Don't Write Off Andy Beshear— Or Is Looks Only A Factor For Women And Not For Fellas?

Kamala is getting a lot of advice about who to pick as a running mate. None of the reported front runners ring my bell; I would have liked to see her pick a progressive but, that is something she has no interest in whatsoever. Reportedly, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz are ahead of the others. Shapiro is a pro-genocide AIPAC tool but he could help her lock down Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes. Kelly might be able to lock down Arizona’s 11 electoral votes and Walz… well Minnesota’s 10 electoral votes are pretty much in the bag for Kamala already. She’s now leading Trump by 10 points in the state.

Like I said, I’m not crazy about any of them but I thought North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper might be a better choice than those three— and possibly bring North Carolina’s 16 electoral votes to the table. One governor who absolutely would not be bringing his state’s 8 electoral votes to the ticket is Andy Beshear, the governor of solid red Kentucky. On Saturday, Ben Mathis-Lilley made a persuasive case for the good-looking, 46 year old former Attorney General.

He began by describing what focus groups have taught us about what swing voters want: “They want to vote for someone who isn’t too partisan but also isn’t necessarily in the center of every issue— lefty economic ideas do fine with them— and who seems like someone you could have a beer with but who also possesses a certain presidential dignity and vitality. Someone strong but unifying, as well as practical and possessing an intrinsic ability to improve the economy. The top priority for Harris is convincing people that she is that person herself, of course, with her own words and advertisements. But she also gets to pick a vice presidential nominee—and according to some of the political-science research into the matter, that choice will likely be more important as a signal about herself than as a play to win any given state. With this in mind, the choice is clear: She should select Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear as her running mate.”

The most important thing to know about Beshear— and the only thing Harris would really need voters to know about him— is easy to explain. He is, despite being a Democrat, popular in Kentucky, a state that Donald Trump won by 26 points in 2020. (Beshear won reelection in 2023 by 5 points, and his approval rating in Morning Consult’s latest data was 67 percent.) That would be the purpose of this pick: associating herself with one of the rare politicians in the contemporary U.S. who can honestly say they’ve been a uniter rather than a divider.

Nearly as important, though, is how Beshear has done it. Some Democrats in red states— West Virginia’s Joe Manchin comes to mind— make their reputation by picking high-profile fights with national party leaders and denouncing certain ideas as too liberal. There’s a strong utilitarian argument that this is a good thing for the party overall: It needs senators from West Virginia and Montana and Arizona however it can get them, and given the Republican assault on election administration, it needs as many Democrats in swing-state governors’ mansions as it can get too. But those figures are less than ideal vice presidential choices because they’ve alienated groups whose participation in the presidential campaign is essential. If Harris chose Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, it might bother the major unions; if she chose Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, it would put off critics of Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

Beshear has not made— or has not been forced to make— any of these kinds of friendly-fire compromises in order to prove his independence. For one, he has the good fortune of being the son of another former governor, Steve Beshear, who was also popular in the state despite being a Democrat. Republicans hold a supermajority in the Kentucky Legislature, which means that they can override (Andy) Beshear’s vetoes of legislation. Because he literally can’t stop Republican ideas from being turned into law if they’re popular enough, he doesn’t have to make as many tough calls as someone in a more evenly split state might.

That said, he has taken liberal stands on policy when less confident Democrats might have gone wobbly. He vetoed a bill that would have banned minors from receiving gender-affirming care, describing it as an attack on “children of God” that would limit parents’ freedom to make medical choices. (The veto was overridden.) He made the protection of Kentucky’s (limited) abortion rights a central issue in his reelection campaign, although he does support what he described as “reasonable restrictions on late-term abortions.”

There’s more. Beshear rejected calls to impose “work restrictions” on Medicaid eligibility, restored voting rights to 175,000 ex-felons through executive order, has been unwavering in opposing the diversion of public education funds to charter schools, and publicly declined the Trump administration’s offer to stop resettling refugees in Kentucky. He also walked a United Automobile Workers picket line in 2023, which is not the easiest gesture to make in a state whose economy is heavily affected by automakers’ decisions about where to locate manufacturing plants. (He seems to be doing well on that front too, at least according to Business Facilities magazine and Site Selection magazine.)

You might be asking: OK, sure, but is he good on TV? It’s a subjective question, but if Beshear’s appearances in recent weeks and the tape from one of his 2023 debates are any indication, he’s good enough. He’s perhaps not the loosest presence, but he does a smooth job of moving discussions toward the points he wants to talk about without being evasive and shows command of details without getting lost in them. (His success in Kentucky, local observers say, is in part attributable to his reassuring presence on camera during COVID and in the wake of a series of natural disasters that have befallen the state.)

…When it comes to being sensible and down-to-earth, Beshear walks the walk, and he talks the talk. His opening debate statement quoted from the Book of Psalms, then listed the construction of a Margaritaville as one of the signature accomplishments of his term in office. What else could Kamala Harris want?

In the rough and tumble world of politics, physical appearance sometimes plays a significant yet usually understated role. While women in politics are frequently judged on their looks, men rarely face the same level of scrutiny. So what if we flipped the script? Historically, charismatic leaders with strong visual appeal have captured the public's imagination and left a lasting impact. JFK, often remembered for his youthful vigor, carefully-tailored style and good looks, became a symbol of a new era in American politics. Some say that the Republicans were so worried about his handsome son that they brought down his plane in an “accident.” Similarly, Justin Trudeau’s combination of charm, good looks, and relatively progressive politics has made him a standout figure on the global stage. Beshear could follow in their footsteps, leveraging his appearance to complement his political acumen.

And, as we saw, Beshear’s not just a pretty face. His record as attorney general and governor speaks volumes about his capabilities. Yet, his youthful energy and striking appearance set him apart in a field often dominated by older, less visually appealing male candidates. Imagine the viral potential of a leader who combines substance with style.

That t-shirt up top encapsulates the fun yet impactful nature of his candidacy. In an age where TikTok and social media reign supreme, a candidate who can capture the public's imagination through visual appeal has a distinct advantage. Beshear’s good looks and charming demeanor could help attract undecided voters or younger demographics, making him a relatable and popular figure.