Beshear posits himself as Democrats best chance to beat Vance in 2028
Gov. Andy Beshear (D‑KY) is positioning himself as a leading Democratic contender for 2028, arguing he is the best person to defeat Vice President J.D. Vance. Though he has not formally entered the race and has previously said he’ll wait until after the 2026 midterms to decide, Beshear has visited early primary states, launched a podcast, and offered messaging advice for Democrats – moves that signal possible ambitions beyond his second term ending in December 2027. He points to winning three straight statewide races in a heavily pro‑Trump state as evidence of electability,noting narrow victories in 2015 and 2019 and a larger 2023 win.Beshear,now chair of the Democratic Governors Association,says Democrats should favor a gubernatorial nominee over a “coastal” candidate to avoid GOP attacks,and acknowledges rivals like California Gov. Gavin Newsom as prominent figures in the 2028 picture. Asked about criticisms of his charisma, Beshear responded lightheartedly that he may have “a little aura.”
Beshear posits himself as Democrats best chance to beat Vance in 2028
Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) is laying the groundwork for a 2028 run, baiting Vice President JD Vance as he makes the case for why he could be the best chance for Democrats to take back the White House.
Beshear has not announced that he is running for president in 2028, but he certainly appears to be paving the way to do so in the future. He has visited early primary states, offered his takes on where Democrats can do better on messaging, and started a podcast: all signs pointing to hopes of higher office after his second term as governor ends in December 2027.
Despite his previous statement that he will wait until after the 2026 midterm elections to mull over his plans for 2028 with his family, Beshear told Politico in an interview that he has the best chance of beating Vance in the next race for the White House.
Beshear said that the No. 1 question for Democrats in the primary will be: “Who do we believe has the best chance of beating J.D. Vance?” Beshear said he thinks he is that candidate, adding, “You both want somebody who’s electable, but then somebody who can deliver.”
“I’m a guy who has won three straight statewide elections in a Trump plus-30 state,” Beshear said. “I think it’s a mixture of both electability and the idea that, here’s somebody that not only could win in a purple state, he wins in a red state.”
Beshear won his first statewide office election in 2015, becoming the red state’s attorney general by a 0.2% margin against his GOP opponent. In 2019, Beshear defeated former Republican Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin by a margin of 0.4%. In 2023, he won his second term as governor by besting former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who is now a candidate for Senate, by a 5% margin.
President Donald Trump won in Kentucky in all three of his presidential general election bids, first in 2016 by a 29.8% margin, then in 2020 by a 26% margin, and lastly in 2024 by a 30.7% margin.
Beshear, the current head of the Democratic Governors Association, also said his party needs to nominate a “Democratic governor” in 2028. He cautioned against nominating coastal candidates because of the GOP attack line of pitting coastal candidates, such as former Vice President Kamala Harris, as left-wing liberals.
“Well, Republicans might have an easier target on a Democratic governor from the coast,” Beshear said. “To me, it’s more important that it is a Democratic governor, regardless of where they’re from.”
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Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) is also largely seen by pundits as a front-runner for the 2028 Democratic ticket.
When Beshear was pressed on the criticism he has received for having a lack of “rizz” or charisma, he said he may have “a little aura.”
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