Georgia Dems say David Hogg will still address event, after they implied to Jewish lawmaker he was canceled

The Gwinnett County Democratic Party in Georgia announced that anti-Israel activist David Hogg will still speak at their upcoming Bluetopia 2026 gala, despite earlier assurances to Jewish state representative Esther Panitch that he had been removed. Party chair Curt Thompson had informed Panitch via email that Hogg's "recent remarks do not align with the spirit of a fundraiser intended to unite our broad coalition." However, the party later issued a statement claiming reports of Hogg's removal were "inaccurate" and that he "remains a guest speaker." Panitch had only inquired about rescheduling the event from Rosh Hashanah, not about speaker changes. The party stated their goal is to provide an open forum for diverse perspectives.