FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — The Kentucky Democratic Party has elected a new chair, Colmon Eldridge, to lead the party forward.
Eldridge is a Cynthiana native, who served as a special advisor to Governor Steve Beshear during his administration.
He has also served as DNC Outreach Director for the KDP, as a national committeeman for Kentucky Young Democrats, and was executive vice president of the Young Democrats of America.
Eldridge is the first African-American chair of the state's Democratic Party.
"As a Kentuckian, it is an honor to be asked to lead my party into the future. I am grateful to Governor Beshear for his friendship, his guidance, his leadership, and his trust in my ability to lead our party. As a father, it is humbling to be able to live out the prayer my parents prayed for my sister and I, and that Victoria and I pray for our three boys -- that when they grow up, they can be anything they want to be -- including the head of their own state political party. As a black man who was the first person in his immediate family to have been born with the right to vote, it is an honor to be able to make history today. I believe the Kentucky Democratic Party has a strong future ahead of it and I can't wait to apply things I've learned from my experience to help Democratic candidates win in 2022 and beyond," said Eldridge.
This news comes after the KY Democratic Party lost additional seats in the House and Senate during the November 3 election. Five of the six Congressional seats continue to be held by Republicans, and GOP Senator Mitch McConnell won re-election once again.
Democrats only captured one statewide office victory in 2019, which would be Gov. Andy Beshear along with Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman. Gov. Beshear endorsed the election of Eldridge.
"I've known Colmon for a long time and I can't think of a better person to continue to build the Democratic Party here in Kentucky. Colmon is a devoted father and husband who is committed to trying to build a better world for his kids and all of Kentucky's kids. As chair, Colmon will work every day to elect Democrats committed to public education, access to quality and affordable healthcare and good paying jobs," said Gov. Beshear.
Eldridge follows outgoing chair Ben Self, who will resign from the position at the end of the year. Self says he is excited to see Eldridge lead the Kentucky Democratic Party into the future.
