Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) revealed “absolute lessons” on Sunday that the Democratic Party can learn from his state, which President-elect Donald Trump won for the third-straight time in this year’s election.
“It’s about a relentless focus on people’s everyday needs and their everyday life,” Beshear emphasized in an appearance on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”
Beshear— who is seen as a possible presidential candidate in 2028 — told host Margaret Brennan it’s about sharing “your authentic why” with voters, as well.
“Because remember, if we’re talking about this issue of the day and then we’re talking about what Donald Trump said last night and then we’re talking about jobs, we’re only spending a third of the time talking about what people are worried about and what impacts their life the most,” he said.
Beshear, a surrogate of Kamala Harris’ failed campaign, declined to do any “finger-pointing” over the vice president’s election loss and instead looked ahead.
“Going forward, over the next couple years, we have a chance every day, every moment, to show the American people that we are laser focused on jobs, on their health care, on their infrastructure, on their kids’ education,” he said.
He added, “Just those everyday worries and with this administration, at least right now selecting some very extreme appointees, it’s a chance to make a real difference, to really show people that we’re where their basic needs are.”
Brennan noted that some critics of his party have turned to how Democrats have handled transgender issues including moderates like Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), whose comments on transgender athletes led to the resignation of a top campaign aide.
“He says he’s ‘speaking authentically,’ and said Democrats should do more of it. Do you think Democrats have been out of touch on some of these things that obviously resonate in states like yours?” Brennan asked.
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Beshear, who referred to his veto of a sweeping anti-transgender measure in Kentucky as rejecting “one of the nastiest anti-LGBTQ bills” his state has ever seen, noted the two things he did to resonate with voters.
“Number one, I talked about my why. For me that’s my faith, where I’m taught that all children are children of God. And I wanted to stick up for some children that were being picked on in a pretty rough bill,” Beshear said.
“But the second thing is, the voters in my state knew the very next day, I was going to be working on jobs. … So it’s both sharing your why and your authentic why for your views but the other piece is about that focus.”