Road to 2028: Gov. Beshear picks up another speaking gig, talks Medicaid on TV
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Road to 2028: Gov. Andy Beshear’s political future
Gov. Andy Beshear is increasingly in the spotlight as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate. The Herald-Leader believes Kentuckians should know what he is saying and doing, where he is traveling and what is being said nationally about the two-term governor.
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Editor’s Note: Gov. Andy Beshear is increasingly in the spotlight as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate. The Herald-Leader believes Kentuckians should know what he is saying and doing, where he is traveling and what is being said nationally about the two-term governor. To keep the commonwealth updated, our journalists will publish a regular round-up of the latest news and headlines about Beshear.
Gov. Andy Beshear spent time in the past week promoting his agenda as a Democrat in a red state.
Not at Fancy Farm, though; Beshear said he has a “scheduling conflict” and won’t attend this year’s picnic and political speaking event in West Kentucky.
Beshear criticized the Kentucky leaders who voted to defund Medicaid as part of President Donald Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill on MSNBC talk show Morning Joe.
He is also planning another out-of-state speaking event, this time to Nebraska, to muster support in an increasingly Democratic district.
Beshear plans a November visit to Nebraska
Fresh off a visit to South Carolina, Beshear will take another trip around the country, hitting Omaha, Nebraska, in early November. He’ll speak at the state Democratic Party’s largest fundraising event of the year as it aims to muster up a blue victory in next year’s 2nd Congressional District race.
In recent years, that district has gone blue, voting for Kamala Harris in 2024 despite being held by Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican, since 2017. Currently at least four Democrats and two Republicans are making their bid for the seat next year with Bacon retiring. But Democrats worry Republicans could easily claim the seat again in a state where they dominate.
“As governor, he’s been a bold advocate for voting rights, education, healthcare reform, human rights, and reproductive freedom — values we’re proud to uplift here in Nebraska,” the party wrote on Facebook.
Beshear has been in high demand as a speaker since his 2023 reelection victory. He had a primetime slot at the Democratic National Convention, and he has spoken at Democratic Party events in Florida, Montana and South Carolina, to name a few.
A chat on MSNBC’s Morning Joe
Beshear spoke on the national talk show Morning Joe last Thursday alongside California Attorney General Rob Bonta, where he criticized recent federal cuts to Medicaid.
Beshear called attention to the thousands who would lose care coverage and jobs because of the cuts, in addition to newfound stress over paperwork requirements and the potential closure of dozens of rural hospitals.
Medicaid supports about one in three Kentuckians. Beshear emphasized he will do what he can to maintain his state’s necessary coverage but that greater challenges to the legislation should be considered.
“It is a mean bill. What we need to do is repeal it,” Beshear said.
This story was originally published August 1, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
