Beshear posits himself as Democrats’ best chance to beat Vance in 2028
Kentucky Gov. andy Beshear is laying groundwork for a possible 2028 presidential run, visiting early primary states, launching a podcast, and raising his national profile while stopping short of a formal declaration. In an interview with Politico he argued he is Democrats’ best chance to beat Vice President JD Vance, emphasizing both electability and the ability to “deliver” – pointing to three straight statewide wins in heavily Trump-leaning Kentucky as evidence. Beshear leads the Democratic Governors Association and says the party should favor a Democratic governor as its nominee rather than a coastal candidate vulnerable to GOP attacks. He has said he’ll discuss final plans after the 2026 midterms, and while pundits also view California Gov. Gavin Newsom as a front-runner, Beshear is making the case that his record in a red state makes him uniquely competitive.
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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