Massachusetts Democratic Party Leader Faces Legal Consequences for OUI Charge

Steve Kerrigan, the head of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, encountered legal issues following a traffic stop that led to charges of alleged drunken driving. The incident occurred last month, and shortly afterward, Kerrigan acknowledged the validity of the evidence against him during legal proceedings, according to state court documents.

On June 15, two days after the traffic incident in Southborough, a judge adjudicated the case. Kerrigan admitted to ‘sufficient facts’ regarding the operating under the influence (OUI) charge. This legal term in Massachusetts denotes a defendant’s recognition that prosecutors have substantial evidence to secure a conviction, as per Westborough District Court records.

Besides the OUI charge, the 54-year-old Kerrigan faced allegations of negligent operation and a marked lanes violation. The negligent operation charge was dismissed, and he was deemed not responsible for the lane violation. The court ordered Kerrigan to one year of probation, suspended his driver’s license for 45 days, mandated $600 in fines, and required completion of an impaired driving education program.

According to the Southborough Police Department, an officer stopped Kerrigan after observing his BMW over the lane divider shortly after midnight on June 13. The officer noted Kerrigan displayed glassy, bloodshot eyes, and slurred speech. Although unable to detect alcohol because of a strong cologne scent, police conducted field sobriety tests. Kerrigan subsequently provided a breath sample indicating a blood alcohol content of 0.089%, exceeding Massachusetts’ legal limit of 0.08%.

Kerrigan issued a statement via his attorney, Andrea Levy, recognizing the incident and expressing regret. He stated, ‘In June, I was pulled over for a marked lanes violation and blew a .089 on the breathalyzer. I regret and take full responsibility for my actions and their consequences.’ The Massachusetts Democratic Party has yet to respond to queries from Fox News Digital regarding the situation.

Kerrigan’s political journey includes serving as the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014 and holding a significant role with the Democratic National Convention Committee. Currently, he is the president and CEO of the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, having been elected chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party in 2023.