Exclusive: Andy Beshear on What Democratic Governor Wins Mean for 2028

Newsweek · Alex J. Rouhandeh · 2026-11-04 04:28 UTC

Under Beshear’s lead, Democrats secured a majority of governorships for the first time since 2010. He said this changes 2028.

Democrats have secured a majority of governorships for the first time since 2010. The man responsible for leading the effort—Democratic Governors Association Chair Andy Beshear, the governor of Kentucky.

Beshear oversaw the effort to expand the electoral battleground map to deep red states like Alaska, Iowa, and Ohio. “What I think that work means about 2028 is, regardless of who the nominee is, they’re going to be in a better position to win because of the work of the DGA,” Beshear told Newsweek in an exclusive interview. “If any candidate is smart, they'll lean on those governors on how to turn out the vote because they'll have won just two years before. The map for 2028 has now been expanded."

Democrats have flipped Republican-held governor’s seats in Georgia, Nevada, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas, a feat Beshear has achieved previously by winning statewide in ruby red Kentucky. Democrats are also poised to flip Alaska and maintain control of Kansas. As Beshear weighs launching a presidential bid of his own, he said this election is proof that the Democratic Party should elevate its governors if it wants to maintain the night’s gains heading into 2028.

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