Road to 2028: How could Whitmer’s decision impact Beshear and the 2028 field?
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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 periodic round-up of the latest news and headlines about Beshear.
If Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer sticks to her decision to bow out of a 2028 presidential run, it could have interesting implications for the Democratic field and Gov. Andy Beshear, should he decide to run.
From inviting Whitmer to the 152nd Kentucky Derby earlier this year, to singing her praises at the Michigan Democratic Party’s 2026 Legacy Dinner, Beshear has already established a strong relationship with the Midwest Democrat.
In the latest shakeup to the hypothetical field of Democratic candidates for president, Whitmer shut the door on the speculation, at least for right now, that she could run. (No major candidates have declared for the office as of now.)
“I think there will be a robust group of people running for president,” she said to Fox 2 Detroit while attending the Mackinac Policy Conference on Thursday. “I will not be one of them in 2028.”
Whitmer, who has been governor since 2019, is term-limited and will conclude her second term at the end of December. In her final year, she’s also serving as vice chair of the Democratic Governors Association alongside Beshear, who is chair.
But a shut door could be reopened, and politicians can change their minds.
Take Beshear for example, who said in October 2023 that he was committed to serving a full second term as Kentucky governor. That changed when he was in the mix of potential running mates for for 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Beshear said in July 2024 that he would take another job only if “I could further help my people and to help this country.”
An unnamed source “familiar with Whitmer’s thinking” in a Politico report said “sometimes Whitmer does change her mind,” and referenced 2014 when she said she wouldn’t run for governor. In an NBC article, a person close to Whitmer suggested her remarks aren’t an “unequivocal closing of the 2028 door.”
If Beshear decides to run in 2028, having a prominent ally up north could be beneficial.
Not only is Michigan considered a swing state in the general election, but the state’s Democratic Party is also asking to be one of the first 2028 presidential primaries, according to the Detroit Free Press.
In 2024, Michigan secured the fifth slot when the Democratic National Convention revamped its early nominating calendar, falling behind South Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada and Georgia, according to reporting from the Detroit News. Oftentimes, success in the early primaries can indicate whether a presidential campaign has the momentum to win the nomination or if it will end up a lost cause.
There could be a competitive field of Democrats in 2028; for example, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York are viewed as strong contenders. In a recent Emerson College Polling survey on a hypothetical Democratic presidential primary, Newsom and Ocasio-Cortez performed better than Beshear, who earned the backing of 9% of surveyed respondents. Newsom earned 16%, Ocasio-Cortez earned 11% and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg led the pack at 18%.
At an event in Warner Robins, Georgia, Beshear said May 28 that he hasn’t made a final decision on running for president. He also shared his thoughts on Whitmer’s decision and called her a “very close friend.” The event Beshear attended was a roundtable discussion on expanding Medicaid with Georgia gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms, among other panelists, according to WGXA News.
“Whatever she decides to do in the future, she’s going to be really good at it,” Beshear said of Whitmer. “She’s been an amazing governor that’s moved Michigan forward. She’s a good person that cares about people. I’m just really blessed she’s willing to spend that last year that she has helping elect Democratic governors, like Keisha Lance Bottoms.”
Beshear visits South Carolina
Beshear had a packed schedule during his visit to South Carolina over the weekend.
The two major appearances were headlining the South Carolina Democratic Party’s Blue Palmetto Dinner and speaking at Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn’s World Famous Fish Fry Friday night.
South Carolina is an important state in the presidential race, with it typically being the first Southern state to hold its primary.
During the Blue Palmetto Dinner, Beshear praised South Carolina Democrats and called the state a “bright spot for the party” in the South, according to the Post and Courier. He also took the time to tout his record and said South Carolina should follow Kentucky’s lead in electing a Democratic governor.
South Carolina’s gubernatorial election this year is expected to draw national attention. Republican Gov. Henry McMaster cannot seek reelection due to term limits, leaving both Republicans and Democrats with a competitive primary on June 9.
“I am living, breathing proof that Democrats can win anywhere, and we should start winning right here in South Carolina,” Beshear said, according to the Post and Courier.
Throughout his speech, Beshear highlighted his accomplishments and made sure South Carolina Democrats knew who he was: “a pro-union, pro-choice, pro-diversity and a pro-public education governor (who) focuses on the needs of everyday families,” according to the Post and Courier.
That branding isn’t new for Beshear, and it could also lay the groundwork and easily translate into national messaging for a presidential platform.
Later Friday night, Beshear joined California U.S Rep. Rho Khanna at Clyburn’s fish fry to celebrate the failure of President Donald Trump’s redistricting push in South Carolina, according to reporting from AP. The fish fry is an annual lighthearted event aimed to energize the Democratic Party base.
Clyburn, who is 85 years old, is running for an 18th House term.
Beshear said Clyburn’s voice in Congress is important, especially at a time when the Voting Rights Act had been “shamelessly gutted” by the U.S. Supreme Court, according to Greenville News. Beshear was referencing when justices struck down Louisiana’s congressional map in a decision that undermined federal protections on minority voting rights in April.
He also had similar messaging from his speech at the Blue Palmetto Dinner.
“I have been elected (in) three straight statewide elections in a state that Donald Trump won by 31 points,” Beshear said, according to Greenville News. “Democrats can win anywhere. We should be fighting everywhere.”
Beshear on Meet the Press
In another national media appearance, Beshear shared his thoughts on partisan redistricting, term limits for U.S. Supreme Court justices and more.
Beshear did an interview Sunday with NBC’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker and highlighted his visits to states with competitive elections, including his weekend trip to South Carolina.
On the policy side, Beshear said he supports a national ban on partisan redistricting. Several Republican-led states in the South are planning to redraw new 2028 maps, and the battle on congressional redistricting is expected to escalate.
“You know, I think it’s time for more than just banning partisan redistricting,” Beshear said. “I think it’s time for a ‘fix the darn country’ constitutional amendment. That way, we can enshrine in our Constitution that you’re not allowed to draw districts this way.”
Beshear also called for term limits for U.S. Supreme Court Justices.
“People deserve better governance,” Beshear said. “And what we’ve seen is our three branches of government on the federal level break down. It’s time to take some bold action to where our people can see and trust this system.”
Like in most of his interviews, Beshear played it coy and again did not rule out a 2028 presidential run.
“I haven’t had that conversation with my family,” Beshear said. “I’m trying to fire up Democrats. To be a voice of reason in the chaos; it is so important that we win right now.”
He also touched on former President Joe Biden’s 2024 campaign, saying “we were all concerned” watching Biden during the 2024 presidential debate.
“You can both compliment him for things he did that helped your state and your people, but also be able to look back and know that was a decision that should have been made differently,” Beshear said.
Beshear’s off to Iowa
It’s back to the Midwest for Beshear. According to the Des Moines Register, Beshear will campaign with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand on June 7 after the state’s primary election on June 2.
“As a Democratic governor and chair of the Democratic Governors Association who has won tough races and governed successfully in a red state, Gov. Beshear knows Rob is the candidate who can do the same in Iowa,” a media release in the Des Moines Register article said.
Beshear is making the trip as chair of the DGA and is viewing Iowa as one of the states that could flip in the midterm elections. Incumbent Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has been in office since 2017, announced in April 2025 she would not run for a third term in the 2026 election, according to a Politico report. (Reynolds was first elected governor in 2018, but became governor the year earlier when she was lieutenant governor; her predecessor resigned to become the ambassador to China.)
This isn’t Beshear’s first time in Iowa, and making frequent trips to the Hawkeye State could help build in name ID. With the long-standing tradition of being early in the nation’s presidential primary contests, the state has served as a launchpad for underdog stories like former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama.
In 2024, when Beshear was considered a potential running mate for Harris’ campaign, he headlined Iowa Democratic Party’s Liberty and Justice Celebration, according to the Iowa Capitol Dispatch.
