FRANKFORT, Ky. — A high speed, non-stop two weeks of speculation, out-of-state travel and public auditions are over for Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
Beshear remained in high spirits after Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was chosen as Kamala Harris’ running mate on the Democratic ticket for president.
He was on the shortlist for the position but was not among the three finalists who met with the current vice president in Washington D.C. on Sunday.
The governor returned to Frankfort on Tuesday.
While he stated that he was asked to keep details of the meeting with Harris confidential and he was “going to honor that request”, he called the experience a “true honor of a lifetime” and immediately threw his support behind the Democratic ticket.
“Tim Walz is a good pick, he is a great friend [and] he’d be an amazing vice president and I am one hundred percent on board and will do everything I can to elect a Harris-Walz ticket this November,” he said.
When WHAS11 asked if he was disappointed he wasn’t selected, the governor answered, “Oh, my family is happy. Frankfort has wrapped their arms around us.”
He continued, “[My kids are] both in high school, and Britainy and I are in a good spot in life. I’ve got a dream job. I’m governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. I’m all good. This is going to help me make sure that we keep our promises to eastern and western Kentucky. While it’s an honor to go through the process, oh no, being governor of Kentucky is more than enough for me.”
WHAS11 also heard from Republican Kentucky Sen. Damon Thayer, a longtime critic of Beshear’s.
“I never thought he was really seriously in the running. I thought he was named because the Democrats have a pretty thin bench,” he said. “Ultimately, I predicted that she would choose somebody from a state where she needed help.”
As a VP candidate, Beshear believes the 60-year-old is the perfect addition to the ticket due to his background in public education, a military veteran and union supporter.
He also credits Walz for helping him score reelection in 2023. The Minnesota governor also attended his inauguration.
Called a rising star in politics, Beshear was among high-profile names being vetted for the VP position that included Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigeg, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Beshear said he felt “blessed” because of the unique opportunity and how Kentucky was thrusted into the national spotlight due to the accomplishments of working together.
The 46-year-old keeps his “Old Kentucky Home” close to his heart and said the commonwealth was in his DNA. He feels as governor, there’s more work to do and said he and his family are "right where we're supposed to be."
“I have a great family. I’ve got a good dog. I have my dream job in this office right behind me. I get to show up and fight for and work for the people of Kentucky every single day and I’m excited to continue to do that for these next three and a half years,” he said.
On X, Beshear touted the 'veepstakes' as getting Kentucky some positive national attention.
But in reality, will it be the governor himself who truly benefits from the spotlight?
“I do think he’s going to be in the conversation for any number of high profile cabinet positions or something else like that,” Louisville Congressman Morgan McGarvey told WHAS11. “I hope those are decisions that he has to make.”
In a statement sent to WHAS11 by the Republican Party of Kentucky, a spokesperson said, “With the Kentucky Democrats' echo chamber in the local press and social media coming to an end, it's no surprise Kamala Harris took a pass on Andy. His years of controversy and lack of policy wins made choosing him a liability.”
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