If Kamala Harris taps Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear for VP, what happens to state’s governorship?
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Is Gov. Andy Beshear in play for Vice President?
President Joe Biden announced July 21, 2024, he would be bowing out of his re-election bid and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the new nominee. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s name has been tossed around as Harris’s potential running mate.
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Gov. Andy Beshear is reportedly in the mix to become Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate as she seeks the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.
Harris is widely considered to be the front runner and was endorsed by President Joe Biden Sunday as he bowed out of the fall’s presidential race. The nominee will be selected in August at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to run against former President Donald Trump, who leads the Republican ticket.
If Beshear is chosen as the vice presidential nominee, where does that leave Kentucky’s governorship? Here’s a look at who would most likely replace Beshear as governor in that situation, including her background and potential priorities going forward.
Who would lead Kentucky if Beshear was tapped as Harris’ VP?
If Beshear were to end his term before it expires in 2027, Kentucky’s Constitution allows Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman to immediately take his place without the need for a special election.
Section 84 of the document establishes “should the Governor be impeached and removed from office, die, refuse to qualify, resign, … or be, from any cause, unable to discharge the duties of his office, the lieutenant governor shall exercise all the power and authority appertaining to the office of the governor until another be duly elected and qualified,” or the governor can resume the duties of the office, the document reads.
In other words, Coleman could finish out Beshear’s term until it expires in 2027.
In Kentucky, governors can be elected for two consecutive four-year terms, and this is Beshear’s second. The state does not set term limits for governors. All this means Coleman would be eligible to run for governor after finishing out Beshear’s term.
Under Kentucky’s Constitution, the line of succession for governors is as follows:
Lieutenant governor (currently Coleman)
President of the state Senate (currently Robert Stivers)
Attorney General (only until the next President of the Senate is elected, and in this case currently Russell Coleman)
Auditor (currently Allison Ball)
What priorities would Coleman have as Kentucky’s governor?
The governor and Lt. governor’s office did not immediately respond to a Herald-Leader request for comment regarding Coleman’s priorities should she take the governorship.
Monday, responding to a reporter’s question, Coleman said, “I wouldn’t have accepted (lieutenant governor) if I didn’t think I was ready. And I don’t think the governor would have asked me if he didn’t think I was ready.”
Beshear, 46, made a national appearance Monday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” endorsing Harris as his choice for the nominee, and indicated some interest in joining her on the ticket. The governor said he would only take the post if “I could further help my people and to help this country.”
As a former teacher, coach and school administrator, Coleman’s top priority as governor would likely be education.
In 2023, as Beshear and Coleman ran for reelection, they explicitly promised to be an “education-first administration.”
Coleman supports raising pay for school teachers and staff, along with boosting school funding. She also opposes scholarship tax credits and private school vouchers, claiming they divert funds from public schools. Coleman also previously served as secretary of Kentucky’s Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
Other potential top issues for Coleman include improving the state’s infrastructure and economic development, which have been central themes of the Beshear-Coleman administration.
Coleman, 42, is married to her husband Chris O’Bryan. Together they have four children. During her time in office, Coleman has experienced pregnancy and more recently a cancer scare involving a double mastectomy.
Do you have a question about the law in Kentucky for our service journalism team? Send us an email at ask@herald-leader.com or fill out our Know Your Kentucky form.
This story was originally published July 22, 2024 at 1:09 PM.
