Democ­ra­cy Der­by: How the Ken­tucky gov­er­nor’s race could serve as a spring­board into 2028

All eyes may be on 2024, but 2023 is an impor­tant elec­tion year for some states, not least Ken­tucky. Top of the card is Gov. Andy Beshear, and whether the Demo­c­rat incum­bent can win again in a typ­i­cal­ly red state, poten­tial­ly launch­ing him­self into the 2028 pres­i­den­tial con­ver­sa­tion. This Wash­ing­ton Exam­in­er series, Democ­ra­cy Der­by, will take a clos­er look at Beshear’s prospects, the make-up of the Blue­grass State as a whole, and whether Sen. Mitch McConnel­l’s health may raise the stakes.
The Ken­tucky governor’s race is the biggest elec­tion this year and a major pre­view of the fights that lie ahead in 2024 and beyond.
If Gov. Andy Beshear (D‑KY) wins a sec­ond term, Democ­rats will argue that real-world elec­tion results con­tra­dict the di …