Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Sunday that Democrats are targeting several Republican-held governorships in November, citing President Donald Trump's policies as creating political openings for the party.
Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," Beshear, who chairs the Democratic Governors Association, pointed to Trump's agenda as pushing states like Florida, Texas, Alaska and Nebraska into reach for Democratic candidates. He invoked recent Democratic victories in New Jersey and Virginia as momentum for the party.
"Trump's policies are harming American families," Beshear told host Jake Tap saying the effect has widened the electoral map.
In Florida, former GOP Rep. David Jolly, now a Democrat, is challenging Rep. Byron Donalds. According to Decision Desk HQ, Donalds has a 67 percent chance of winning. In Texas, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa is running against Gov. Greg Abbott, with recent polling showing a competitive race, though Abbott remains favored at roughly 7 in 10 odds for a record fourth term.
Beshear said he communicates daily with Hinojosa and with James Talarico, who is running for U.S. Senate against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. "We're making a Southern state competitive again," Beshear said.
The Cook Political Report has shifted ratings in multiple gubernatorial contests toward Democrats in recent months.
Beyond statehouses, Beshear noted that Decision Desk HQ estimates Democrats have a 51 percent chance of flipping control of both the House and Senate. Such an outcome would give the party legislative power for the final two years of Trump's term.
If Democrats gain Congress, Beshear said the party must articulate affirmative policies rather than simply opposing Trump. "Many Americans believe the economy is rigged and not working for them," he said, arguing Democrats must speak to that concern directly.
