Massachusetts Democratic Party Leader Arrested for DUI

Last month, the chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party was taken into custody during a traffic stop on charges of driving under the influence. Records from the state courts indicate that he acknowledged sufficient evidence for a conviction shortly after his arrest.

According to documents from the Westborough District Court, on June 15, just two days post-arrest in Southborough, Steve Kerrigan, the state party’s chairman, filed a motion admitting that the prosecution had enough facts to support charges against him. Subsequently, a judge postponed the OUI charge with no evidence presented.

In addition to the OUI charge, Kerrigan, 54, faced charges for negligent driving and a marked lane violation. The negligent driving charge was eventually dropped, and he was found not responsible for the lane violation.

The judge’s ruling included a year of probation, a 45-day suspension of his driver’s license, a payment of $600 in fees, and a requirement to complete a program for disabled drivers.

Kerrigan has been leading the Massachusetts Democratic Party since 2023. In 2014, he was a candidate for lieutenant governor and also played a role in the Democratic National Convention Committee. Currently, he holds the position of president and CEO at the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center.

As per a report from the Southborough Police Department, early in the morning on June 13, an officer spotted Kerrigan’s BMW swerving across a lane divider, leading to the stop.

The officer noted that Kerrigan’s eyes were “glassy” with a “red and bloodshot” appearance, and his speech was slow and slurred. Interestingly, the report mentioned that officers didn’t detect the smell of alcohol, attributing it to a strong scent of cologne.

Kerrigan remarked to officers that he had consumed two beers before dinner around 6 p.m. that evening.

A field sobriety test was conducted, followed by a breath sample that revealed a blood alcohol content of 0.089 percent, slightly above Massachusetts’s legal limit of 0.08 percent.

In a statement relayed through his attorney, Kerrigan acknowledged the incident. He expressed, “In June, I was pulled over for a flagrant lane violation, and my breathalyzer beeped at 0.089. I regret and take full responsibility for my actions and their consequences. I am grateful to the Southboro Police Department and Westboro Courts for their professionalism and service.”

The Massachusetts Democratic Party has yet to respond to inquiries for comment.