Beshear posits himself as Democrats’ best chance to beat Vance in 2028
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is laying groundwork for a potential 2028 presidential run, positioning himself as the Democrat best equipped to beat vice President JD Vance.Although he has not officially declared,Beshear has visited early primary states,launched a podcast,and taken steps typical of a future White House bid. he told Politico he believes the central Democratic primary question will be who can most likely defeat Vance, and argued his three consecutive statewide wins in deep-red Kentucky demonstrate both electability and the ability to deliver. Beshear,now chair of the Democratic Governors Association,urged Democrats to favor a sitting governor as their nominee and warned against choosing easily targeted coastal candidates. Pundits also view California Gov. Gavin Newsom as a leading 2028 contender. Beshear responded to critics who question his charisma by downplaying the point and emphasizing his record.
Beshear posits himself as Democrats’ best chance to beat Vance in 2028
Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) is laying the groundwork for a 2028 presidential 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 JD 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.”
BESHEAR BOOSTS UNIFYING TONE IN FINAL STATE OF THE STATE, WITH NOD TO 2028 AMBITIONS
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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