Katie Bernhardt

Bernhardt graduated from Louisiana State University Law Center.[1] Bernhadt and her husband operate Standard Law in Lafayette, Louisiana.[1] She served as a member on the Democratic state central committee and executive committee for four years.[2]

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.[2] She succeeded Karen Carter Peterson.[2] Bernhardt campaigned on her ability to reverse the party's decline in the state and appeal to moderate and rural voters.[3] She has addressed the North and South divide in Louisiana Democratic politics.[4] Bernhardt has stated she aims to modernize the party.[1] She established the Louisiana Democratic disability caucus and the Democratic women's caucus.[5] She has reinstituted groups for young Democrats.[5]

In January 2023, Bernhardt signaled interest but did not officially announce that she would run in the 2023 Louisiana gubernatorial election.[6] Her political advertisement sparked criticism among some party members, prompting first vice chairman C. Travis Johnson to stepdown.[7] She also faced calls to resign, mainly from progressives while other[3] party members came to her defense.[5] In February 2023, Bernhardt announced that she was not running in the gubernatorial election.[8] She later announced her support of gubernatorial candidate Shawn Wilson.[9]

Bernhardt has four children.[1]