Ben Chandler
Albert Benjamin "Ben" Chandler III | |
|---|---|
| File:Chandler Ben.jpg | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 6th district | |
| In office 2005-present | |
| Preceded by | Ernie Fletcher |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
Albert Benjamin "Ben" Chandler III (born September 12 1959) is an American politician from Kentucky. He is the member of the House of Representatives for the sixth district of Kentucky and was first elected in 2004.
Chandler was born in Versailles, Kentucky. He received a BA and a J.D. from the University of Kentucky at Lexington, Ky., and became a private practice lawyer. He was State Auditor from 1991 to 1995 before he became the Attorney General of Kentucky from 1999 until 2003, and was the Democratic candidate for governor in the election of 2003. He was defeated in that election by his Republican opponent, Congressman Ernie Fletcher. Fletcher was forced to resign from Congress in order to become governor, and a special election was held for his seat in February 2004. Chandler became the Democratic candidate and won the election.
Chandler is a member of the House New Democrat Coalition. He is considered to be an up-and-coming leader in the Democratic Party, and his name has been rumored as a candidate for governor for the 2007 election and Senator in the 2008 election.
Ben Chandler's grandfather Albert Chandler, better known as Happy Chandler, served as Governor of Kentucky, Commissioner of Baseball, and as a U.S. Senator.