Stephen Kerrigan, the guy running the Massachusetts Democratic Party, got himself popped for driving under the influence last month in Southborough, and the details are just *chef's kiss* levels of absurd. As first reported here, the party chair is now serving a full year of probation after his late night cruise went sideways.
So here's how it went down. Around midnight on June 13, a Southborough cop was watching traffic on Turnpike Road when he spotted a gray 2017 BMW SUV straddling both lanes right over the dotted white line. You know, the universal sign of someone having a totally normal drive home. The officer pulled Kerrigan over, and he was the only person in the vehicle.
Kerrigan told the officer he was heading home from a restaurant. The cop noted that his eyes were glassy and bloodshot red. Now here's where it gets good. The officer couldn't even smell booze on the guy because Kerrigan was apparently marinating in cologne so strong it created an olfactory force field. Despite this tactical fragrance deployment, the cop noticed slurred words coming out of his mouth. Kerrigan claimed he'd consumed just two beers after dinner, which he said was around 6 p.m. So we're supposed to believe that two beers consumed six hours earlier had him weaving across lanes at midnight. Sure, buddy.
A breathalyzer at 12:55 a.m. came back at 0.089 percent, and a second reading minutes later showed 0.086 percent. Both numbers exceeded the Massachusetts legal limit of 0.08 percent. Math is undefeated, folks.
Kerrigan got hit with charges for OUI liquor, negligent operation, and a marked lanes violation. He showed up at Westborough District Court on June 15 and entered what's called an admission to sufficient facts on the OUI charge, which is basically lawyer speak for "yeah, you got me." The court continued that charge without a finding, tossed the negligent operation charge entirely, and found him not responsible for the lane violation. Must be nice.
His probation runs through June 15, 2027, and comes with some lovely party favors: completion of an impaired driving program, roughly $600 to $650 in fees and assessments, a 45 day license suspension, regular probation officer check ins, and he needs permission before leaving the state. If he keeps his nose clean, the OUI charge gets dismissed completely.
Through his attorney Andrea Levy, Kerrigan issued a statement taking "full responsibility" for his actions, which is the political equivalent of hitting the "I accept the terms and conditions" button without reading anything.
For context, this isn't some random local politico. Kerrigan has chaired the Massachusetts Democratic Party since April 2023. He also runs the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center in Worcester, sits on the Lancaster Select Board, previously served as chief of staff to former Attorney General Tom Reilly, ran the 2012 Democratic National Convention, and was the party's nominee for lieutenant governor back in 2014. Quite the resume to pair with a mugshot.
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