WASHINGTON — One name that has popped up in recent weeks as a potential replacement on the Democratic ticket for president or vice president is Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. 

Fresh off last year’s reelection in a deeply red state, he’s considered a rising star in the Democratic Party. 

Gov. Andy Beshear. D-Ky., has repeatedly said he would support President Joe Biden as the nominee as long as he was the nominee, and that he planned to serve out his term as governor.

But Beshear hasn’t shut the door on joining the party’s national ticket, saying the only way he’d leave the job is if he knew whatever else he was doing could help Kentucky more. 

In a statement today on Biden’s announcement, Beshear said, “While his decision today could not have been easy, it is in the best interest of our country, and our party. I want to thank him for his leadership, kindness and for a successful presidency that got big, important things done … Now it is time for our nation to come together. We need to dial down the anger, rancor and noise. We have an opportunity to remember that we are taught to treat our neighbor as yourself-and that we are all each other’s neighbor.” 

Biden’s decision follows weeks of pressure from Democrats on Capitol Hill in the wake of his shaky debate performance. 

Friday, Kentucky’s only Democrat in Congress, Rep. Morgan McGarvey called on Biden to end his reelection campaign. McGarvey said Biden is an effective and empathetic leader but he added “…there is no joy in the recognition he should not be our nominee in November.” 

McGarvey’s predecessor, former congressional representative John Yarmuth, had also said last week that Biden should end his reelection campaign and he echoed what we’ve seen elsewhere that Beshear could be on the shortlist for a new Democratic ticket. With Biden endorsing his Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him as the nominee, the most likely opportunity would be as the party’s new candidate for vice president.