Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge : "The South is not Lost for Democrats"
In an interview with The Blue Print, Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge shares the strategy to win big in the 2026 midterms and the importance of meeting Kentucky voters where they are.
Happy Wednesday, Democrats!
Colmon Elridge serves as the chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party. Since taking office in 2020, Chair Elridge has worked diligently to invest in the people of Kentucky and ensure that the Party meets the needs of all Kentuckians, from those living in the largest cities to those in rural communities.
Chair Elridge’s leadership has revitalized the Party, bringing a strong wave of Democratic leadership to the state. Selected to lead the Party by Governor Andy Beshear, Elridge’s tenure led to strong Democratic momentum across the commonwealth, with more and more state and local seats flipping blue. As we approach the 2026 midterm elections, the Kentucky Democratic Party is working tirelessly to sustain this momentum and flip more seats in November.
Please continue reading to hear about Chair Elridge’s accomplishments as chair, and what’s ahead for Kentucky in the 2026 midterms.
Maya S: Tell us about yourself, your background, and what led you to become chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party.
Chair Elridge: My childhood experiences with poverty and homelessness shaped my desire to pursue public service. I was 14 when I began to see both politics and public service as the best ways for me to carry my family’s experiences forward. I was fortunate to grow up in a small town in Kentucky, where my desire to get involved in politics was never discouraged. The more I pursued it, the more support and acknowledgement I received for the issues I cared most about.
I began my career as the Chief of Staff and Government Relations Director for the 14 Community Mental Health Centers in Kentucky. From there, I worked as a UniServe Director and the Government Relations Director for the Kentucky Education Association. I was fortunate to serve as a Senior Advisor to Governor Steve Beshear for eight years, working on a range of issues with the Governor and First Lady.
I was incredibly honored when Governor Andy Beshear asked me to serve as Chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party. That decision made history, as I became the first Black chair of a major political Party in Kentucky. I am proud to stand on the shoulders of so many others, and to extend that platform so others know there is a place for them in the leadership of our Party.
I’m really proud of what we did to get Governor Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman reelected. We’ve also been winning special elections, including one in 2025 where we came out ahead by nearly 50 points, which marked the election of the first labor leader to our State Legislature ever!
We’ve taken a stand against extreme GOP constitutional amendments and made sure public education funding and women’s health care stay protected. I’m also excited that we’re including more voices in our Party, bringing in young Democrats, college Democrats, high school Democrats, and labor folks to our State Central Executive Committee, with our Kentucky Hispanic Caucus joining the Executive Committee next.
We have been focused on rebuilding our local Party presence across all 120 counties. We’ve held training sessions and listening tours that really show our commitment to growing the Party from the ground up. It’s great to see people feeling more confident about being Democrats and running for office in their communities. I’m proud that our Party has been a part of this revival of Southern State Democrats. I’m proud of our fantastic team led by Executive Director Morgan Eaves. They know how important it is to show everyone that we’re ready to fight for our state.
Chair Elridge with Governor Andy Beshear and Kentucky Democratic Party Executive Director Morgan Eaves.
Maya S: Kentucky has many rural communities across the state. Can you share how you are reaching these voters and keeping them engaged in the lead up to the midterms?
Chair Elridge: Democrats don’t win reelection by staying in Kentucky’s big cities; we need to meet rural Kentuckians where they are. That’s exactly what Kentucky’s Democratic county parties have done for our February month of action, ramping up volunteer recruitment across the state through phone banking and texting. This month, those volunteers will hold registration drives to make sure Kentuckians are ready to vote in May’s primary and reject Republican cruelty at the polls in November.
Out of all states on track to lose hospitals because of Trump’s Big Ugly Bill, no state has more at risk than Kentucky. Extreme cuts to Medicaid threaten to shut down 35 rural facilities and take 20,000 good-paying health care jobs from places that can’t afford to lose them. At the same time, tariffs and trade wars are throttling farmers and small business owners outside of big cities. Getting our message to them will be key to turning Kentucky from red to blue.
Maya S: You previously served as the executive vice president of the Young Democrats of America. How are you taking your past experience to engage young voters in Kentucky?
Chair Elridge: This was transformative in how I view politics and the role of young people in our policymaking. It shaped my fundamental belief that young people should have a seat at decision-making tables, and I have carried that into action, ensuring that our young Democrats, college Democrats, and high school Democrats have seats on our State Central Executive Committee. It also means ensuring that we are creating a meaningful and sustainable space for young people to lead parties, run for office, and have access to work in politics and government here in Kentucky.
Winning back the youth vote is extremely important to me. Young people are constantly telling us the issues they are concerned about and how they want to be a part of the solution. Much like any other constituency of our Party, I believe it is important to listen and work collaboratively to engage people where they are.
By investing in our youth constituency groups and caucuses, we are giving the Party a place in their world and taking their guidance into consideration as we move forward. I think it is also important not to view young voters as a monolithic group. For instance, when I was in YDA, I was already married and a father of two. Creating a space where a young high school student and a young parent or professional can both exist as young Democrats and feel embraced where they are in their lives is important to creating new Democrats.
Chair Elridge addresses voters in Paintsville, Kentucky during the KDP’s Rural Listening Tour.
Maya S: As Democrats continue to grow in a unique state like Kentucky, what is the Kentucky Democratic Party doing to keep the momentum going?
Chair Elridge: The political climate in Kentucky is not unlike that of America. Since the reelection of Donald Trump, we have seen the GOP here mirror the same vile rhetoric and push the same harmful policies as folks have across the nation. We have seen a Republican Party more interested in putting itself ahead of the needs of the American people.
We are fortunate in Kentucky to have a Democratic Governor who very early on decided that we would not play in that gutter. Instead, Democrats at every level have been focused on bridging the divides, listening to Kentuckians, and delivering real results. Governor Beshear’s reelection shows the faith of the people of Kentucky to raise the bar in politics and in governing.
Democratic leaders in Kentucky are elected because our politics are driven by values that shape every community in Kentucky, and are not dependent on who is in the White House or who is popular at any given moment. That focus on what is right for Kentucky and leading with our values builds momentum and trust between voters and our candidates.
Maya S: What are your biggest priorities leading up to the 2026 midterms?
Chair Elridge: Kentucky Democrats are focused on turning Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District blue and flipping as many state legislative seats as possible. We’re already gaining momentum; in December, Senator Gary Clemons overperformed in his special election, beating his Republican opponent by nearly 50 points.
From now until November, Kentucky Democrats will engage in an aggressive field campaign using volunteers and county parties across the state to knock on doors, shake hands and share our affordability-focused vision. Digital campaigning will extend our reach to even more voters, across every medium possible, holding the Republican Party accountable for taking from working people to help billionaires get richer.
Chair Elridge with DNC Chair Ken Martin at the KDP’s sold-out Forward Together Dinner in Owensboro, Kentucky.
Maya S: Why are DNC investments so critical in Kentucky, and why should grassroots supporters be invested in this funding?
Chair Elridge: One of the most critical funding investments in Kentucky was during our 2023 Governor’s race. I believed Andy Beshear and Jacqueline Coleman would be reelected, and we all knew that the Trump-endorsed GOP nominee was extreme and just not a good candidate. But investments in rural states do not always happen, no matter how good the odds and the candidates are. The DNC’s investment went a long way toward ensuring that we had the kind of ground infrastructure we needed to not only win, but to win big and send a statement that the hurtful politics of Republicans could be defeated.
As we look towards the midterms, we know how critical it is to ensure we take back the House and the Senate in Washington, but just as important is that we have the resources necessary at the state and local levels to take back state legislatures, school boards, county and city seats, and more. Yes, this is about showing the continued momentum of the Democratic Party, but it is also about shaping the future of our nation, our states, and local communities. The midterms will decide if we build in a spirit of unity and commitment to all Americans, or if the MAGA mentality reframes our motto from “We the People” to “me, myself, and I.”
Maya S: What would you say your biggest accomplishment as chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party has been?
Chair Elridge: I am most proud of building a more inclusive Party where, whether you are rural, urban, or suburban, you know you belong in the Kentucky Democratic Party. I am proud that we continue to show that the South is not lost for Democrats. When we meet people where they are, listen, and then turn that feedback into something that makes people’s lives better, we are elevating politics into something more than just partisan warfare.
I am proud of our staff and volunteers who wake up every day thinking about how we not only engage in politics, but also save our democracy and truly create a more perfect union. These things are not high-minded; they are essential to the country moving forward for future generations.
As the son and grandson of people who were born in our country without the right to civically participate as full citizens, I am proud to be part of something born from their fight and their belief in the promise of America. I am proud that under my tenure, we have seen more diverse leadership and engagement in our Party at every level, including the leadership of our House and Senate Democratic Caucuses.
Learn more about the Kentucky Democratic Party and Get Involved
To learn more about the work of the Kentucky Democratic Party, including upcoming events, candidate information, and opportunities to get involved, visit the Party’s official website at Kentucky Democrats.
You can also follow the Kentucky Democratic Party on Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter), for updates on organizing efforts, legislative priorities, and statewide initiatives throughout the 2026 cycle.
We plan to feature more state Party chairs and Party leaders in 2026. Let us know in the comments who you’d like to hear from in the coming months!
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Best,
Maya