Democrat Andy Beshear has twice gained election as governor of Kentucky — thriving in a state that has voted for Donald Trump 3 times.
Now Beshear is contemplating a run for president. He mentioned what he believes Democrats want to alter in an NPR all-platform interview, which included a video and particular podcast episode, in addition to experiences on the Up First podcast and Morning Version.
He has a decrease nationwide profile than one other contender, California’s Gavin Newsom. He is additionally much less well-known than some earlier company within the NPR interview sequence — JB Pritzker, Pete Buttigieg and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. However he has a credential others lack: successful statewide in a really pink state. (A pink commonwealth, to be precise; it is the Commonwealth of Kentucky.) In a celebration keen for brand new management, he’s 47.
Kentucky Republicans dismiss his success as a quirk: The son of a preferred former governor, Beshear gained races in 2019 and 2023, which weren’t presidential election years. Lots of Trump’s backers stayed residence. Nonetheless he acquired credit score for his dealing with of the pandemic and a string of pure disasters. A serious theme of our interview was how Democrats can enhance their dismal exhibiting amongst rural and red-state voters.
You may view the interview above. Listed here are some highlights:
He says Trump owns any injury from the federal government shutdown
Beshear took observe of the president’s risk to completely fireplace federal staff as a method to strain Democrats.
“If he fires a bunch of individuals, it isn’t as a result of Democrats would not attain a deal. It is as a result of the president decides and truly fires folks,” he mentioned. “Folks aren’t a negotiating instrument. They aren’t a prop. And that is how he is treating these households.”
Some political analysts have advised that Democrats wanted a shutdown, having failed in virtually each different method to decelerate Trump from enacting his agenda. Beshear mentioned he supported the shutdown solely as a result of Democrats settled on a difficulty affecting thousands and thousands of individuals: Obamacare subsidies that expire later this yr.
He makes the case for nominating a Democrat from a pink state
Beshear has sharply criticized Trump — calling his deal with this week to navy leaders “un-American.” But, he informed us that inside his state “the temperature is turned down,” and in some instances persons are “prepared to vote for folks of each events.”
He says Democrats can win extra votes in the event that they present “respect”
Beshear gained two elections in a state the place many citizens are socially conservative, and Republicans don’t let him overlook it. Months earlier than the 2023 vote, the legislature handed a invoice limiting take care of transgender youth.
“And I knew they did it partially in order that they might run tens of thousands and thousands of {dollars} of destructive adverts if I vetoed it. However I did veto it as a result of it was the suitable factor to do,” he mentioned. “My religion teaches me that every one kids are kids of God, and I did not need these youngsters being picked on.” He added that explaining the explanation reveals voters respect.
He argues that Democrats can convey extra states again into play
As not too long ago as 2008, Democrats had senators from rural and pink states starting from Montana to Arkansas to North Carolina, reaching a 60-vote supermajority. In that yr’s presidential election, Barack Obama gained Iowa and Indiana. Right now it is laborious for Democrats to conceive of successful a 51-seat Senate majority, and the electoral map for the following presidential election will once more be a problem.
“The Democratic Celebration wants to speculate,” Beshear mentioned, providing himself as proof that the occasion can win in sudden locations. “Democrats can win again voters in these rural areas, particularly with what we’re seeing proper now. However Democrats should be the widespread sense, widespread floor, get outcomes, kind of occasion, one which spends 80% of its time on considerations that influence 100% of the American inhabitants.”
The radio model was produced and edited by Adam Bearne and Reena Advani, with digital enhancing by Majd Al-Waheidi.