Road to 2028: Gov. Andy Beshear hits NPR, prepares for New Hampshire
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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 continues to make his rounds in national media as a two-term Democrat leading a red state.
The Kentucky governor’s recent interviews with NPR’s Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep and former Today co-host Katie Couric highlighted his bipartisan appeal, criticism of political violence and concerns for the nation under President Donald Trump.
Beshear will also soon travel to New Hampshire, an early primary state, to join local Democrats at a fundraiser and a campaign reception. He’ll start at a reception for the House Dems Victory Committee. From there, he will travel to Manchester to participate in a reception for Manchester City Democrats. The swing state currently has a Republican governor and legislative majority.
Beshear has not said whether he will run for president in 2028, but the appearances add to speculation that he’s a possible contender.
NPR at the Governor’s Mansion
Inskeep interviewed Beshear from the Governor’s Mansion in Frankfort on Oct. 1, the first day of the federal government shutdown, to learn about the governor’s political experience.
They discussed his support among Trump voters who helped him win a second term in 2023. They reflected on his at times unpopular actions during COVID-19.
“Every decision I made was based on trying to save as many lives as I could,” he said. “I knew the decisions would be unpopular. I was OK if it meant I would never win reelection if I could save 10 more lives,” he said. “It’s one of the most important things I’ve ever been called on to do.
He added: “Looking back, I know I made the decisions for the right reasons, and I stand by them.”
Beshear responded to Trump’s recent comment that the military should begin using U.S. cities as training grounds by insisting that was not the reason that people voted for him. Added to the tariffs and healthcare cuts, he extended empathy to Trump voters.
“People didn’t vote for this type of governance,” he said. “Yes, they were worried that the American Dream was slipping away. They were willing to take a chance with someone they thought would do things very differently, but they didn’t vote to make their lives harder. They didn’t vote to make us more cruel.”
Beshear referenced his fears for Kentuckians under the Trump administration. He aired his concerns for American health care, pointing out potential hospital closures following Medicaid cuts and increased healthcare premiums once Obamacare tax credits expire.
They discussed the inroads Republicans have made with rural voters and what Democrats need to do to win them back.
“Democrats need to be the common sense, common ground, get-results-type of party, one that spends 80% of its time on concerns that impact 100% of the American population. I’ve seen that voters are willing to vote for you even if they disagree with you on social issues,” Beshear said. “But Democrats need to focus. We need to be laser focused on people’s everyday issues.”
He offered the example that those who believe abortion should be legal still voted for Trump because of their belief he would make life easier for them.
“The American people deserve a refocus on them. Less politics — less Democratic and Republican, less conservative-liberal, and more on the everyday concerns of the American people,” Beshear said.
Hosting Katie Couric, ‘Today’ show veteran
Beshear also had the veteran journalist Katie Couric on his SiriusXM-signed podcast to discuss the state of American politics, which aired Sept. 18.
Hosted the week after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, he urged against violence to solve political differences and condemned the Trump administration’s blame on Democrats in the days after the killing.
He also raised his support for red flag laws that could help prevent mass shootings, pointing to the 2023 Louisville Old National Bank shooting that resulted in the deaths of five people, including one of Beshear’s oldest friends, Tommy Elliott. Such a bill had bipartisan sponsorship in 2024, but didn’t get a committee hearing or vote in the GOP-controlled Kentucky legislature.
“I think the next step we ought to take is a red flag law,” Beshear said. “Yes, there is a constitutional right under the Second Amendment, but the courts are who define what that constitutional right means. All a red flag does is allow law enforcement to go to the courts right before they believe a murder is going to be committed and stop it. And if we trust our courts in deciding custody of our kids, certainly we can trust them here. “
He called out the “dehumanization” that has taken shape in politics and longed for a return to a political climate in which Americans can look at one another in the eye despite their differences. Beshear emphasized Kentucky is a model for that.
“That Golden Rule that you love your neighbor as yourself has no asterisks,” Beshear said. “That’s one of the reasons we see a little more unity in Kentucky. We’ve been through more natural disasters than any state in the last five years.
“We’ve seen hardships, but we’ve never addressed or responded to them as Democrats or Republicans, just as Kentuckians,” Beshear said.
Off to another early primary state
Beshear will head to another early primary state after his July visit to South Carolina.
On Oct. 7, he’ll go to several Democratic events in the purple state of New Hampshire.
According to New Hampshire ABC affiliate WMUR9, Beshear plans to support the state’s minority party ahead of next year’s midterm election. The channel reported that he’ll start the day off in Concord with the House Dems Victory Committee. From there, he’ll head to a Manchester meet-and-greet with the city’s Democrats at a fundraiser.
The station also said Beshear will go to Nashua, where a state senator is hosting a “Brownies with Beshear” event.
ABC reported that the New Hampshire visit is part of his commitments to the Democratic Party as vice chair of the Democratic Governors Association. He’ll be chair in 2026 during the crucial midterm elections. The chair is currently held by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and in 2024, it was held by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz before he received the Democratic nomination for vice president.
Last year, Beshear was the keynote speaker at the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s Eleanor Roosevelt Dinner ahead of the 2024 presidential election cycle.
This story was originally published October 4, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
