WASHINGTON — Leaning into the commonwealth’s new marketing campaign, “New Kentucky Home,” Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., delivered his State of the Commonwealth address Jan. 8, calling Kentucky a place commanding the attention of the world.  

“We’re not looking at the same Kentucky anymore,” he said. “That’s why now is the time, the time to reintroduce ourselves to the world, to leave the stereotypes of the past behind us and to welcome the world to our 'New Kentucky Home.'”

Beshear, who is term-limited, made it to Vice President Kamala Harris’ short list of potential running mates when she emerged as the Democrats’ 2024 nominee last summer.

Harris lost to Donald Trump in November, and Beshear is now considered a possible contender for the White House. Politico just named him one of the “best positioned” Democrats for a 2028 presidential run, calling him the “clearest winner out of the gubernatorial bracket.”

That analysis points to Beshear’s reelection in a red state, his popularity and his experience governing with a Republican supermajority in the Kentucky legislature.

Later this month, Beshear will speak at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, another opportunity to plug Kentucky that could also raise the governor’s profile.  

“This trip will provide a chance to connect with growing companies that already operate in Kentucky, as well as to get one-one-one opportunities in front of multinational companies that may have never invested in Kentucky and a chance to sell everything great about our New Kentucky Home directly from myself to that CEO,” Beshear said last week.  

In a statement blasting Beshear’s address for what it called a “comical and misleading” attempt to rebrand Kentucky, the Republican Party of Kentucky said "Kentucky’s economic progress began long before Andy Beshear was elected governor” and is the “direct result of the strong, decisive leadership” by Republicans.