Katie Bernhardt
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 |
| Children | 4 |
| 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
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Bayliss, Deborah (March 1, 2021). "Louisiana Democratic Party leader Katie Bernhardt talks party strategies". The Times. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Bridges, Tyler (January 23, 2023). "Katie Bernhardt, Democratic party chair, signals interest in running for governor". The Advocate. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Hilburn, Greg (February 13, 2023). "After viral shotgun video backlash, Katie Bernhardt out of Louisiana governor race". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
- ^ 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.