KY Gov Beshear Talks 2nd Term, Democrats' Future, GOP Legislature: KY Pub Radio

KY Public Radio, By Joe Sonka, Dec. 20, 2023. Ed.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is looking ahead to his second term as Democrats across the country are looking at him and wondering how to emulate his political success in a southern, conservative state. In a wide-ranging interview Tuesday with Kentucky Public Radio, Beshear discussed his keys to electoral success and whether other Democratic candidates can follow his model.

The governor also discussed his relationship going forward with state legislators in the Republican supermajority and whether his budget priorities can make it into law. Beshear won by 5 percentage points over Republican Daniel Cameron in November, despite the ongoing rightward shift of Kentucky voters and his party’s string of defeats in statewide and legislative races.

Asked what lesson his victory should send to other Democrats nationally, Beshear said his success shows the benefits of focusing on local issues that directly affect families; and delivering results without getting caught up in national, partisan politics.

“I believe if you can be focused on those things that everybody cares about and not chase the issue of the day in Washington D.C., then you can break through and people can see you not for a letter behind your name, or Team Red or Team Blue,” Beshear said. Still, the 5 other Democratic statewide candidates who were on the ballot with him in November lost by wide margins. That’s also what’s happened to the party’s candidates in races for the state legislature in recent election cycles. Democrats now hold only 20% of seats in the Kentucky General Assembly...
https://www.lpm.org/news/2023-12-20/ky-gov-beshear-talks-second-term-democrats-future-and-gop-legislature