Kentucky Democrats hear they should focus on everyday issues
OWENSBORO — Kentucky Democrats brought a national leader to their statewide dinner Friday evening — but the party wants to focus on 'everyday issues.'
At a sold-out event in the Ohio River town of Owensboro, the Democrats' keynote speaker was Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin.
But first Gov. Andy Beshear spoke, laying out a case against Republican President Donald Trump and his 'big beautiful bill.'
'The best way to push back against Trump is to show that when Democrats win, we stay focused on the issues that matter most to our people,' the governor told the crowd. 'And then do something the Republican Party has shown it can't — we govern well.'
Democrats from across the commonwealth were receptive to the message, cheering the governor on and giving him standing ovations.
The party's Forward Together Dinner, which sold 475 tickets, preceded the Kentucky Democratic Party state convention when party faithful decide who will lead the executive committees for the next year. Friday's dinner was the largest Kentucky Democratic Party dinner since 2012.
The enthusiasm follows setbacks for Democrats in recent years; the party has lost ground in the state legislature and statewide offices. A couple weeks ahead of the convention, Sen. Robin Webb, a longtime Democrat from Eastern Kentucky, joined the Republican Party. She said the party's dismissiveness of rural issues led her to make that decision.
Much of the Democratic speakers' comments throughout the night focused on the party's need to re-focus on small town America.
Beshear told reporters ahead of his remarks that political parties need to compete everywhere. Kentucky has no elections in 2025, but a slew of races next year — including U.S. Senate, congressional seats and legislative seats.
'I want to see as many candidates as possible, but I'm also always going to be honest with candidates that sign up to run,' he said. He then recalled sitting with his father, former Gov. Steve Beshear, after election losses and said he knows what that disappointment 'feels like.'
'So as long as people have reasonable expectations and know what they are getting into, know that oftentimes flipping a seat can take one, two or three elections, I want to be as encouraging as I can, but I'm a human being, and I always want to make sure we're talking about how tough races can be,' Beshear said. 'But, yes, I want to see Democratic candidates in as many races as possible.'
Beshear will be the chair of the Democratic Governors Association next year, putting him in a place to rally Democratic support for midterm elections nationally. He's also being eyed as a possible contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential primary.
For this year, he said he is optimistic about Democrats' chances in the New Jersey and Virginia governor races. He added that 'we're going to have some really exciting possibilities next year in places that people aren't expecting right now.'
Martin told Kentucky Democrats that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) under his leadership is focusing on getting 'the DNC out of D.C.' He led the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and has a history as a labor and union organizer.
'When we organize everywhere, we can win anywhere,' Martin told the crowd. 'That means we don't give up on red states. That means we don't give up on rural counties. We take our message everywhere.'
He expanded on that strategy with reporters afterwards. He said he doesn't believe that 'red states' or 'blue states' stay that way over time.
'This new DNC has to invest everywhere so we can build not just to win this moment but to win the future,' Martin said.
Kentucky Democratic Party Chairman Colmon Elridge told reporters state parties are excited about more dollar investments from the party's national committee and that may help Democrats build back their grassroots campaigns.
'I feel really great about our potential for 2026. I believe we're going to contest a heck of a lot of races that we did not contest in the last election,' Elridge said. 'And of course our goal in '26 and beyond is to contest every race.'
Cherlynn Stevenson, the former chair of the state House Democratic Caucus, said ahead of the dinner that Democrats need to focus on 'everyday issues,' including how Kentuckians are impacted by federal policies under the Trump administration. One big policy Democrats at all levels have been pushing back against is Trump's budget reconciliation bill that includes cuts to Medicaid.
She is seeking election in the 6th Congressional District, held by Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr who is now running for U.S. Senate.
'If our people aren't fed, and they're not healthy, then our children can't learn and our workers can't produce when they go to work everyday,' Stevenson said. 'So, we've got to get back to the meat and potatoes of what it means to take care of everyday Kentuckians and not kowtow to billionaires and succumb to the chaos that's coming down from Washington.'
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