Steve Kerrigan, the chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, was arrested for alleged drunken driving during a traffic stop on June 13. According to state court records, he admitted to prosecutors that there were sufficient facts to support a conviction. A judge continued the operating under the influence (OUI) charge without a finding on June 15, after Kerrigan acknowledged the evidence against him. In addition to the OUI charge, he faced a negligent operation charge, which was dismissed, and a marked lanes violation, for which he was found not responsible. The judge sentenced him to a 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.
Kerrigan, 54, was elected chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party in 2023 and was previously the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014. He also serves as president and CEO of the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center. According to a report from the Southborough Police Department, Kerrigan was stopped after an officer observed his vehicle traveling over the lane divider. The officer noted that Kerrigan's eyes appeared glassy and bloodshot, and his speech was slow and slurred. Kerrigan stated he had consumed two beers before dinner. A breath sample registered a blood alcohol content of 0.089%, above the legal limit of 0.08% in Massachusetts. Kerrigan expressed regret for his actions in a statement through his attorney.