Steve Kerrigan, the chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, admitted to sufficient facts in a June drunken driving case, according to state court records. The admission means prosecutors presented enough evidence for a conviction.
A judge continued the operating under the influence (OUI) liquor charge without a finding on June 15, two days after Kerrigan’s traffic stop in Southborough. Kerrigan, 54, also faced a negligent operation charge, which was dismissed, and a marked lanes violation, for which he was found not responsible.
The judge sentenced Kerrigan to one year of probation, suspended his driver’s license for 45 days, ordered him to pay $600 in fees, and required him to complete an impaired driving education program.
According to a Southborough Police Department report, an officer stopped Kerrigan shortly after midnight on June 13 for allegedly traveling on or over the lane divider. The officer noted Kerrigan’s eyes appeared “glassy” and “bloodshot red,” and his speech was slow and slurred. The report also stated the officer detected an “overwhelming odor of cologne” rather than alcohol.
Kerrigan told the officer he was driving home from a restaurant and had consumed two beers around 6 p.m. before dinner. Field sobriety tests were administered, and a breath sample registered a blood alcohol content of 0.089%, which is above the legal limit of 0.08% in Massachusetts.
Kerrigan, who was elected chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party in 2023, issued a statement through his attorney, Andrea Levy. “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,” Kerrigan said.
Prior to his role as party chairman, Kerrigan was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014 and served with the Democratic National Convention Committee. He also holds the position of president and CEO of the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center. His license suspension followed a failed breathalyzer test during the traffic stop.