Ben Chandler - Definition and Overview

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 B.A. and a J.D. from the University of Kentucky at Lexington, Ky., and became a private practice lawyer. He was 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 he won the election.

Ben Chandler's grandfather, Albert Chandler, also known as Happy Chandler, served as Governor of Kentucky, Commissioner of Baseball, and as a U.S. Senator.