KENTUCKY — The Kentucky Democratic Party (KDP) officially has new leadership.

The party's State Central Executive Committee elected Colmon Elridge chair of the KDP Saturday after Gov. Andy Beshear nominated him to the position. The Cynthiana native follows outgoing chair Ben Self who announced in September that he would resign from the position after serving since 2017.

Elridge has served in numerous roles, including DNC Outreach Director for the KDP in 2007, a national committeeman for the Kentucky Young Democrats from 2008 to 2009, and the Executive Vice President of the Young Democrats of America from 2009 to 2011.

He's also held positions in the Commonwealth as a special advisor to Gov. Steve Beshear from 2007 to 2015 and as government relations director for the Kentucky Education Association. A graduate of Transylvania University, Elridge also earned an M.B.A from Sullivan University and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of the Cumberlands.

Elridge, who is the first African-American chair of the KDP, said he's honored to take the position.

“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.” 

Beshear applauded Elridge's experience and leadership.

“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 Beshear.

Self said he's "excited" that Elridge will lead the party.

“As a Kentucky Democrat, I’m excited that Colmon Elridge will lead our party into the future. As a party, we have made great progress and laid the groundwork for future success for Democratic candidates. We have built and hopefully will continue to build a permanent campaign infrastructure that allows our party to speak to Kentuckians all year around with no “off-years” so that we can build the trust needed to win elections when the time comes. I know that Chairman Elridge will take that foundation and run even further with it in the years to come.”