Biography

Ben Chandler was first elected in a special election in February 2004 to represent Kentucky's Sixth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.

  Prior to his election to Congress, Chandler served two terms as Kentucky's Attorney General. In 1995, he became the youngest attorney general in the nation and was reelected in 1999 without opposition to a second term. He previously served a four-year term as Kentucky State Auditor, where he developed a reputation as a strong fighter against government waste and corruption.

 As Attorney General, Chandler won passage of Kentucky's "No Call" list, the nation's toughest law aimed at protecting Kentucky seniors and families from telemarketers. When Kentucky's largest insurance company illegally removed charitable funds from the state, Chandler recovered $45 million which now funds an independent foundation to benefit the healthcare of all Kentuckians.   Attorney General Chandler repeatedly took action to protect Kentucky seniors, winning the largest criminal penalty at the time for patient neglect and abuse against a nursing home corporation in American history and recovered millions from drug companies that illegally raised prices. He fought successfully to pass and strengthen Kentucky's "Megan's Law," which protects women and children from sexual offenders.

In Congress, Chandler has taken the lead on many issues of importance to Central Kentucky families. He has fully supported our military and troops and worked to increase funding for Homeland Security. Congressman Chandler is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a fiscally conservative Democratic caucus and has continually backed responsible federal budget plans that extend middle-class tax cuts while slashing the federal deficit.  Chandler has introduced legislation in Congress to prevent child and elder abuse, improve the safety of air travel, and keep drugs off our streets.

Congressman Chandler has cosponsored legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs, secure funding for veterans healthcare and fully fund education reform for our children. He currently serves on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Foreign Affairs Committee.  He also serves on the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

Chandler graduated with distinction from the University of Kentucky with a B.A. in History, and holds a J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law. Born in September 1959, Chandler lives in Woodford County, Kentucky with his wife Jennifer and their three children:  Lucie, Albert IV, and Branham. The Chandlers are members of Pisgah Presbyterian Church.