Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declined to rule out running for president in a new Vanity Fair interview—here’s what polls say about a potential Beshear candidacy.
Newsweek reached out to Beshear’s political team for comment via email.
Why It Matters
The 2028 presidential race is still more than three years away, but candidates who could be interested are already making early moves in hopes of building their name recognition and winning support from primary voters ahead of the election.
Beshear, a Democrat, is among those who have been floated as a potential presidential candidate. Proponents of a Beshear run point to his electoral success in Kentucky, a reliably Republican state, as proof he can win over Republican and independent voters. However, polls suggest he is less known than other Democrats who could run in 2028.
What to Know
Beshear, who was speculated to be a potential vice presidential candidate for Kamala Harris‘ presidential campaign, addressed speculation about a potential run in an interview with Vanity Fair published Friday.
“Two years ago, I wouldn’t have considered [running for president],” he told the magazine. “But if I’m somebody who could maybe heal and bring the country back together, I’ll think about it after next year.”
Early polls suggest most Democrats favor candidates like former Vice President Kamala Harris, California Governor Gavin Newsom or former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. But the primary still years away, meaning a dark horse candidate like Beshear could still break through.
The latest Emerson College poll showed Beshear with support from 2 percent of respondents.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
In that poll, 16 percent of respondents backed Buttigieg, 13 percent supported Harris and 12 percent leaned toward Newsom. Seven percent supported both Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, while 5 percent said they would prefer to vote for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Three percent backed New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Maryland Governor Wes Moore also received the backing of 2 percent of respondents.
The poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters from June 24 to June 25 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
A Morning Consult poll from June found him similarly trailing other candidates with 1 percent support.
That poll showed Harris leading with 36 percent of the vote. Buttigieg followed at 10 percent, and 5 percent backed Newsom and Ocasio-Cortez. It polled 1,000 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents from June 13 to June 15, 2025.
Beshear remains one of the most popular governors in the country. A Morning Consult survey found that he has a net approval rating of +43. Sixty-eight percent view him favorably, while only 25 percent give him negative marks.
Supporters say that approval is especially impressive given President Donald Trump‘s 30-point victory in Kentucky. He won nearly 65 percent of the vote, compared to former Vice President Kamla Harris’ 34 percent, in the 2024 election.
What People Are Saying
Beshear told Kentucky’s WDRB in May: “But I don’t want to leave a broken country to my kids. So, if I’m somebody who can bring this nation together, hopefully find some common ground, it’s something I would consider.”
Ken Martin, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, said in June in remarks to WHAS: “If he wants to run, he should. He’s a great guy. He’s a wonderful governor. I’ve known him a long time.”
What Happens Next
Candidates typically don’t start making formal presidential runs until after the midterms, but other potential candidates are already laying the groundwork for 2028. Newsom, for instance, is heading to early-voting primary state South Carolina next week to tour several rural counties.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
