KY Gov. Andy Beshear tours South Carolina, an early primary state for Democrats in 2028
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- KY Gov. Andy Beshear visiting South Carolina June 16–17 to engage Democratic leaders.
- Beshear to discuss workers' issues and personal faith at multiple speaking events.
- Beshear has not ruled out a 2028 presidential campaign after his term ends in 2027.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is making a two-day swing July 16 and July 17 across South Carolina, which will be an important early presidential primary state for the Democratic Party in 2028.
The 47-year-old Beshear, often discussed as a possible presidential candidate, is scheduled to speak to several different groups, including the convention of the South Carolina AFL-CIO in Greenville; private meetings of South Carolina legislators and Democratic leaders in Columbia and Charleston, respectively; and the Georgetown County Democratic Party Dinner in Pawleys Island.
Beshear was invited by the AFL-CIO to share his message of “winning back the faith of working people,” said Eric Hyers, the governor’s political strategist, who was traveling with Beshear on Wednesday.
“And then tomorrow he’ll be talking about his ‘why?’ Like, how Democrats have to not just talk about the what but really get into the why. And he’ll talk about how his faith is a big part of his why,” Hyers said.
Another possible 2028 Democratic candidate, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, also toured South Carolina in recent days. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who beat out Beshear and others for the Democratic vice presidential nomination in 2024, headlined at the South Carolina Democratic Party’s state convention in May.
Beshear’s two terms as Kentucky governor come to an end in December 2027, and under the state constitution, he can’t run again.
While he hasn’t confirmed his interest in the White House, Beshear also hasn’t ruled it out.
Asked if he’ll run for president during a recent appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Beshear said: “I would have never considered this a couple of years ago, but I will not leave a broken country to my kids or to anyone else’s. And so, if I’m somebody that at that point and I believe that I can heal the country, then — then I’ll take a look at it.”
This story was originally published July 16, 2025 at 11:55 AM.
