Beshear joins governors meeting with President Biden in DC

Beshear joins governors meeting with President Biden in DC
Published: Jul. 3, 2024 at 10:43 PM EDT

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Governor Andy Beshear was among the Democratic governors President Biden met with Wednesday night.

While the White House works to keep elected Democrats in the fold following the rocky debate, the conference has put a national spotlight on Beshear.

Governor Beshear’s name has been thrown around by many as a potential President Biden replacement, should the President choose to end his campaign. Drawing even more national attention as Beshear was one of seven Democratic governors to meet with President Biden in person in DC Wednesday night.

“Seems to be a unifier, basically a good, nice guy on the Democratic side, who, if Biden needs to be replaced, is the sort of person all the factions could at least except,” said UK Political Science expert Dr. Stephen Voss.

Beshear was asked about this on Monday. He said as long as Biden remains the candidate, he will support the President. He did add that the mention of his name is flattering.

“I think it’s a reflection of all the good things going on in Kentucky,” Beshear said.

Beshear is one of the most popular governors in the US. And as Kentucky’s Agriculture Commissioner, Jonathan Shell, a Republican, who supports Donald Trump points out, Beshear won re-election last year in a state Trump carried in 2020 by over 20 points.

“If Governor Beshear’s name is in the hat for that, I think he would be a tough opponent coming from a red state, being a red state democrat elected governor. And it will just be interesting to watch what the political climate looks like as we move forward. But I am 100% in for Trump,” said Jonathan Shell, the Agriculture Commissioner.

Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reggie Thomas says he doesn’t want Democrats getting ahead of themselves, and he’ll support Biden as the Democratic nominee, as long as he’s in the race. But he said the praise Beshear is receiving is well deserved.

“That says a lot about what he’s accomplished. He’s done a great job. Kentuckians are proud of him, we just reelected him. We are proud of the job he’s done and that does deserve national attention,” Sen. Thomas said.

You can read more about the meeting here.