Scoop: Beshear wows Democrats at Jeffries' big donor fundraiser
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Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, at left, alongside candidate for Florida governor David Jolly, during the Florida Democratic Party annual Leadership Blue Gala in June. Photo: Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Many Democrats left House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' annual California fundraising event last week convinced Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is running for president, according to four attendees.
Why it matters: Democrats lapped up the message from the two-term governor, who told big dollar donors and vulnerable House Democrats that the key to winning over Trump voters is staying true to your values.
- Jeffries' event at the luxury Lodge at Torrey Pines is the successor to Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi's wine-soaked summer donor party in Napa, California.
Zoom in: Beshear's biggest applause line came when he explained why he vetoed a bill in 2023, when he was up for reelection, that restricted some medical care and bathroom use for transgender people.
- Beshear called it "the nastiest anti-trans bills in the nation — and I vetoed it," according to attendees.
- "There are some things worth losing over," Beshear said.
Beshear went on to win by five percentage points in a deeply red state.
Zoom out: Democrats are eager to find candidates – and messages – that they think will appeal to voters in red and blue states.
- Both Beshear and Jeffries spoke of the importance of authenticity and using words that voters actually use.
- Don't be afraid to say "addiction," Beshear said, when discussing the opioid crisis.
- Try to avoid using overly sanitized phrases like "substance abuse disorder," he counseled.
Zoom in: In both public and private conversations, the looming mid-cycle redistricting battle was frequently discussed. Democrats promised their donors that they would respond to GOP gerrymander efforts.
- "We are working on an aggressive plan to make sure we fight fire with fire on redistricting," according to a member of Congress in attendance.
Between the lines: Beshear adviser Eric Hyers told Axios: "Andy knows how critical it is that Democrats take back the House next year and was happy to join Leader Jeffries for a conversation about how Democrats can win tough elections."
Go deeper: In addition to Jeffries, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) attended, along with roughly a dozen "Frontline" lawmakers and some California members.
- After Beshear's Friday night fireside chat with Jeffries, donors got a political update from DCCC chair Suzan DelBene and Mike Smith, the president of the House Majority PAC, which can accept unlimited donations.
- Jared Bernstein, former President Biden's former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers and Wally Adeyemo, Biden's deputy treasury secretary, provided an economic overview.
- Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, and Susan Rice, one of his domestic policy advisers, discussed foreign affairs and immigration.
- David Shor, a Democratic pollster, who spoke at a Senate Democratic retreat earlier this year, explained to the donors that many of their top priorities don't always line up with voter's concerns.
The bottom line: Last year, the annual donor event also drew potential 2028 presidential candidates, with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and California Gov. Gavin Newsom making an appearance.
