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Katie Bernhardt
Chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party
In office
September 13, 2020 – April 13, 2024
Preceded by Karen Carter Peterson
Succeeded by Randal Gaines
Personal details
Political party Democratic
Children4
Education University of Louisiana, Monroe ( BA)
Louisiana State University ( JD)

Katie Bernhardt served as the chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party from September 2020 through April 2024.

Career

Bernhardt graduated from Louisiana State University Law Center. [1] Bernhardt and her husband operate Standard Law in Lafayette, Louisiana. [1] She served as a member on the Democratic state central committee and executive committee for four years. [2]

In September 2020, Bernhardt was elected to a four year term as the chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party 127 to 51 against Lynda Woolard, a party organizer. [2] She succeeded Karen Carter Peterson. [2] Bernhardt campaigned on her ability to reverse the party's decline in the state and appeal to moderate and rural voters. [3] She addressed the North and South divide in Louisiana Democratic politics. [4] Bernhardt had aimed to modernize the party. [1] She established the Louisiana Democratic disability caucus and the Democratic women's caucus. [5] She has reinstituted groups for young Democrats. [5]

In January 2023, Bernhardt signaled interest but did not officially announce that she would run in the 2023 Louisiana gubernatorial election. [6] Her political advertisement sparked criticism among some party members, prompting first vice chairman C. Travis Johnson to stepdown. [7] She also faced calls to resign, mainly from progressives while other [3] party members came to her defense. [5] In February 2023, Bernhardt announced that she was not running in the gubernatorial election. [8] She later announced her support of gubernatorial candidate Shawn Wilson. [9]

In the subsequent elections the Democratic Party suffered significant defeats. These lead to more requests for resignation. At the April 2024 party meetings, due to a procedural error, Bernhardt was not nominated for State Party Chair, meaning she could not be re-elected.

References

  1. ^ a b c Hilburn, Greg (August 26, 2020). "Lafayette's Katie Bernhardt poised to lead Louisiana Democrats after Ted James withdraws". The News-Star. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  2. ^ a b c Hilburn, Greg (September 12, 2020). "Lafayette's Katie Bernhardt elected chair of Louisiana Democratic Party". The News-Star. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  3. ^ a b Bridges, Tyler (January 29, 2023). "Chairs of both state political parties in Louisiana, under fire, facing calls to resign". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  4. ^ Bayliss, Deborah (March 1, 2021). "Louisiana Democratic Party leader Katie Bernhardt talks party strategies". The Times. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  5. ^ a b c Rosato, Chris (January 26, 2023). "Some La. Democrats call for party chairwoman to resign while others come to her defense". WAFB. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  6. ^ Bridges, Tyler (January 23, 2023). "Katie Bernhardt, Democratic party chair, signals interest in running for governor". The Advocate. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  7. ^ O'Donoghue, Julie (January 25, 2023). "Louisiana Democratic chair Katie Bernhardt says she's 'committed to uniting behind one candidate' for governor". Louisiana Illuminator. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  8. ^ Hilburn, Greg (February 13, 2023). "After viral shotgun video backlash, Katie Bernhardt out of Louisiana governor race". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
  9. ^ Bridges, Tyler (2023-04-01). "Katie Bernhardt, no longer facing challenge to her job, says Democrats face brighter days". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
Party political offices
Preceded by Chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party
2020–2024 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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