Katie Bernhardt has served as the chair of the

Louisiana Democratic Party The Louisiana Democratic Party (french: Parti démocrate de Louisiane) is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the state of Louisiana. Dominated by the conservative planter elite through much of the 19th century, the party was historically pr ...

since September 2020.

Career

Bernhardt graduated from

Louisiana State University Law Center The Paul M. Hebert Law Center, often styled "LSU Law", is a public law school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is part of the Louisiana State University System and located on the main campus of Louisiana State University. Because Louisiana is a ci ...

. Bernhadt and her husband operate Standard Law in

Lafayette, Louisiana Lafayette (, ) is a city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and the most populous city and parish seat of Lafayette Parish, located along the Vermilion River. It is Louisiana's fourth largest incorporated municipality by population and the 234th- ...

. She served as a member on the Democratic state central committee and executive committee for four years. In September 2020, Bernhardt was elected to a four year term as the chair of the

127 to 51 against Lynda Woolard, a party organizer. She succeeded

Karen Carter Peterson Karen Carter Peterson (born November 1, 1969) is an American lawyer and former politician who served as a member of the Louisiana State House from 1999 to 2010, then as the state senator from the 5th district until her resignation in 2022. She ...

. Bernhardt campaigned on her ability to reverse the party's decline in the state and appeal to moderate and rural voters. She has addressed the North and South divide in Louisiana Democratic politics. Bernhardt has stated she aims to modernize the party. She established the Louisiana Democratic disability caucus and the Democratic women's caucus. She has reinstituted groups for young Democrats. In January 2023, Bernhardt signaled interest but did not officially announce that she would run in the

2023 Louisiana gubernatorial election The 2023 Louisiana gubernatorial election was held on October 14, 2023 to elect the governor of Louisiana. Incumbent Governor John Bel Edwards was term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third consecutive term in office. This race was ...

. Her political advertisement sparked criticism among some party members, prompting first vice chairman C. Travis Johnson to stepdown. She also faced calls to resign, mainly from progressives while other party members came to her defense. In February 2023, Bernhardt announced that she was not running in the gubernatorial election. She later announced her support of gubernatorial candidate Shawn Wilson. Bernhardt has four children.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bernhardt, Katie 21st-century American businesspeople 21st-century American businesswomen 21st-century American women politicians Businesspeople from Louisiana Living people Louisiana State Democratic Chairmen Louisiana State University Law Center alumni Place of birth missing (living people) Politicians from Lafayette, Louisiana Women in Louisiana politics Year of birth missing (living people)