JP Lyninger has been a member of the Democratic Socialists of America since 2019.(Jesse Lyninger / Courtesy of the campaign)Louisville Metro Council Member J.P. Lyninger could be removed from his own party.The first-term Democrat represents District 6, which includes the Shelby Park, Old Louisvill e and Park Hill neighborhoods. He is part of Metro Council’s Democratic Caucus and is a member of the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.Metro Council President Brent Ackerson of District 26 filed a complaint against Lyninger on March 12, accusing him of violating the caucus’ rule that bars members from "working to defeat an incumbent member.” Specifically, Ackerson accused Lyninger of supporting Aprile Hearn in the District 5 primary as she works to unseat Council Member Donna Purvis.The chair of the Democratic Caucus ruled Thursday that Lyninger did, in fact, violate the rule. In a letter provided to him right before the caucus met, District 1’s Tammy Hawkins said she has a duty to the rules.“This is not a recommendation that was made absent of deep contemplation, but the behavior exhibited by you and your outright support to assist in the campaign against your fellow caucus member … warrants the foremost discipline,” Hawkins wrote.As chair, Hawkins had the choice of several punishments, including suspension and public or private censure. Removal from the caucus was the harshest option.If the caucus votes to accept the recommendation, Democrats would lose their majority on Metro Council for the first time since the 2003 city-county merger created the body. It could also put elected officials at odds while three incumbent Democrats are being challenged by Republicans.Lyninger said Thursday he was surprised by the decision. He didn’t comment further, saying he would say more in his written response.Under the rules of the caucus, a member who is the subject of a complaint has 14 days to respond after the chair issues a recommendation.In an interview Wednesday — before he knew of his proposed punishment — Lyninger was unrepentant.“I think this is a rule that does not serve the people, it serves people who are already in power,” he said. “If what I have done is a violation of caucus rules, then this is a bad rule that needs to go.”It was Lyninger’s doubling down on endorsing Hearn that Hakwins said made her feel she had to recommend the harshest discipline.In her letter to Lyninger, Hawkins quoted an interview he gave to the Courier Journal in which he said, “Aprile Hearne is someone who cares about the community, and I absolutely do endorse Aprile Hearne.”Hawkins told LPM News Thursday that Lyninger “admitted to it” and she had to take that seriously.“The Democrats, we have to stand for something,” she said. “We want people to understand that we take these rules seriously.”Hawkins' recommendation to remove Lyninger doesn’t mean it will necessarily happen.After Lyninger has his opportunity to respond, the 13-member caucus – which currently holds a bare majority on the council – will vote on whether to accept the recommendation. They could reject or even amend the recommendation, choosing a lesser punishment instead.Metro Council is headed into its spring break and the next caucus meeting will be in May.Hearne, the candidate Lyninger endorsed, attended Thursday’s caucus meeting, which was open to the public.After she was informed about Hawkins’ recommendation, Hearne said she thought it was a bad idea.“I thought it was going in a completely different direction,” she said. “Our Democratic Caucus is barely holding onto the majority status and I don’t think we’re in a position to be able to lose anybody. The focus should be to have a discussion, work through things.”Republicans hold 12 council seats, and there is one Independent member.Council President Ackerson, who filed the complaint against Lyninger, did not attend Thursday’s caucus meeting.In the complaint, Ackerson accused Lyninger of intentionally ignoring the caucus rules. He presented a Facebook post showing Lyninger standing in a group of people that included someone with a leaflet promoting Hearne’s campaign and another post where Lyninger said he supported Hearne.Ackerson said Lyninger is attempting “to further the Louisville DSA agenda of electing the socialist candidate over an incumbent Democrat.” In fact, Hearne is the only candidate in the District 5 Metro Council race endorsed by the Louisville Democratic Party.Ackerson and Lyninger have been at odds recently over Lyninger’s attempts to reintroduce an ordinance banning law enforcement from wearing masks that was previously voted down by Metro Council members. ...read more read less