Biden out, Beshear in? What Kentucky's governor is saying about potential run for VP
Sunday's news that President Joe Biden will end his second term bid puts a spotlight on potential contenders for the Democratic ticket, including Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
Beshear has been floated as a possible vice presidential pick, according to numerous media reports including The Hill — though he has not publicly expressed interest in the role.
Others in consideration, according to reports, include North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.
Beshear's ability to win three statewide races — first as attorney general and then as governor — in deep red Kentucky make him an appealing choice in the upcoming race, political scientists and party observers say.
Should Andy Beshear be VP pick? Submit your letter to the editor here
However, Beshear’s victories in both 2019 and 2023 were narrow. And despite his popularity here, it may be tough for Beshear to help win Kentucky’s eight electoral college votes for Democrats. Former President Donald Trump swept to victory in the Bluegrass State in 2020 with around two-thirds of the vote.
Beshear responds to Biden dropping out of presidential race
Beshear released a statement on Sunday that said Biden made the right decision by stepping down and thanked the president for his service.
"While his decision today could not have been easy, it is in the best interest of our country, and our party," Beshear said. "I want to thank him for his leadership, kindness and for a successful presidency that got big, important things done."
Beshear said Biden will be remembered as a "consequential president" for leading the country out of difficult times alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, including the Jan. 6 insurrection and the COVID-19 pandemic. He also praised Biden for showing up for Kentucky after deadly tornadoes and flooding in 2021 and 2022, "delivering immediate federal aid that is helping to rebuild our communities."
"(Biden's) leadership provided infrastructure investments that are bringing clean drinking water and high speed internet to parts of Kentucky that for far too long had been overlooked and underserved," Beshear said. "President Biden came through on the Brent Spence Companion Bridge Project, getting bipartisan funding for a project that had been stalled for years and is a major thoroughfare for national commerce."
Thoughts on Beshear as VP? Let us know here
Beshear ended the statement by saying: "Now it is time for our nation to come together. We need to dial down the anger, rancor and noise. We have an opportunity to remember that we are taught to treat our neighbor as yourself — and that we are all each other's neighbor."
What has Beshear said so far about seeking higher office?
While the governor has been tight-lipped on his future political aspirations, he has previously said he would only leave Kentucky's governorship if he felt like he "could help the commonwealth even more with some other opportunity."
During a recent Team Kentucky update, Beshear denied having conversations with the White House regarding his potential candidacy. But some political science professors have said his guarded comments suggest he's interested in higher office.
Beshear previously met with other Democratic governors at the White House after the Biden's poor debate performance to discuss concerns over the president's health. During the meeting, Beshear called for Biden to speak directly to the American people about his health.
Beshear has also been trying to raise his national profile, traveling at least five times to out-of-state Democratic fundraisers and launching a PAC to support Democrats in red and purple states. The PAC, called In This Together, raised over $300,000 between January and the end of May, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission.
There has also been previous talk of whether Beshear could step up as the presidential nominee, though Biden endorsed Harris as his pick for the nomination in announcing his withdrawal from the race.
After the June presidential debate, Beshear was among a few Democrats that national outlets listed as potential candidates as a replacement for Biden, with others including Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
How has Kentucky voted in the presidential and gubernatorial elections?
Trump won about two-thirds of the presidential vote in Kentucky in 2020, with Biden winning just one-third, according to Ballotpedia.
Though he’s won twice in Kentucky, Beshear’s victories for governor have been narrow, with him winning by just about 5 percentage points in 2023 and by less than a percentage point in 2019.
Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at @[email protected] or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski. Reach Rebecca Grapevine at [email protected] or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @RebGrapevine.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Who's replacing Biden? Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear floated as VP pick
