LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris Monday morning to take Joe Biden's place atop the Democratic ticket, but he also had plenty to say about U.S. Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio).
Vance was chosen by Donald Trump last week to be his running mate. Before jumping into politics, Vance was known for authoring "Hillbilly Elegy," which documents his childhood in Middletown, Ohio. Vance was born there, but his mother and her family were from Breathitt County, Kentucky, in the eastern part of the state.
Critics say the book paints those living in Appalachia as lazy and ignorant.
Beshear appeared on MSNBC's Morning Joe Monday morning and used his endorsement of Harris to criticize Vance.
"Let me just tell you; JD Vance ain't from here," Beshear said. "The nerve that he has to call the people of Kentucky, of eastern Kentucky, 'lazy.' These are the hardworking coal miners that powered the industrial revolution, that created the strongest middle class the world has ever seen. They powered us through two world wars. We should be thanking them, not calling them lazy. So today was an opportunity to support the vice president, but also to stand up for my people. Nobody calls us names, especially not those who have worked for the betterment of this country."
Beshear is one of Harris' top choices to be her running mate, according to multiple reports. He would likely find himself in a debate with Vance should he be chosen and accept Harris' invitation.
WHAS11 spoke with Beshear on Monday. He had more to say about Vance.
"This is a person who visited Kentucky during the summers or came for funerals or reunions, and he wants to judge us," he said. "[Vance] tries to judge eastern Kentuckians. This guy who visits every now and then is going to call us lazy? That's offensive to me and it's my job to stand up for fellow Kentuckians. That is not somebody who should be vice president who's going to look down at our people."
Beshear also took issue Monday with Vance's views on women and abortion. In 2022, Vance said he supported a nationwide abortion ban.
In 2021, Vance responded to a question about allowing exceptions for rape and incest by saying, "I think two wrongs don't make a right. At the end of day, we are talking about an unborn baby. What kind of society do we want to have? A society that looks at unborn babies as inconveniences to be discarded?"
Like many Democrats, Beshear pounced on those comments.
"JD Vance calls pregnancy arising from rape 'inconvenient.' No, it's just plain wrong," Beshear said. "He suggests women should stay in abusive relationships. A domestic abuser is not a man, he's a monster. No one should support anyone having to stay in those relationships."
In 2022, Vance suggested women in violent marriages shouldn't necessarily seek a divorce. Last week, Vance spoke with Sean Hannity and clarified his comments, and said his words were being twisted.
Beshear touted Harris' experience as a prosecutor who put away many abusers.