In today’s polarized political climate, conversations across party lines are rare — and friendships across those lines, even rarer. Join us for a timely and thought-provoking discussion with two respected Texas leaders who have built a lasting, bipartisan friendship rooted in mutual respect, service, and principled leadership.
Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm, former Chair and Executive Director of the Texas Democratic Party, has long been a forceful advocate for public education, voting rights, and women’s political representation. During her tenure, she led the party’s efforts to challenge discriminatory redistricting plans and to protect funding for Texas schools and early childhood programs. More recently, she served in executive leadership at Austin Community College, where she advanced access to higher education and workforce development across the state.
Johnny Sutton, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas under President George W. Bush, is a veteran prosecutor who has handled some of the most high-profile public integrity cases in recent Texas history — including representing the whistleblowers in the Ken Paxton investigation. With decades of experience on the front lines of law enforcement and justice reform, Sutton brings a deep commitment to the rule of law, public accountability, and conservative values.
Together, Malcolm and Sutton will explore the foundations of their enduring friendship, the role of civility in public life, and how building relationships across divides is essential to maintaining a healthy, thriving democracy for all.
Johnny Sutton
Johnny Sutton is the former United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas and an experienced trial lawyer who has personally tried over 65 first chair felony jury trials. He runs the Austin Office of the Ashcroft Law Firm which specializes in internal investigations, white-collar criminal defense and representing companies and individuals who are targeted by the federal government.
Prior to joining Ashcroft, Mr. Sutton led one of the largest and busiest United States Attorney’s Offices in the nation. The Western District of Texas covers 93,000 square miles, 68 counties and 660 miles of U.S.-Mexico border. As U.S. Attorney, he managed more than 300 employees, a $28 million annual budget and directed 43,000 federal prosecutions and thousands of civil cases. Under Sutton’s leadership, the office led the nation in drug convictions, was second in illegal alien prosecutions, won more than 105 public corruption convictions and sent nearly 400 violent criminal gang members to prison.
While US Attorney, Mr. Sutton served on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) for seven years and was chairman for nearly two years. Sutton led the Bush-Cheney Department of Justice Transition Team in 2000 and served as an Associate Deputy Attorney General under Deputy Attorneys General Bob Mueller and Larry Thompson. From 1995 to 2000, Mr. Sutton served as the Criminal Justice Policy Director for then-Governor George W. Bush. He was the chief policy advisor to the Governor on all criminal justice issues. From 1988 to 1995, Johnny was a prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office in Houston, Texas, where he tried more than 60 first chair felony jury trials and had only three acquittals. He also successfully tried 17 murder jury trials, including seven for capital murder.
Mr. Sutton attended the University of Texas at Austin on a baseball scholarship where he was a two-year lettermen and the starting left fielder for the 1983 University of Texas National Championship baseball team. He was voted the Most Valuable Player of the NCAA Central Regional Baseball Tournament in 1983. Mr. Sutton is fluent in Spanish and conversant in Portuguese.
Johnny Sutton has dedicated his career to defending the innocent and standing up for the rule of law.
Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm
Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm is a formidable force in Texas politics and public life, widely recognized as a trailblazer, strategist, and powerhouse with decades of influence in education and civic engagement. Best known for her historic leadership as the first woman elected Chair of the Texas Democratic Party, she served from 1998 to 2003. Dr. Malcolm became a national voice for Texas Democrats during the 2000 presidential election, appearing on CNN, C-SPAN, Hardball, and The O’Reilly Factor. Her political acumen was recognized by Campaigns & Elections Magazine, which named her a “Rising Star” in 2000.
Dr. Malcolm's political career was launched in East Texas, where she served as District Chief of Staff and Spokesperson for U.S. Congressman Max Sandlin and directed field operations for his successful first campaign across 19 counties. She went on to advise political leaders and institutions through her consulting firm, Malcolm Consulting, providing strategy on government relations, public policy, and grassroots advocacy. She also served six years as an elected community college trustee, where she co-founded and led the Community College Association of Texas Trustees, advancing governance reform and statewide collaboration.
Most recently, Dr. Malcolm served as an Executive Vice Chancellor at Austin Community College District (ACC), where she advised the Chancellor and Board on strategic initiatives, governmental affairs, and public engagement. She led departments responsible for operations, public affairs, public safety and international programs, and was instrumental in the development of ACC’s flagship Highland Campus. Her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in zero reported cases of on-campus transmission—a testament to her crisis management and strategic planning skills.
In addition to her political and executive leadership, Dr. Malcolm is a Professor of Practice at The University of Texas at Austin, where she teaches doctoral students in the Educational Leadership and Policy program. She serves on the Graduate Studies Committee and teaches the course “Politics and Policy of Higher Education.” Dr. Malcolm earned her Doctor of Education from UT Austin, holds a Master of Science from Texas A&M University–Texarkana, and a bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University. A retired Licensed Professional Counselor, she continues to shape policy and leadership in education and public service.
Dr. Malcolm currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for University Federal Credit Union and formerly held leadership positions on the Austin Economic Development Corporation, Austin Healthcare Council, Downtown Austin Alliance, and National Security Innovation Council. She is a former director and has served on the Texas Lyceum Advisory Council since 2012 and was a member of the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life Advisory Council from 2013 to 2021, serving as Co-Chair from 2017 to 2021. In 2024, ACC endowed a scholarship in her name, supporting students with their expenses to pay for college. Her accolades include the 2023 Leadership Austin Honorary Alumnus Award, 2022 Top 50 Women Leaders of Austin, and the Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award. Through every role, Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm has remained a driving force for political progress, education, and public leadership across Texas.