Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is being vetted for Vice President, sources say

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WAVE) – WAVE News has confirmed that Kentucky’s governor is among those being considered to run as the Vice-Presidential candidate on the Democratic ticket.

A source close to the process confirmed Thursday that Governor Andy Beshear is being vetted by the Kamala Harris campaign. It’s one of the last steps before a presidential candidate chooses a running mate.

During his weekly Team Kentucky briefing today, Beshear read the following prepared statement:

“I am honored to be considered, and regardless of what comes next I’ll do everything I can between now and Election Day to elect Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States of America. You all know what question that is in response to and that is my full statement on that topic.”

He described the state’s “red hot economy” and outlined billions of dollars in economic investment, hundreds of jobs, and a record-breaking $2 billion surplus at the end of the fiscal year.

“At the end of the day, what I believe in is jobs, in infrastructure, clean drinking water, internet access for everyone,” Beshear said. “I believe in public safety and public education. I believe healthcare is a human right. And no matter what role I am in, those will always be my focus.”

Shortly after winning re-election and beginning his second term, Beshear said he was not interested in a national office.

When asked what changed, Beshear said, “The only way I would consider accepting anything else is if I believe that I can help this state and this country more in a different way.”

Beshear could get a timely boost from new polling released by Morning Consult.

Beshear ranked as the second most popular governor in the country and the most popular Democratic governor.

Among other names being mentioned as a running mate for Harris are:

• Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania
• Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona
• Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan
• Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina
• Gov. Gavin Newsom of California
• Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois
• Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland
• Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana and current U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

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