Governor Andy Beshear

Because there's more small business if there's more economic activity that is in the area. So you take an $85,000 or a $95,000 job. The energy economy dries them up. You don't see any real federal or outside investment. And then someone comes in and says, well, I'll teach you to code for $35,000 a year. Right. That's hard. Right. That's hard.

And so as we look at changing economies that continue, to me, it's really important to make sure that Kentucky gets the next part of that economy. So when I was looking at the automotive industry, we have Ford, we have GM, we have Toyota, we have Rivian now, and so many others. I wanted to make sure that we didn't get hit twice. We didn't see the same thing happen.

And so as we look at changing economies that continue, to me, it's really important to make sure that Kentucky gets the next part of that economy. So when I was looking at the automotive industry, we have Ford, we have GM, we have Toyota, we have Rivian now, and so many others. I wanted to make sure that we didn't get hit twice. We didn't see the same thing happen.

And so that's why I went out there and made sure we were getting those battery factories so that we never got left behind again.

And so that's why I went out there and made sure we were getting those battery factories so that we never got left behind again.

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.