Gaines takes over as La. Democratic Party chair after Bernhardt ousted in procedural fluke

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Katie Bernhardt’s tenure as Louisiana Democratic Party Chair was marked by accusations of inefficiency and incompetence. It ended Saturday in a catastrophic procedural failure.

Months after its endorsed candidate suffered a spectacular loss in the 2023 gubernatorial election, the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC) met at the Laborers’ International Union Hall and ousted the party chair in an equally remarkable fashion.

Bernhardt’s final moments as chair passed in turmoil after nobody nominated the sitting chair, who had lost her own DSCC seat last month. Amid shouts, grumbles and glares, the Bernhardt wing of the party, bolstered by Democratic powerhouses from New Orleans, attempted to save their candidate. A motion to reopen nominations to include Bernhardt failed overwhelmingly, and nothing more could be done.

Randal Gaines, a former state representative from LaPlace, won the chairmanship by default.

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Gaines had the backing of the reform-minded Blue Reboot caucus, a group that won several DSCC seats, including Bernhardt’s. His supporters also included party veterans, with several sitting state representatives among them.

After Bernhardt failed to get a nomination from the floor, as is required by the bylaws, she took the microphone to pitch her candidacy anyway, which was met with outrage from members who wanted her replaced.

The packed Union Hall fell into chaos. Executive committee members initially claimed Bernhardt had been nominated but could not name who had done so when pressed by members.

Lafayette DSCC member Jackson Voss asked the nominator to identify themselves. No one did so, and a motion to close nominations had already passed without objection.

After further shouting, state Rep. Kyle Green, D-Marrero, took the mic. “I’m embarrassed by what’s happening here,” Green said before calling for nominations to be reopened.

His motion failed, 98-61

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