‘Let it be a new day’: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear lays out vision for second term
Fresh off a decisive victory to keep his job as governor, Andy Beshear says now is the time to “get more big things done” for Kentucky families — and education tops the list.
“That starts with the type of investments that we need in our system of public education and begin with the educator raises that are absolutely critical for moving our state forward,” Beshear said while speaking to reporters from the Capitol Wednesday afternoon.
“A second piece is universal pre-K. It’s time to make sure that no Kentucky child starts kindergarten behind, that we address learning loss before it ever even begins.”
Beshear, 45, sailed to victory over Republican challenger Attorney General Daniel Cameron, 37, with roughly 53% of the vote, carrying 29 of Kentucky’s 120 counties, up from 23 in 2019.
Other goals Beshear listed for the next four years: continuing to attract new industries, increasing workforce participation and rebuilding communities devastated by tornadoes and floods.
Kentucky’s legislature is firmly controlled by Republican supermajorities in the House of Representatives and Senate, which has been a frequent source of conflict in Frankfort. Beshear has vetoed a number of Republican legislative priorities during his tenure, and in turn, lawmakers have overridden most of those vetoes.
On the campaign trail with Cameron, GOP lawmakers often lamented they have no relationship with Beshear and that the governor takes credit where none is due.
Beshear emphasized the job isn’t about him or personal politics. Instead, it’s about “doing the best we can for all our families.”
“A second term is an opportunity, for more interest, people may be wanting to come in to the administration, and then (that) provides opportunities,” Beshear said.
“Again, whether it’s relationships with the legislature — I remember very clearly my dad’s first term, David Williams being Senate president, he was saying the exact same things that you’ve heard throughout this campaign, and maybe from a few people last night. That’s changed the next day.
“Listen, let this be a new day. Right? Let it be a new day with a relationship with the legislature. Let it be a new day in how neighbors treat each other. ... Let’s just try to be better. And I’m going to do my best to lead that way in these next four years, to hopefully be able to end two terms and everybody say, ‘He tried to be the best governor he could be for all of us.’”
Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, said in a statement Wednesday morning the legislature will remain “committed to the conservative values and policies we have championed since 2017.”
“While we are disappointed in the outcome of the gubernatorial election, nothing substantial will change as it relates to the efforts of the Kentucky General Assembly,” Stivers said. “I am hopeful that in his second term, though, the governor will choose to work collaboratively with his co-equal branch of government.”
Senate Majority Floor Leader and vociferous Beshear critic Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, previously told the Herald-Leader that the relationship between Beshear and lawmakers is “too far gone.”
“There’s no incentive or reason for us to work with him,” Thayer said. “He doesn’t deserve an opportunity for reparation, especially after the campaign. He’s taken credit for all our good work, including some things he vetoed.”
Asked for comment to remarks from Stivers and Thayer, Beshear said he hopes to see an end to this “outward bickering.”
“We’re going to make double our efforts to make sure that we are building the type of relationships where we can get things done,” Beshear said. “Now, the phone works both ways, and we need to make sure that everyone is reaching out.
“Listen, I’m not going to respond to the negative. I mean, when somebody is yelling and you yell back, it’s two people yelling. My goal is to try to continue to be an adult, to continue to operate in a way that makes people proud, and hopefully allows people’s children to watch what we say and what we do.”
On the issue of abortion, a hot-button topic in the governor’s race, Beshear said the legislature should pass a law adding exceptions for victims of rape and incest “as quickly as they can.”
But does he have confidence that lawmakers will act in 2024 when they failed to move such a bill in 2023?
“I believe that the people of Kentucky have been very clear that they oppose what is the most restrictive law in the country, and at the very least they want to see exceptions,” Beshear said.
“And our role as as government, their role as a legislative body, is to do the will of the people.”
This story was originally published November 8, 2023 at 2:10 PM.
