Andy Beshear Mulling White House Bid

Monday, September 21, 2026

While the Kentucky governor [Andy Beshear] says he won't make a decision on running for president until his term as chair of the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) ends in December, he is already walking the walk: raising money for his PAC, traveling to states with early presidential primaries and writing a book about how to win over voters who haven't been voting for Democrats lately.

Posted by retort at 05:43 PM | 15 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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"I vetoed anti-choice bills that have come to my desk," he said, but added that hasn't been the key to his healthy 50%-37% approval-disapproval rating in his state. "I spend 80% of my time on things that matter to 100% of Kentuckians," issues like jobs, health care, infrastructure and education. "If you make people's lives just a little bit better, if you bring in that next set of good jobs, they'll vote differently because they care about the future of their kids a lot more than the letter that they registered for."

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Most of us in Kentucky like Beshear as governor. He's had a steady hand through a lot of incredible challenges, from Covid to nonstop natural disasters like tornadoes and floods. He knows how to speak calmly but firmly in a way that tries to heal people rather than incite them.

He sort of reminds me of another Andy ... Andy Taylor of Mayberry. A genuinely nice guy who cares about people and mostly uses good judgment. He's almost painfully sincere. Not too far removed from James Tallarico in that way.

If you want charisma, I'm not sure he's the guy. He might be a little dull. But he gets things done, he's pretty good at building bridges, and I think he would be a good president.

#1 | Posted by cbob at 2026-09-21 10:30 PM | Reply

-I like this guy. He's hard to cast as a coastal liberal. Will be tough in swing states.

He's similar to Bill Clinton. Let's just keep the wife out of pantsuits and his dick out of the interns.

#2 | Posted by eberly at 2026-09-21 10:33 PM | Reply

-If you want charisma, I'm not sure he's the guy.

quickly teach him a musical instrument.

#3 | Posted by eberly at 2026-09-21 10:33 PM | Reply

sorry....my #2 was all me.

#4 | Posted by eberly at 2026-09-21 10:34 PM | Reply

I don't know much about Beshear.

But if he can win a governorship in deep red Kentucky, that says a lot about him.

Unfortunately he recently had a moment on the national stage where he couldn't find Mitch McConnell and it may have sullied him for those who don't know him and wanted to see McConnell's corpse.

#5 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-09-21 10:56 PM | Reply

But if he can win a governorship in deep red Kentucky, that says a lot about him.

idk, I think it says more about the people of the State. CBOB indicates he focuses on local issues, unlike Newsom, I think people want that in a gov.

Kentucky is mired in parochial loyalties going back to civil war and its reaction to being Union, but still faced martial law and reconstruction oppression, turning it Democrat for a century or more. Kentucky from the looks of how it votes seems to be very parochial for this reason.

Interesting how reading a few US civil war books helps you understand todays US political landscape.

#6 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-09-21 11:12 PM | Reply

This is interesting, I figured since parochial that Kentucky had many political powerful families.

Patronage Politics in Eastern Kentucky: The Turner Family of Breathitt County
uknowledge.uky.edu

There are even "bourbon boss families" or dynasties, ending around 1970, that go back to prohibition days.

Interesting State, I didn't visit her, on my adventures back east, perhaps next time.

#7 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-09-21 11:22 PM | Reply

But if he can win a governorship in deep red Kentucky, that says a lot about him.

idk
#6 | POSTED BY ONETRUMPER

It has nothing whatsoever to do with him?

Thanks, stupid.

#8 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-09-21 11:42 PM | Reply

Will he end US support of r the genocide Israel is committing?

#9 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2026-09-22 01:26 AM | Reply

Where else but Kentucky can you become a colonel without joining the military?

Nowhere I know of ...

#10 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-09-22 04:19 AM | Reply

He would be a good candidate; Democratic governor from a southern, red state. Would appeal to a lot of moderates; red and blue. Whitmer is toast given her "cozying" up to Trump. Moore and Pritzker would also make very good candidates. Kamala's time has come and gone. Emanuel doesn't stand a chance in spite of his trip to Israel to denounce the current Israeli leadership regarding Gaza. Also, his tenure as mayor of Chicago left a bad taste in the mouths of many rank and file democrats in Chicago that probably extends outside of Chicago as well.

#11 | Posted by FedUpWithPols at 2026-09-22 05:44 AM | Reply

It's cute when people talk about potential presidential candidates like it was still 2015.

#12 | Posted by pumpkinhead at 2026-09-22 10:32 AM | Reply

Where else but Kentucky can you become a colonel without joining the military?

Nowhere I know of ...

#10 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-09-22 04:19 AM | Reply | Flag:

Ha ha. I did PR for one of our previous governors and was named a Kentucky Colonel just before leaving that role. It gets me absolutely nothing, unless you count fundraising emails.

#13 | Posted by cbob at 2026-09-22 01:09 PM | Reply

It gets me absolutely nothing, unless you count fundraising emails.

POSTED BY CBOB

At least I got chicken.

#14 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-09-22 01:11 PM | Reply | Funny: 2

Ha ha. I did PR for one of our previous governors and was named a Kentucky Colonel just before leaving that role. It gets me absolutely nothing, unless you count fundraising emails.

#13 | Posted by cbob

We salute you! lol

#15 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-09-22 03:10 PM | Reply