Ben Chandler - Revision history

imported>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Kentucky to :Category:Democratic Party United States representatives from Kentucky per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy

2025-12-26T21:11:59Z

Moving Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Kentucky to Category:Democratic Party United States representatives from Kentucky per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy

← Previous revision		Revision as of 21:11, 26 December 2025
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	\|successor = [[Andy Barr]]		\|successor = [[Andy Barr]]
	\|office1 = 47th [[Attorney General of Kentucky]]		\|office1 = 47th [[Attorney General of Kentucky]]
	\|governor1 = [[Paul E. Patton\|Paul Patton]]<br/>[[Ernie Fletcher]]		\|governor1 = [[Paul E. Patton\|Paul Patton]]<br>[[Ernie Fletcher]]
	\|term_start1 = January 1, 1996		\|term_start1 = January 1, 1996
	\|term_end1 = January 5, 2004		\|term_end1 = January 5, 2004
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	\|successor1 = [[Greg Stumbo]]		\|successor1 = [[Greg Stumbo]]
	\|office2 = [[Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts\|Auditor of Kentucky]]		\|office2 = [[Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts\|Auditor of Kentucky]]
	\|governor2 = [[Brereton Jones]]<br/>[[Paul E. Patton~~\|Paul Patton]]~~		\|governor2 = [[Brereton Jones]]<br>Paul Patton
	\|term_start2 = January 6, 1992		\|term_start2 = January 6, 1992
	\|term_end2 = January 1, 1996		\|term_end2 = January 1, 1996
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	\|education = [[University of Kentucky]] ([[Bachelor of Arts\|BA]], [[Juris Doctor\|JD]])		\|education = [[University of Kentucky]] ([[Bachelor of Arts\|BA]], [[Juris Doctor\|JD]])
	}}		}}
	'''Albert Benjamin Chandler III''' (born September 12, 1959) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the [[United States House of Representatives\|United States representative]] for {{ushr\|KY\|6}} from 2004 to 2013. A [[United States Democratic Party\|~~Democrat~~]], ~~Chandler~~ was ~~first~~ elected to Congress in a [[2004 Kentucky's 6th congressional district special election\|2004 special election]]. He served until January 2013, having been defeated for re-election by [[Andy Barr]] in the [[2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky#District 6\|2012 elections]].		'''Albert Benjamin Chandler III''' (born September 12, 1959) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the [[United States House of Representatives\|United States representative]] for {{ushr\|KY\|6}} from 2004 to 2013. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)\|Democratic Party]], and the grandson of two-time [[Governor of Kentucky\|Kentucky Governor]] [[Happy Chandler]], he was the nominee of his party for Governor in [[2003 Kentucky gubernatorial election\|2003]], losing by just over 10 points to [[Republican Party (United States)\|Republican]] [[Ernie Fletcher]], He was then elected to Congress in a [[2004 Kentucky's 6th congressional district special election\|2004 special election]]. He served until January 2013, having been defeated for re-election by [[Andy Barr]] in the [[2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky#District 6\|2012 elections]]. He was also the [[Attorney General of Kentucky]] from 1996 until 2004.

	==Early life, education and career==		==Early life, education and career==
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	{{s-start}}		{{s-start}}
	~~{{s-legal}}~~
	~~{{s-bef\|before=[[Chris Gorman]]}}~~
	~~{{s-ttl\|title=[[Attorney General of Kentucky]]\|years=1995–2003}}~~
	~~{{s-aft\|after=[[Greg Stumbo]]}}~~
	\|-
	{{s-ppo}}		{{s-ppo}}
	{{s-bef\|before=[[Bob Babbage]]}}		{{s-bef\|before=[[Bob Babbage]]}}
	{{s-ttl\|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)\|Democratic]] nominee for [[Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts]]\|years=1991}}		{{s-ttl\|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)\|Democratic]] nominee for [[Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts\|Auditor of Kentucky]]\|years=1991}}
	{{s-aft\|after=[[Ed Hatchett]]}}		{{s-aft\|after=[[Ed Hatchett]]}}
	{{s-bef \| before = Chris Gorman}}		\|-
	{{s-ttl \| title = ~~{{nowrap\|~~[[Democratic Party (United States)\|Democratic]] nominee for [[Attorney General of Kentucky]]}} \| years = 1995, 1999}}		{{s-bef\|before=Chris Gorman}}
	{{s-aft \| after = [[~~Greg Stumbo~~]]}}		{{s-ttl\|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)\|Democratic]] nominee for [[Attorney General of Kentucky]]\|years=1995, 1999}}
			{{s-aft\|after=[[Paul E. Patton\|Paul Patton]]}}
			\|-
	{{s-bef\|before=[[Paul E. Patton\|Paul Patton]]}}		{{s-bef\|before=[[Paul E. Patton\|Paul Patton]]}}
	{{s-ttl\|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)\|Democratic]] [[List of Democratic nominees for Governor of Kentucky\|nominee]] for [[Governor of Kentucky]]\|years=[[2003 Kentucky gubernatorial election\|2003]]}}		{{s-ttl\|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)\|Democratic]] [[List of Democratic nominees for Governor of Kentucky\|nominee]] for [[Governor of Kentucky]]\|years=[[2003 Kentucky gubernatorial election\|2003]]}}
	{{s-aft\|after=[[Steve Beshear]]}}		{{s-aft\|after=[[Steve Beshear]]}}
			\|-
			{{s-legal}}
			{{s-bef\|before=[[Chris Gorman]]}}
			{{s-ttl\|title=[[Attorney General of Kentucky]]\|years=1996–2004}}
			{{s-aft\|after=[[Greg Stumbo]]}}
	\|-		\|-
	{{s-par\|us-hs}}		{{s-par\|us-hs}}
	{{s-bef\|before=[[Ernie Fletcher]]}}		{{s-bef\|before=[[Ernie Fletcher]]}}
	{{s-ttl\|title=Member of the [[United States ~~House of Representatives~~\|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br />from [[Kentucky's 6th congressional district]]\|years=2004–2013}}		{{s-ttl\|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from Kentucky\|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Kentucky's 6th congressional district]]\|years=2004–2013}}
	{{s-aft\|after=[[Andy Barr (U.S. politician)\|Andy Barr]]}}		{{s-aft\|after=[[Andy Barr (U.S. politician)\|Andy Barr]]}}
	\|-		\|-
	{{s-prec\|usa}}		{{s-prec\|usa}}
	{{s-bef\|before=[[Carl C. Perkins]]\|as=Former US Representative}}		{{s-bef\|before=[[Carl C. Perkins]]\|as=Former U.S. Representative}}
	{{s-ttl\|title=[[United States order of precedence\|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br />''{{small\|as Former US Representative}}''\|years=}}		{{s-ttl\|title=[[United States order of precedence\|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br>''{{small\|as Former U.S. Representative}}''\|years=}}
	{{s-aft\|after=[[Bill Boner]]\|as=Former US Representative}}		{{s-aft\|after=[[Bill Boner]]\|as=Former U.S. Representative}}
	{{s-end}}		{{s-end}}

	{{USCongRep-start\|congresses= 108th–112th [[United States Congress]]es \|state=[[Kentucky]]}}		{{USCongRep-start \|congresses=108th–112th [[United States Congress]]es \|state=[[United States congressional delegations from Kentucky\|Kentucky]]}}
	{{USCongRep/KY/108}}		{{USCongRep/KY/108}}
	{{USCongRep/KY/109}}		{{USCongRep/KY/109}}
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	{{DEFAULTSORT:Chandler, Ben}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Chandler, Ben}}
	[[Category:1959 births]]		[[Category:1959 births]]
	[[Category:~~Presbyterians from~~ Kentucky]]		[[Category:20th-century Kentucky politicians]]
			[[Category:21st-century Kentucky politicians]]
			[[Category:21st-century United States representatives]]
	[[Category:American prosecutors]]		[[Category:American prosecutors]]
	[[Category:Democratic Party ~~members of the~~ United States ~~House of Representatives~~ from Kentucky]]		[[Category:Candidates in the 2003 United States elections]]
			[[Category:Democratic Party United States representatives from Kentucky]]
	[[Category:Kentucky attorneys general]]		[[Category:Kentucky attorneys general]]
			[[Category:Kentucky auditors of public accounts]]
	[[Category:Living people]]		[[Category:Living people]]
	[[Category:People from Versailles, Kentucky]]		[[Category:People from Versailles, Kentucky]]
	[[Category:Kentucky ~~auditors of public accounts~~]]		[[Category:Presbyterians from Kentucky]]
	[[Category:University of Kentucky College of Law alumni]]		[[Category:University of Kentucky College of Law alumni]]
	~~[[Category:20th-century Kentucky politicians]]~~
	~~[[Category:21st-century Kentucky politicians]]~~
	~~[[Category:Candidates in the 2003 United States elections]]~~
	~~[[Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]~~

imported>StefenTower: /* 2010 */ Typo fixes + cleanups, typo(s) fixed: November 12, 2010 → November 12, 2010,

2025-06-09T00:16:43Z

2010: Typo fixes + cleanups, typo(s) fixed: November 12, 2010 → November 12, 2010,

← Previous revision		Revision as of 00:16, 9 June 2025
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	===2010===		===2010===
	{{See also\|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky#District 6}}		{{See also\|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky#District 6}}
	Chandler was challenged by Republican nominee Andy Barr in the November 2010 election. Chandler was elected by a very narrow margin, as results showed him leading Barr by about 600 votes. The results were re-canvassed due to the closeness of the outcome, but Chandler was certified as the election winner on November 12, 2010 by 648 votes.<ref>[http://www.lex18.com/news/chandler-certified-as-winner-of-congressional-race-after-re-canvass "Chandler Certified As Winner Of Congressional Race After Re-Canvass"] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928120708/http://www.lex18.com/news/chandler-certified-as-winner-of-congressional-race-after-re-canvass \|date=September 28, 2011 }}, Lex18.com, November 12, 2010.</ref>		Chandler was challenged by Republican nominee Andy Barr in the November 2010 election. Chandler was elected by a very narrow margin, as results showed him leading Barr by about 600 votes. The results were re-canvassed due to the closeness of the outcome, but Chandler was certified as the election winner on November 12, 2010, by 648 votes.<ref>[http://www.lex18.com/news/chandler-certified-as-winner-of-congressional-race-after-re-canvass "Chandler Certified As Winner Of Congressional Race After Re-Canvass"] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928120708/http://www.lex18.com/news/chandler-certified-as-winner-of-congressional-race-after-re-canvass \|date=September 28, 2011 }}, Lex18.com, November 12, 2010.</ref>

	In October 2011, Barr called their forthcoming contest "a rematch of the third-closest Congressional race in America" and said that Chandler was burdened with "considerable dissatisfaction" on the part of his constituents and the difficulty of running on the ticket with Obama. But Joshua Miller of Roll Call observed that "if the bent of the GOP-leaning district grows more Democratic and Democrats who sat out 2010 come to the polls next November, Barr has a steep hill to climb."<ref name=Advantage>{{cite news\|title=Kentucky Democrat Ben Chandler May Have Advantage in House Rematch\|url=http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_47/Kentucky-Democrat-May-Have-Advantage-in-Rematch-209729-1.html\|newspaper=Roll Call\|date=October 25, 2011}}</ref>		In October 2011, Barr called their forthcoming contest "a rematch of the third-closest Congressional race in America" and said that Chandler was burdened with "considerable dissatisfaction" on the part of his constituents and the difficulty of running on the ticket with Obama. But Joshua Miller of Roll Call observed that "if the bent of the GOP-leaning district grows more Democratic and Democrats who sat out 2010 come to the polls next November, Barr has a steep hill to climb."<ref name=Advantage>{{cite news\|title=Kentucky Democrat Ben Chandler May Have Advantage in House Rematch\|url=http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_47/Kentucky-Democrat-May-Have-Advantage-in-Rematch-209729-1.html\|newspaper=Roll Call\|date=October 25, 2011}}</ref>
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	==External links==		==External links==
	{{wikisource ~~author~~}}		{{wikisource\|works=or}}
	*{{C-SPAN\|1007734}}		*{{C-SPAN\|1007734}}
	* {{CongLinks \| congbio=c001058 \| votesmart=1891 \| fec=H4KY0607 \| congress= }}<!-- Links formerly displayed via the {{CongLinks}} template:		* {{CongLinks \| congbio=c001058 \| votesmart=1891 \| fec=H4KY0607 \| congress= }}<!-- Links formerly displayed via the {{CongLinks}} template:

imported>Nevermore27: /* Committee assignments */ ce

2025-05-16T15:55:22Z

Committee assignments: ce

New page

{{Short description|American politician (born 1959)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Ben Chandler
|image = Benchandler.jpeg
|state = [[Kentucky]]
|district = {{ushr|KY|6|6th}}
|term_start = February 17, 2004
|term_end = January 3, 2013
|predecessor = [[Ernie Fletcher]]
|successor = [[Andy Barr]]
|office1 = 47th [[Attorney General of Kentucky]]
|governor1 = [[Paul E. Patton|Paul Patton]]<br/>[[Ernie Fletcher]]
|term_start1 = January 1, 1996
|term_end1 = January 5, 2004
|predecessor1 = Chris Gorman
|successor1 = [[Greg Stumbo]]
|office2 = [[Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts|Auditor of Kentucky]]
|governor2 = [[Brereton Jones]]<br/>[[Paul E. Patton|Paul Patton]]
|term_start2 = January 6, 1992
|term_end2 = January 1, 1996
|predecessor2 = [[Bob Babbage]]
|successor2 = [[Ed Hatchett]]
|birth_name = Albert Benjamin Chandler III
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|9|12}}
|birth_place = [[Versailles, Kentucky]], U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|spouse = Jennifer Romine
|relatives = [[Happy Chandler]] (grandfather)
|education = [[University of Kentucky]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Juris Doctor|JD]])
}}
'''Albert Benjamin Chandler III''' (born September 12, 1959) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the [[United States House of Representatives|United States representative]] for {{ushr|KY|6}} from 2004 to 2013. A [[United States Democratic Party|Democrat]], Chandler was first elected to Congress in a [[2004 Kentucky's 6th congressional district special election|2004 special election]]. He served until January 2013, having been defeated for re-election by [[Andy Barr]] in the [[2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky#District 6|2012 elections]].

==Early life, education and career==
Chandler was born in [[Versailles, Kentucky]] on September 12, 1959, the son of Lucie "Toss" (née Dunlap) and A. B. Ben Chandler Jr.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/chandler.htm|title=chandler|work=ancestry.com|access-date=November 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412032618/http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/chandler.htm|archive-date=April 12, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> His paternal grandfather, [[Happy Chandler|A. B. Happy Chandler]]., served as [[Governor of Kentucky]], [[Commissioner of Baseball]], and as a [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000290 |title=Chandler, Albert Benjamin (Happy), (1898 - 1991) |publisher=United States Congress |access-date=May 21, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100520210447/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000290| archive-date= May 20, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="house1">{{cite web|url=http://chandler.house.gov/about/biography.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707204835/http://chandler.house.gov/about/biography.shtml|archive-date=July 7, 2011|title=Biography|publisher=U.S. Congress}}</ref>

Chandler graduated with distinction from the [[University of Kentucky]] with a [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] in History and a [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] from the [[University of Kentucky College of Law]]. Chandler became a private practice lawyer in Lexington, KY before starting his political career.

==Early political career==
Chandler started his political career as [[Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts|State Auditor]] (per the Constitution of the Commonwealth, officially called the "Auditor of Public Accounts") from 1992 through 1995. In 1995, Chandler won the [[Attorney General of Kentucky]] race by a 20-point margin, making him the nation's youngest attorney general at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wbko.com/unclassified/303286.html |title=Race for Governor: Ben Chandler |publisher=Wbko.com |access-date=September 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202021821/http://www.wbko.com/unclassified/303286.html |archive-date=February 2, 2015 |df=mdy }}</ref> In 1999, Chandler was elected to a second term as attorney general with no opposition.<ref name="house1"/>

As attorney general, Chandler championed Kentucky's "No Call" list and collected thousands of dollars in fines to the state for companies that did not comply with the new law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/61977.html |title=KY Attorney General Talks About No Call List |publisher=Wbko.com |date=August 12, 2002 |access-date=September 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107055858/http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/61977.html |archive-date=January 7, 2016 |df=mdy }}</ref> Chandler also strengthened federal laws regarding the "No Call" registry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chandler.house.gov/2007/12/chandler-votes-to-strengthen-the-national-do-not-call-registry.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707215306/http://chandler.house.gov/2007/12/chandler-votes-to-strengthen-the-national-do-not-call-registry.shtml|archive-date=July 7, 2011|title=Chandler Votes to Strengthen the National Do Not Call Registry}}</ref>

Also during his time as attorney general, Chandler recovered $45 million in charitable assets from one of Kentucky's largest insurance companies when it converted from non-profit to for-profit status. This $45 million provided the endowment for the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, which many years later Chandler headed.<ref name="healthy-ky1">{{cite web |author=Tectonic Concepts, LLC |url=http://www.healthy-ky.org/faqs.aspx |title=Foundation for a Healthy KentuckyPresentations |publisher=Healthy-ky.org |access-date=September 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406195810/http://www.healthy-ky.org/faqs.aspx |archive-date=April 6, 2012 |df=mdy }}</ref>

==U.S. House of Representatives==
[[File:Ben Chandler signing autographs.jpg|thumb|right|Congressman Chandler signs autographs for students visiting from [[Perryville, Kentucky]].]]

Chandler represented the Sixth Congressional District of Kentucky in the United States House of Representatives since a special election in 2004 until 2013. Although Chandler is a Democrat, the Sixth Congressional District leans Republican, rated by Charlie Cook in his [[Cook Partisan Voting Index]] as "R + 9,"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cookpolitical.com/application/writable/uploads/2012_PVI_by_District.pdf|title=Partisan Voting Index Districts of the 113th Congress: 2004 & 2008|access-date=November 13, 2012|archive-date=March 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130305115603/http://cookpolitical.com/application/writable/uploads/2012_PVI_by_District.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> meaning a generic Republican running against a generic Democrat would win by 9 points more than he would nationally.

He is a moderate to conservative Democrat and in its 2010 vote rankings, National Journal rated Chandler as being the ideological center of the House of Representatives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nationaljournal.com/magazine/house-and-senate-centrists-20110224?print=true |title=The Centrists |work=NationalJournal.com |date=February 24, 2011 |access-date=September 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605203019/http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/house-and-senate-centrists-20110224?print=true |archive-date=June 5, 2012 |df=mdy }}</ref> Although Chandler is a Democrat and has supported many Democratic bills including supporting healthcare for children through the SCHIP law<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chandler.house.gov/2009/02/congressman-chandler-supports-health-insurance-legislation-for-children.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707222744/http://chandler.house.gov/2009/02/congressman-chandler-supports-health-insurance-legislation-for-children.shtml|archive-date=July 7, 2011|title=Congressman Chandler Supports Health Insurance Legislation for Children}}</ref> and the Recovery Act,<ref>{{cite web|author=Anonymous |url=http://richmondregister.com/editorials/x652350061/Ben-Chandler-has-proven-record |title=Ben Chandler has proven record » Editorials |date=October 31, 2010 |publisher=The Richmond Register |access-date=September 17, 2012}}</ref> he has also voted against some large pieces of Democratic-led legislation including the Wall Street Bailout<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chandler.house.gov/2008/10/congressman-chandler-responds-to-vote-on-wall-street-bailout-plan-1.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602010953/http://chandler.house.gov/2008/10/congressman-chandler-responds-to-vote-on-wall-street-bailout-plan-1.shtml|archive-date=June 2, 2011|title=Congressman Chandler Responds to Vote on Wall Street Bailout Plan}}</ref> and the [[Affordable Care Act]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chandler.house.gov/2009/11/chandler-statement-on-the-affordable-health-care-for-america-act.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708063032/http://chandler.house.gov/2009/11/chandler-statement-on-the-affordable-health-care-for-america-act.shtml|archive-date=July 8, 2011|title=Chandler Statement on the Affordable Health Care for America Act}}</ref>

Chandler was a member of the [[Blue Dog Coalition]], a fiscally conservative Democratic caucus. This caucus is generally composed of Democrats serving Republican leaning congressional districts. He served as the chair of the national Blue Dog Task Force on Oversight and Regulatory Review.<ref name="house2">{{cite web|url=http://ross.house.gov/BlueDog/TaskForces/OversightandRegulatoryReview.htm |title=Task Force on Oversight and Regulatory Review | Blue Dog Coalition |publisher=Ross.house.gov |access-date=September 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131040628/http://ross.house.gov/BlueDog/TaskForces/OversightandRegulatoryReview.htm |archive-date=January 31, 2012 |df=mdy }}</ref> According to the website, this taskforce "The Task Force on Oversight and Regulatory Review is responsible for taking a look at the nearly 8,000 regulations issued annually by the federal government and for analyzing these new rules to ensure Congressional intent is appropriately followed. Under the leadership of Chair Ben Chandler (KY-06) and Vice-Chair Tim Holden (PA-17), the Task Force monitors implementation efforts, identifies overly burdensome regulations and seeks to modify rules problematic to job creation."<ref name="house2"/>

Chandler has voted in favor of the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]], the [[American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009]], against the [[Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act]] and the [[Troubled Asset Relief Program]], against the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]], against [[Cut, Cap and Balance Act]] and for funding the [[State Children's Health Insurance Program]].<ref name=govtrack>{{cite web|title=Rep. Ben Chandler|url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/ben_chandler/400442|work=GovTrack}}</ref>

In 2010 Chandler was criticized for accepting campaign contributions from embattled Congressman [[Charles Rangel|Rep. Charles Rangel]]'s National Leadership PAC.<ref>{{cite news|title=Campaign contributions at issue in Kentucky race |url=http://www.wwltv.com/news/politics/99980354.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120919185035/http://www.wwltv.com/news/politics/99980354.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 19, 2012 |access-date=April 27, 2012 |newspaper=Associated Press |date=August 4, 2010 }}</ref>

In September 2010, Kentucky.com reported that Chandler was one of several "moderate Democrats facing tough re-election bids who are bucking the Obama administration and pushing to extend tax cuts at every income level."<ref name="Cut extension">{{cite web|last=Abdullah|first=Halimah|title=Ben Chandler backs tax-cut extension for the wealthy|url=http://www.kentucky.com/2010/09/17/1438304/ben-chandler-backs-tax-cutextension.html|work=Kentucky.com}}</ref>

In 2011, Chandler voted for the [[National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012]] as part of a controversial provision that allows the government and the military to indefinitely detain American citizens and others without trial.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/ndaa-bill-how-did-your-congress-member-vote-384362|title=NDAA Bill: How Did Your Congress Member Vote?|author=Connor Adams Sheets|date=December 16, 2011|work=International Business Times}}</ref>

;Taxes
Chandler is a signer of [[Taxpayer Protection Pledge|Americans for Tax Reform]]'s [[Taxpayer Protection Pledge]].<ref name="ATR">{{cite web|title=The Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers 112th Congressional List|url=http://s3.amazonaws.com/atrfiles/files/files/091411-federalpledgesigners.pdf|publisher=Americans for Tax Reform|access-date=November 30, 2011}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===
Before being appointed to the Intelligence Committee, Chandler served on the [[United States House Committee on Appropriations|Appropriations Committee]].
*[[United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs|Committee on Foreign Affairs]]
**[[United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia|Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia]]
*[[United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence|Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence]]
**[[United States House Intelligence Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence|Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence]]

===Caucus memberships===
A full list of Chandler's caucus memberships can be found here: [https://web.archive.org/web/20120116233212/http://chandler.house.gov/legis/caucus-membership.shtml Caucus Membership | Congressman Ben Chandler, Representing the 6th District of Kentucky]
*Healthy Forests Caucus
*Horse Caucus (Co-chair)
*[[United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus|International Conservation Caucus]] (Co-chair)
*Public Broadcasting Caucus (Co-chair)
*Wildlife Refuge Caucus

Chandler was a [[Blue Dog Democrat]] as well as a member of the [[Democratic Leadership Council|House New Democrat Coalition]]. His name had been rumored as a candidate for [[governor]] for the [[2007 Kentucky gubernatorial election|2007 election]] and [[United States Senator|Senator]] in the [[2008 United States Senate election in Kentucky|2008 election]]. Chandler, however, announced on November 30, 2006, that he would not seek the governorship in 2007, stating he could better serve the Commonwealth in Congress: "With rising seniority and a Democratic majority, I have the opportunity to do so much more for my constituents and for the people of Kentucky."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/16132755.htm |title=Archived copy |website=www.kentucky.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518052356/http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/16132755.htm |archive-date=18 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Chandler told "Kentucky Newsmakers" that he would not start holding so-called town hall meetings in 2009, citing a lack of "civility" at forums regarding health care.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wkyt.com/blogs/politicalblog/53237082.html |title=Endorsement Intrigue.... Zesty Special Election |date=August 14, 2009 |first=Bill |last=Bryant |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107055858/http://www.wkyt.com/blogs/politicalblog/53237082.html |archive-date=January 7, 2016 |df=mdy }}</ref> Chandler ultimately voted against the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]].

==Political campaigns==
Chandler was the [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] candidate for governor in the [[2003 Kentucky gubernatorial election|election of 2003]]. He was defeated in that election in the landslide by his Republican opponent, Congressman [[Ernie Fletcher]]. Fletcher resigned 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, defeating state Senator [[Alice Forgy Kerr]] by a 55% to 43% margin.

As a [[superdelegate]] in the [[2008 United States presidential election]], Chandler endorsed [[Barack Obama]].<ref name=obamablog>[http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gGCJpb Kentucky Congressman Ben Chandler Endorses Barack Obama for President] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722100027/http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gGCJpb |date=July 22, 2012 }}, Sam Graham-Felsen, April 29, 2008.</ref> Chandler's 2008 Republican opponent in the race for Congress was attorney Jon Larson.

===2010===
{{See also|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky#District 6}}
Chandler was challenged by Republican nominee Andy Barr in the November 2010 election. Chandler was elected by a very narrow margin, as results showed him leading Barr by about 600 votes. The results were re-canvassed due to the closeness of the outcome, but Chandler was certified as the election winner on November 12, 2010 by 648 votes.<ref>[http://www.lex18.com/news/chandler-certified-as-winner-of-congressional-race-after-re-canvass "Chandler Certified As Winner Of Congressional Race After Re-Canvass"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928120708/http://www.lex18.com/news/chandler-certified-as-winner-of-congressional-race-after-re-canvass |date=September 28, 2011 }}, Lex18.com, November 12, 2010.</ref>

In October 2011, Barr called their forthcoming contest "a rematch of the third-closest Congressional race in America" and said that Chandler was burdened with "considerable dissatisfaction" on the part of his constituents and the difficulty of running on the ticket with Obama. But Joshua Miller of Roll Call observed that "if the bent of the GOP-leaning district grows more Democratic and Democrats who sat out 2010 come to the polls next November, Barr has a steep hill to climb."<ref name=Advantage>{{cite news|title=Kentucky Democrat Ben Chandler May Have Advantage in House Rematch|url=http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_47/Kentucky-Democrat-May-Have-Advantage-in-Rematch-209729-1.html|newspaper=Roll Call|date=October 25, 2011}}</ref>

===2012===
{{See also|2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky#District 6}}
Chandler was again challenged by Barr. Randolph S. Vance ran as a write-in candidate. Barr defeated Chandler in the election, 50.6% to 46.7%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/KY/43107/112020/en/summary.html|title=KY - Election Results|work=clarityelections.com}}</ref>

==Post-congressional career==
Chandler did not run for Governor [[Kentucky gubernatorial election, 2015|in 2015]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Brammer |first=Jack |url=http://www.kentucky.com/2012/08/04/2285187/chandler-luallen-turn-up-at-picnic.html |title=Chandler, Luallen turn up at picnic, sparking talk of 2015 gubernatorial race | Politics and Government |publisher=Kentucky.com |date=August 4, 2012 |access-date=July 10, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Brammer |first=Jack |url=http://www.kentucky.com/2013/05/10/2635712/ben-chandler-named-director-of.html |title=Ben Chandler is named director of Kentucky Humanities Council | Politics and Government |publisher=Kentucky.com |date=May 10, 2013 |access-date=July 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Truman |first=Cheryl |url=http://www.kentucky.com/2013/05/19/2646122/uncommonwealth-in-his-new-role.html |title=Uncommonwealth: In his new role, Ben Chandler begins 'a labor of love' | Stage and Dance |publisher=Kentucky.com |access-date=July 11, 2013}}</ref> though he has hinted that he might run for office again in the future.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.richmondregister.com/news/chandler-nixes-gubernatorial-rumors-for-now/article_0c9dcc82-7448-11e4-9d2d-2327f2850c5e.html |title=Chandler nixes gubernatorial rumors, for now |publisher=The Richmond Register |date=November 24, 2014 |access-date=November 26, 2014}}</ref>

From 2013 to 2016, Chandler served as executive director of the Kentucky Humanities Council. From 2016 to 2024, he was CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.<ref>[https://www.healthy-ky.org/about-us/meet-the-foundation/category/1/the-foundation-staff/detail/6/ben-chandler The Foundation Staff], Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109061209/https://www.healthy-ky.org/about-us/meet-the-foundation/category/1/the-foundation-staff/detail/6/ben-chandler |date=November 9, 2018 }}</ref> He is a member of the ReFormers Caucus of [[Issue One]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.issueone.org/reformers/|title=Issue One – ReFormers Caucus|language=en|access-date=2019-11-07}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Politics of Kentucky#Law and government|Politics of Kentucky]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{wikisource author}}
*{{C-SPAN|1007734}}
* {{CongLinks | congbio=c001058 | votesmart=1891 | fec=H4KY0607 | congress= }}

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[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Presbyterians from Kentucky]]
[[Category:American prosecutors]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Kentucky]]
[[Category:Kentucky attorneys general]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Versailles, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Kentucky auditors of public accounts]]
[[Category:University of Kentucky College of Law alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Kentucky politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Kentucky politicians]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2003 United States elections]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]