be getting into the action with a burgers and booze blowout on Oct. 18.