Dem
47
GOP
53
We missed this story over the weekend—that's what we get for celebrating Pearl Harbor day with the staff mathematician. In any event, thanks to reader R.H. in San Antonio, TX, for the heads-up that Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) was chosen to be the next chair of the Democratic Governors Association.
You presumably don't need us to tell you that this is one of those jobs that is often a launching pad for bigger and better things, particularly for someone whose party is out of power in Washington. By virtue of his new post, Beshear will become one of several de facto spokespeople for the Democratic Party, and so his media visibility will increase a lot. Further, the leader of the DGA is primarily responsible for networking and fundraising, so he's going to be able to connect with important Democrats across the country—the kind of people whose support he needs for a presidential or U.S. Senate bid. Also, you don't get elected to this post unless your fellow Democrats think well of you, and suspect you'll be a good "face" of the Party.
Among the DGA leaders who have gone on to bigger things after their time as chair are 26 U.S. Senators, most recently John Hickenlooper (CO), Maggie Hassan (NH), Tim Kaine (VA), Joe Manchin (WV) and Mark Warner (VA). Two of the last three VP nominees, Kaine and Tim Walz, held the post. And two DGA chairs, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, went on to become president. Obviously, there are no sure things in politics, but this is certainly a feather in Beshear's cap. Oh, and in case you are wondering, Govs. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) and Gavin Newsom (D-CA) have never led the DGA. In fact, a Californian has only been chosen one time (Gray Davis in 2001), undoubtedly because they don't want the DGA to be TOO awesome.
We suspect Beshear will occasionally remind the donors he talks to that Democrats have a pretty good track record running young Southern governors for president (Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton). They can win red states. Right now the big question for Beshear is whether he will run for the Senate in 2026 if Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) retires then. (Z)