Katie Bernhardt: Difference between revisions

| name = Katie Bernhardt

| office = Chair of the [[Louisiana Democratic Party]]

| termstart = September 13, 2020

| alma_mater = [[Louisiana State University Law Center]]

| children = 4

| predecessor = [[Karen Carter Peterson]]

| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]

'''Katie Bernhardt''' is an American politician and businessperson. She has served as the chair of the [[Louisiana Democratic Party]] since September 2020.

Bernhardt graduated from [[Louisiana State University Law Center]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Hilburn |first=Greg |date=August 26, 2020 |title=Lafayette's Katie Bernhardt poised to lead Louisiana Democrats after Ted James withdraws |url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2020/08/26/katie-bernhardt-poised-lead-louisiana-democratic-party/5635910002/ |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=The News-Star |language=en-US}}</ref> Bernhadt and her husband operate Standard Law in [[Lafayette, Louisiana]].<ref name=":0" /> She served as a member on the Democratic state central committee and executive committee for four years.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Hilburn |first=Greg |date=September 12, 2020 |title=Lafayette's Katie Bernhardt elected chair of Louisiana Democratic Party |url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2020/09/12/lafayettes-katie-bernhardt-elected-chair-louisiana-democrats/5780348002/ |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=The News-Star |language=en-US}}</ref>

In September 2020, Bernhardt was elected to a four year term as the chair of the [[Louisiana Democratic Party]] 127 to 51 against Lynda Woolard, a party organizer.<ref name=":1" /> She succeeded [[Karen Carter Peterson]].<ref name=":1" /> Bernhardt campaigned on her ability to reverse the party's decline in the state and appeal to moderate and rural voters.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Bridges |first=Tyler |date=January 29, 2023 |title=Chairs of both state political parties in Louisiana, under fire, facing calls to resign |url=https://www.nola.com/news/politics/louis-gurvich-and-katie-bernhardt-are-facing-calls-to-resign/article_802835e6-9e85-11ed-a74c-b7874f4df703.html |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=NOLA.com |language=en}}</ref> She has addressed the North and South divide in Louisiana Democratic politics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bayliss |first=Deborah |date=March 1, 2021 |title=Louisiana Democratic Party leader Katie Bernhardt talks party strategies |url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2021/03/02/louisiana-democratic-party-leader-katie-bernhardt-addresses-democratic-party-key-strategies/6872556002/ |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=The Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Bernhardt has stated she aims to modernize the party.<ref name=":0" /> She established the Louisiana Democratic disability caucus and the Democratic women's caucus.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Rosato |first=Chris |date=January 26, 2023 |title=Some La. Democrats call for party chairwoman to resign while others come to her defense |url=https://www.wafb.com/2023/01/26/some-la-democrats-call-party-chairwoman-resign-while-others-come-her-defense/ |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=[[WAFB]] |language=en}}</ref> She has reinstituted groups for young Democrats.<ref name=":3" />

In January 2023, Bernhardt signaled interest but did not officially announce that she would run in the [[2023 Louisiana gubernatorial election]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bridges |first=Tyler |date=January 23, 2023 |title=Katie Bernhardt, Democratic party chair, signals interest in running for governor |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/democratic-chair-katie-bernhardt-might-run-for-governor/article_5ff73abc-97ed-5df4-9783-6d8984fe5582.html |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=The Advocate |language=en}}</ref> Her political advertisement sparked criticism among some party members, prompting first vice chairman [[C. Travis Johnson]] to stepdown.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Donoghue |first=Julie |date=January 25, 2023 |title=Louisiana Democratic chair Katie Bernhardt says she's 'committed to uniting behind one candidate' for governor |url=https://lailluminator.com/briefs/louisiana-democratic-chair-katie-bernhardt-says-shes-committed-to-uniting-behind-one-candidate-for-governor/ |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=Louisiana Illuminator |language=en-US}}</ref> She also faced calls to resign, mainly from progressives while other<ref name=":2" /> party members came to her defense.<ref name=":3" /> In February 2023, Bernhardt announced that she was not running in the gubernatorial election.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hilburn |first=Greg |date=February 13, 2023 |title=After viral shotgun video backlash, Katie Bernhardt out of Louisiana governor race |url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2023/02/13/democrat-katie-bernhardt-out-of-louisiana-governor-race-after-viral-shotgun-video-backlash/69899087007/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=The Daily Advertiser |language=en-US}}</ref>

Bernhardt has four children.<ref name=":0" />

{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[Louisiana Democratic Party]]|years=2020–present}}

{{s-inc}}

[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]

[[Category:Louisiana State Democratic Chairmen]]

[[Category:21st-century American businesswomen]]

[[Category:Women in Louisiana politics]]

[[Category:Politicians from Lafayette, Louisiana]]

[[Category:21st-century American women lawyers]]

[[Category:Louisiana lawyers]]

[[Category:Louisiana State University Law Center alumni]]