Obama Center launch brings Democratic political glitterati to Chicago ahead of crucial elections

The Barack and Michelle Obama statue outside The Obama Presidential Center in the Hyde Park neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, May 29, 2026. Joshua Lott | The Washington Post | Getty Images The opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on Thursday will be a celebration of the legacy of former President Barack Obama and his accomplishments. The star-studded event that will feature an address from Obama and performances by Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen and Jennifer Hudson is also expected to be the biggest gathering of donors, fundraisers and business leaders aligned with the Democratic Party ahead of the 2026 midterm elections . "It's a celebration of Obama's historic candidacy and a celebration of the extraordinary work he did on behalf of our country," said John Rogers, a co-founder of Ariel Investments and a long-time Obama supporter who donated to the center and will attend the opening. In addition to the nostalgia, insiders expect conversations on the sidelines between large donors, business leaders, electoral candidates and hopefuls in the next presidential cycle about fundraising and the future of the Democratic Party. "People will be talking about how important it is for us to take back the House of Representatives and the Senate, try to encourage all of us in this sort of dismal and disheartening period in our country that it is important for us to step up," Rogers said. …