At the close of Wednesday’s “Team Kentucky” Update in the state’s Capitol, Governor Andy Beshear was posed with two tough questions from Lexington Herald-Leader political reporter Austin Horn.
Beshear said the answers to both queries should be connected.
Furthermore, Beshear said there are three main points Democrats and Republicans alike need to turn their attention to in coming elections — regardless of party affiliation.
No. 1: Spend 80% of your time focusing on the core concerns of American families.
No. 2: Get back to talking like normal human beings.
And No. 3: Be more authentic.
In 2023, and with a 37.9% Kentucky voter turnout rate, Beshear defeated former Attorney General Daniel Cameron by five points — 52.53% to 47.46% — and nearly 70,000 votes.
In 2024, and with a 58.5% Kentucky voter turnout rate, Trump defeated Harris by more than 30 points — 64.47% to 33.94% — and by more than 600,000 votes.
While voter turnout for a presidential election was nearly 21 points higher than the one for governor of Kentucky, a common occurrence nationally, a clear overlap exists between independents shifting, and some Republicans choosing Beshear over Cameron, but Trump over Harris.
Meanwhile, Beshear remains steadfast on allowing pre-kindergarten services free to all “a needed reality” for the Commonwealth.
He notes it would boost take-home pay for parents by more than $9,000 annually for six straight years — more than $54,000 during the stretch — while bringing more than $7,000 in savings annually.
He also notes it would increase Kentucky’s workforce by more than 70,000 people, while improving kindergarten readiness in a state where more than half of its children under 5 five years old are unprepared on a frequent basis.
And it’s a reason why his office has already conducted four town halls on the issue, with more on the calendar.
Since his first announcements on this issue, Beshear said his office and other state legislators have received more than 22,000 emails on the subject — all in a couple months’ time.
Another town hall on universal pre-K is slated for next week during the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville.
