Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear had emerged over the last couple of weeks as a serious contender to become the Democratic Party’s vice presidential candidate. The highly popular two-term governor was one of several politicians being vetted by Kamala Harris’ camp ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and handicappers had listed Andy Beshear vice president odds among the favorites on their boards.
On Aug. 6, Harris instead went with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, with Beshear writing on Twitter, "It was an honor to be considered in this process, but @Tim_Walz is a great friend and a great choice. I fully support this new ticket and will work to elect @KamalaHarrisas our next President of the United States."
BetKentucky, home to all things Kentucky sports betting, will continue to keep tabs on Beshear's odds in future elections.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro | -400 |
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear | +400 |
Arizona U.S. Sen Mark Kelly | +900 |
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz | +1400 |
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg | +1600 |
Hillary Clinton | +2800 |
Odds verified on August 2, 2024 |
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Andy Beshear vice president odds above are from bet365’s Ontario sportsbook just before Harris went with Walz. Although bet365 is one of the licensed Kentucky sportsbooks, political betting is not allowed in the Bluegrass State or any other state.
Beshear appeared on national television one day after President Joe Biden announced he would end his re-election campaign and support Vice President Harris for the race. He told MSNBC’s Morning Joe that he would be open to discussing the VP nomination if called. The Kentucky governor also used the nationally television interview to go after Ohio U.S. Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate.
One key factor that may have hurt his efforts to get on the ticket. Kentucky is not a battleground state. It and neighboring Indiana are the first states to close their polls in the national election, and moments after that happens, the networks will call both for former President Trump. Kelly, Shapiro, Cooper, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer all come from states where Democrats must either win to retain the White House or have a chance to win and take away key Electoral College votes from Trump.
Yes. Beshear meets the requirements as set forth in the U.S. Constitution. He is 46 years old (the minimum age is 35). He’s also a natural-born citizen who has spent at least the last 14 years living in the country.
Should Trump win in November, Beshear could be a top challenger in 2028. If Harris wins in November, the earliest Beshear would like run is 2032.
Despite being from a highly conservative state, Beshear is one of the most popular governors in the country, regardless of party. A July 24 report from Morning Consult found Beshear has an approval rating of 67% and a net approval of +39.
That popularity stems from a couple of factors. First, he came into office just months before the COVID-19 pandemic. While conservatives bristled at his policies during the pandemic, Beshear won over many supporters by displaying empathy during his daily updates. He also sounded like a disappointed dad sometimes as he chided people for not following state or federal guidelines.
It also helps that Beshear comes from a well-connected political family in Kentucky. His father, Steve Beshear, was a longtime state official who also served two terms in the governor’s mansion.
Even before Biden ended his campaign, Beshear was being touted as an early candidate in the 2028 race. He even established a national political action committee after winning re-election for governor last year to raise his profile and back such candidates as Montana U.S. Sen. Jon Tester in his re-election bid this year and North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in that state.
However, Beshear 2028 odds now hinge likely on what happens with Harris in November. If she wins and becomes the first female president, then she’ll likely be the nominee again in four years. That would potentially keep Beshear from running until 2032.
USA Today photo by Jeff Faughender.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear had expressed interest in becoming the Democratic vice presidential candidate, and reports indicated he was among those being vetted for the post. It’s a highly competitive race, though, and Beshear’s odds to get picked were +400 at bet365’s Ontario sportsbook before Harris went with Tim Walz.
Yes, the 46-year-old easily meets the age and citizenship requirements established in the U.S. Constitution, which states candidates must be natural-born citizens who are at least 35 years old. The Constitution also requires the president and vice president to have lived in the country the past 14 years.
Beshear has not run for president previously. He began his political career nine years ago when he defeated Whitney Westerfield by less than 2,200 votes (.2%) to become Kentucky’s Attorney General. Rather than run for re-election in 2019, Beshear chose to run for governor. He won the Democratic nomination and then edged then-Gov. Matt Bevin, the Republican candidate, by 5,136 votes to become Kentucky’s 63rd governor. Last year, he defeated Attorney General Daniel Cameron by more than 67,000 votes to be re-elected.
Author
Steve is an accomplished, award-winning reporter with more than 20 years of experience covering gaming, sports, politics and business. He has written for the Associated Press, Reuters, The Louisville Courier Journal, The Center Square and numerous other publications. Based in Louisville, Ky., Steve has covered the expansion of sports betting in the U.S. and other gaming matters.
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