Who he is: Beshear is a former state attorney general who was elected to a second term as governor of Kentucky last year — the Democrats’ biggest result of that election. He is the son of Steve Beshear, who also held both of those jobs.
What he brings: Beshear’s 2023 win might be the most impressive of any that we’re talking about here. He faced a capable opponent in state Attorney General Daniel Cameron (R) at a time when Democrats were beginning to fret about this year’s elections, and he still won by five points in quite a red state. He’s also young (46) and, like Shapiro, has a reputation for being a constant and reassuring presence at important moments in his state, such as national disasters. While other candidates on this list might appeal to moderate and conservative voters, Beshear looks and acts the part more than others — often invoking his Christian faith.
But he’s still new to the national scene, and sometimes governors who win in tough states don’t have much staying power. While he has been firmly in favor of abortion rights and in line with the left on many issues, governing Kentucky as a Democrat has required some compromises that might not appeal to liberals, including on climate change.
