Responding to a poll showing increasingly favorable views of socialism in his party, the Kentucky governor and potential 2028 presidential candidate said he understands the frustration Americans feel with rising costs, but stopped short of embracing the term adopted by some fellow Democrats.
"I believe socialism is a failed experiment, but I do believe that we need to get results for the American people," he said.
Preferring the term "pragmatic Democrat" for himself, Beshear has said he will not make any decision about a run for the White House until after his term as chair of the Democratic Governors Association is up at the end of the year. But he's sounding encouraged by the primary calendar adopted by the Democratic National Committee, which starts in South Carolina.
"This schedule, I think it's going to make any candidate get out and earn it. I'm happy that there are two southern states in South Carolina and Virginia, because if the Democratic Party is going to be competitive in the future, we have to be competitive in places like Kentucky, in places like the south," he added.
Beshear also highlighted his support for a constitutional amendment that would outlaw partisan redistricting, re-enshrine parts of the Voting Rights Act, overturn Citizens United, and institute direct elections of the president and vice president.