How Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear Thinks Democrats Can Win Rural America
And I also believe that sustainability does not depend primarily on government policy. This is driven by demands from the private sector. Every company that comes to Kentucky with their power wants affordability, wants reliability, then wants durability. And so for me, being pragmatic, I need to achieve all three, which means we need greener, more sustainable electricity generation. We need greener jobs because that’s what the private sector and, ultimately, consumers are demanding. So no, I don’t think we need to abandon our beliefs about climate change, but I think as part of those beliefs we need to provide a better life for our people. This means that if you can create good, green, well-paying jobs, people of all political ideologies will work there because it makes life better and easier for their families.
MP: One of the things I thought President Joe Biden was underappreciated for was that he pushed hard to bring new factories, especially in red states, and to reform U.S. industrial policy through the Inflation Reduction Act. He talked a lot about people’s daily economic concerns. He marched alongside unions and tried to reach out to workers. Why do you think this message hasn’t been compelling, even when Vice President Kamala Harris has taken it up in her 2024 race?
AB: Well, I’m thinking of two things. First, as Democrats, we need to get our boots dirty and we need to show up in areas where our policies create new jobs, new opportunities, more accessible health care, safer infrastructure, and better schools. The signature in the Rose Garden is no longer real. A signing of a bill in Frankfurt [Kentucky’s capital] does not have a direct impact on people on that day. We must therefore be present at the announcement, at the inauguration of the work. And you know, people don’t care, [but] the most important thing is the ribbon cutting. For what? Because the jobs are there, because the future is better for families. We need to make sure that people in rural America see Democrats and see the results of the policies we advocate for.
