Governor Andy Beshear

What's going on? Are you having... What the heck is... I think you're hearing my dog. Winnie wanted to be a part. What's your dog's name? Winnie. Winnie is six years old and three days, I think. She's my Labradoodle. This is a 65-pound dog that everybody loves.

What's going on? Are you having... What the heck is... I think you're hearing my dog. Winnie wanted to be a part. What's your dog's name? Winnie. Winnie is six years old and three days, I think. She's my Labradoodle. This is a 65-pound dog that everybody loves.

I am the vice chair this year and the chair next year when we have 36 races.

I am the vice chair this year and the chair next year when we have 36 races.

Yes. So when you look at 2026, it's not just Congress, which everybody is rightfully focused on. It's how many Democratic governors we'll have out there. If we pick up Virginia this year, we'll be at 24. and then an opportunity to get either halfway or the majority in 2026. And what we see is that states that have Democratic governors, they govern well. Their people see jobs.

Yes. So when you look at 2026, it's not just Congress, which everybody is rightfully focused on. It's how many Democratic governors we'll have out there. If we pick up Virginia this year, we'll be at 24. and then an opportunity to get either halfway or the majority in 2026. And what we see is that states that have Democratic governors, they govern well. Their people see jobs.

We see the expansion of health care. And so for me to try to lift up even more leaders is good in 2026. I also think it'll be really good for 2028.

We see the expansion of health care. And so for me to try to lift up even more leaders is good in 2026. I also think it'll be really good for 2028.

Well, our job is to get things done. And so what you find is we are practical. We also have to talk to our people every day, not once a week or once a month, which is what you see out of Congress that's up in DC. And we don't talk in terms of what is 0.3 bullet four underneath a clause of a bill that nobody has seen. That's really important for Congress.

Well, our job is to get things done. And so what you find is we are practical. We also have to talk to our people every day, not once a week or once a month, which is what you see out of Congress that's up in DC. And we don't talk in terms of what is 0.3 bullet four underneath a clause of a bill that nobody has seen. That's really important for Congress.

But we talk in terms of what's going on in our state, what's next, and how we can build that better life. And such great leaders that are out there. Everybody you mentioned, you look at Josh Stein and Roy Cooper before him. You look at Jared Polis. You look at Josh Green, Bob Ferguson, now coming in in Washington. Katie Hobbs in Arizona. Just Mara Healy in Massachusetts.

But we talk in terms of what's going on in our state, what's next, and how we can build that better life. And such great leaders that are out there. Everybody you mentioned, you look at Josh Stein and Roy Cooper before him. You look at Jared Polis. You look at Josh Green, Bob Ferguson, now coming in in Washington. Katie Hobbs in Arizona. Just Mara Healy in Massachusetts.

I think it's three things that we as Democratic leaders ought to be doing. Number one, focus. focus on those core areas, spend 80% of your time, not just in what you're talking about, but what you're doing, focused on jobs, healthcare, infrastructure, education, and public safety. Second, talk like a normal human being. I mean, we've got all these sanitized words. John, unfortunately, my state,

I think it's three things that we as Democratic leaders ought to be doing. Number one, focus. focus on those core areas, spend 80% of your time, not just in what you're talking about, but what you're doing, focused on jobs, healthcare, infrastructure, education, and public safety. Second, talk like a normal human being. I mean, we've got all these sanitized words. John, unfortunately, my state,

Has gotten hit with the opioid crisis more than just about any other, though we have two straight years of decreasing overdose deaths, thank God. Decreasing? Yes. Oh. Yes, and we hope it's a national trend, and I think I'm going to have some really good news next week that I'm really grateful for.

Has gotten hit with the opioid crisis more than just about any other, though we have two straight years of decreasing overdose deaths, thank God. Decreasing? Yes. Oh. Yes, and we hope it's a national trend, and I think I'm going to have some really good news next week that I'm really grateful for.

A lot of hard work, a lot of great people working in recovery, a lot of great work by law enforcement. Sadly, all of us having lost a lot of people we care about and trying to make sure that it doesn't happen. Changes in prescribing, which has been really important. But let me tell you, everyone I know that has fought addiction has called it addiction. They don't say it's substance use disorder.

A lot of hard work, a lot of great people working in recovery, a lot of great work by law enforcement. Sadly, all of us having lost a lot of people we care about and trying to make sure that it doesn't happen. Changes in prescribing, which has been really important. But let me tell you, everyone I know that has fought addiction has called it addiction. They don't say it's substance use disorder.

Everybody who's, yeah, everybody's experiencing hunger. None of them call it food insecurity, but I'll give you another one. Right. Justice-involved population. Say that again?

Everybody who's, yeah, everybody's experiencing hunger. None of them call it food insecurity, but I'll give you another one. Right. Justice-involved population. Say that again?