The leader of the Massachusetts Democratic Party was arrested last month during a traffic stop, facing accusations of drunken driving. Court records reveal that days later, Steve Kerrigan admitted prosecutors had enough evidence for a conviction.
On June 15, two days after being stopped in Southborough, a judge continued the operating under the influence (OUI) charge without a finding. Kerrigan, the chairman of the state’s Democratic Party, entered an ‘admission to sufficient facts’, acknowledging the adequacy of evidence for a conviction, as stated in Westborough District Court records.
Besides the OUI charge, Kerrigan, 54, was charged with negligent operation and a marked lanes violation. The negligent operation charge was dismissed, and he was not held responsible for the lanes violation. He received a year’s probation, a 45-day driver’s license suspension, $600 in fees, and a mandatory impaired driving education program.
Steve Kerrigan, elected chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party in 2023, was previously the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014 and an executive in the Democratic National Convention Committee. He is also president and CEO of the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center.
The Southborough Police Department report noted that Kerrigan was stopped shortly after midnight on June 13 for driving over the lane divider. The officer reported Kerrigan’s eyes appeared ‘glassy’ and ‘bloodshot red’, with slow and slurred speech. The officer described an ‘overwhelming odor of cologne’ that obscured any alcohol smell.
Kerrigan informed the officer he was driving home from a restaurant and had two beers before dinner around 6 p.m. Police conducted field sobriety tests and recorded a breath sample indicating a 0.089% blood alcohol content. The legal limit in Massachusetts is 0.08%.
Kerrigan issued a statement, acknowledging the incident and expressing regret and responsibility for his actions. He thanked the Southborough Police Department and Westborough Court for their professionalism and service.
The Massachusetts Democratic Party did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.