LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- From making national headlines as a possible candidate for Vice President, to starting the rollout process of medical marijuana in the Commonwealth. Gov. Andy Beshear said this year will be about putting Kentucky in the national spotlight.

"It let me tell our Kentucky story in such a positive way, and we've seen the impacts of that," Beshear said.

In a one-on-one interview, the governor reflected on 2024 and looked ahead.

Run for VP candidate and future in politics

Beshear made the short-list of potential VP picks for then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris along with other contenders like Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and eventual pick Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

"That was an experience. But what I loved about it was I got to talk about Kentucky, the place that I'm from, the place that I love, over and over and over," Beshear said. "It turned out to be a really incredible opportunity, and I'm grateful that I got a chance to do it."

While Harris eventually went with another option, it elevated Beshear's national recognition. Earlier this month, he was selected to serve as chair-elect of the Democratic Governors Association in 2026 and vice chair in 2025.

Beshear maintains the answer that he is committed to finishing his term as Kentucky's Governor, which expires in December 2027.

"I'm focused on every day I have in this job, because it's a blessing," he said. "I mean, I get to be governor again of a place that I love and where these amazing things are happening every day. I mean, the idea that we've had three of our four best years of economic development."

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell's term ends in 2026. While Beshear expressed interest in a national role following his term as governor, he said Senator is not one he will pursue.

"I'm interested where I feel like I can make a difference. And I think what we've done here in Kentucky and turning down the noise and not moving right or left, but just moving forward," he said. "I'm not interested in the Senate. Just not for me." 

Education in Kentucky

This past November, Kentucky voters rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow state funding for non-public schools. 

Amendment 2 would have allowed lawmakers to direct public funds to private schools, potentially paving the way for charter school funding and voucher programs.  

GOP-lawmakers, including Senate Majority leader Max Wise (R-Campbellsville) have expressed interest in finding other routes to pursue school choice options in Kentucky.

"It's time for those GOP legislators to knock it off. The people of Kentucky, by a 30 point margin, said very loudly and clearly to our legislature that public dollars should go only to public schools," Beshear said. "If they believe that a private or a charter school can do something differently because they're not under the same rules and restraints, how about we lessen some of those rules and restraints on our public schools. Give them the ability to innovate."

There have also been calls from lawmakers to split up the Commonwealth's largest school district, Jefferson County Public Schools. A task force created in 2024 to review only JCPS said it does not intend to make a recommendation to split the district up, but members outside of the task force have expressed interest in doing so. 

"I think it's a whole bunch of people that aren't from or live in Jefferson County trying to tell Jefferson County how to operate its school system," Beshear said. 

Working with Trump Administration 

Beshear served as Kentucky's Attorney General for three years under Trump's administration and one year as governor.

"We had a working relationship, and that's my job moving forward," Beshear said. "My job as a governor isn't to be Democratic governor or Republican governor, it's to be the governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. So when the incoming Trump Administration does something good for Kentucky, I'm gonna work with them. I'm gonna support them. When they do something bad for Kentucky, I'm gonna stand up to them and I'm gonna oppose them."

When discussing electric vehicles and battery plants being built in Kentucky, Beshear pointed out that while Kentucky voted for Trump, it's a state that will have thousands of EV-related jobs.

EV sales are slowing, and the second BlueOvalSK plant has been put on pause. Despite this, Beshear said he still feels good about its future.

"They're (EV sales) just not increasing at the at the pace that we thought they would," he said. "My hope is this new administration, when it comes in, recognizes that this state voted for them by 30 points, and there are 11,000 EV related jobs here. Hopefully that administration will see that and recognize these are really important jobs for the future."

Lowering the state income tax

State GOP-lawmakers are committed to eliminating Kentucky's state income tax. Earlier this month, Rep. Jason Nemes (R-Louisville) said lawmakers will vote to lower the income tax from 4% to 3.5%.

Beshear said lowering income tax needs to be about balance.

"Since I've been governor, we've had the first, second and fourth, best years ever (in economic investment). And when an economy is booming and it's creating more revenue, then lessening a tax burden is something we should definitely look at," he said. "I believe in balance in all things. If they push this towards zero, we will either have dire cuts that impact people significantly, or what they'll more likely try to do is raise the sales tax on a bunch of different things, which would mean stuff that already costs too much will cost even more ... what we ought to do is find the right balance that ultimately helps people pay the bills at the end of the month a little easier, while still providing all the services that are needed."

More Local News: 

Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.