As his national profile rises, Democratic Ky. Gov. Beshear launches PAC

Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat who won reelection last year in the red state of Kentucky, announced the creation of a new political action committee Monday — a move that could further boost his political profile nationally as his party looks for future leaders.

Beshear, who has led Kentucky since 2019 and was reelected by five percentage points, said in a statement Monday that his new PAC, In This Together, will help elect “good people and good candidates” not only in Kentucky but also nationwide.

“It’s critically important that we elect more good people — both in Kentucky and around the country — who will stand strong on our shared values and always do the right thing, even when it’s hard,” he said.

Beshear — known for his handling of state affairs in times of crisis, from natural disasters to mass killings — emphasized that candidates supported by his PAC must demonstrate a “commitment to leading with empathy and compassion and the backbone to always do what’s right, regardless of politics.”

While the governor said his PAC’s main mission for now is to support a variety of candidates, the committee’s creation suggests that Beshear could be angling for a national race in the future.

Already, Beshear, 46, is considered a rising star of the Democratic Party after winning reelection in a state that Donald Trump won by almost 26 points in 2020. He is now term-limited — meaning he cannot run for governor again.

Beshear is not the only Democratic governor who has launched a PAC while their national profile grows. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer have also launched PACs as their popularity spread outside of their home states.

Beshear — the son of former Kentucky Democratic governor Steve Beshear — is gaining name recognition among Democrats outside of Kentucky. He has repeatedly emphasized the need to work across the aisle and collaborate with Republicans.

Speaking before the GOP-led Kentucky legislature last week in his annual State of the Commonwealth speech, Beshear emphasized bipartisanship and told lawmakers that the next state legislative session was their chance to “push away the division” and “prove that we can govern without name-calling or scapegoating. To do it without anger, without fear and without hatred.”