The chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party was taken into custody during a traffic stop last month on allegations of drunken driving, and court filings show he later acknowledged prosecutors had enough evidence to support a conviction.
Steve Kerrigan, who leads the state Democratic Party, entered an “admission to sufficient facts” in Westborough District Court after the June 13 stop in Southborough, according to court records. On June 15, a judge continued the operating under the influence of liquor charge without a finding, a Massachusetts court outcome that allows a case to be resolved without a formal guilty finding if conditions are met.
Kerrigan, 54, also faced charges of negligent operation and a marked lanes violation. The negligent operation count was dismissed, while he was found not responsible for the marked lanes allegation.
As part of the disposition, the judge placed Kerrigan on probation for one year, suspended his driver’s license for 45 days, ordered him to pay $600 in fees and directed him to complete an impaired driving education program.
Kerrigan became chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party in 2023. A longtime Democratic figure, he was the party’s 2014 nominee for lieutenant governor and previously worked as an executive with the Democratic National Convention Committee. He is also president and CEO of the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center.
A Southborough Police Department report says an officer pulled Kerrigan over shortly after midnight on June 13 after seeing his BMW drive on or across the lane divider.
In the report, the officer described Kerrigan’s eyes as “glassy” and “bloodshot red” and noted that his speech appeared slow and slurred. The officer also wrote that any odor of alcohol could not be detected because of an “overwhelming odor of cologne.”
Kerrigan told police he was heading home from a restaurant and said he had consumed two beers around 6 p.m. before dinner, according to the report.
Police administered field sobriety tests before Kerrigan provided a breath sample that registered a 0.089% blood alcohol content, according to the report. The legal blood alcohol limit in Massachusetts is 0.08%.
Kerrigan acknowledged the incident in a statement provided to Boston.com through his attorney, Andrea Levy.
“In June, I was pulled over for a marked lanes violation and blew a .089 on the breathalyzer,” Kerrigan said. “I regret and take full responsibility for my actions and their consequences and appreciate the Southborough Police Department and the Westborough Court for their professionalism and service.”
The Massachusetts Democratic Party did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
