Career Timeline of Andy Beshear: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Andy Beshear, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Andrew Graham Beshear is the current governor of Kentucky, serving since 2019. A Democrat, he previously held the position of Kentucky's Attorney General from 2016 to 2019. Beshear is the son of Steve Beshear, who served as Kentucky's governor from 2007 to 2015. His political career is rooted in Kentucky state politics, marking him as a prominent figure in the state's Democratic party.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles

2001: Summer Associate at White & Case LLP

In 2001, Andy Beshear worked as a summer associate at White & Case LLP in New York.

2005: Hired by Stites & Harbison

In 2005, Andy Beshear was hired by the law firm Stites & Harbison, where his father was a partner.

November 2013: Announced Candidacy for Attorney General

In November 2013, Andy Beshear announced his candidacy in the 2015 election for Attorney General of Kentucky.

2015: Election for Attorney General of Kentucky

In 2015, Andy Beshear participated in the election for Attorney General of Kentucky.

April 2016: Sued Bevin Over Budget Cuts

In April 2016, Andy Beshear sued Governor Matt Bevin over mid-cycle budget cuts to the state university system, resulting in a Kentucky Supreme Court ruling in Beshear's favor.

2016: Became Attorney General of Kentucky

In 2016, Andy Beshear became the 50th Attorney General of Kentucky.

2017: Lawsuit Dismissed

In 2017, the Kentucky Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit Beshear brought against Bevin, holding that Bevin had the power to temporarily reshape boards while the legislature is out of session.

April 2018: Sued Bevin Over Senate Bill 151

In April 2018, Andy Beshear successfully sued Governor Bevin over Senate Bill 151, a plan to reform teacher pensions, with the Kentucky Supreme Court ruling the bill unconstitutional.

July 9, 2018: Declared Candidacy for Governor

On July 9, 2018, Andy Beshear declared his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for governor of Kentucky in the 2019 election.

May 2019: Won Democratic Nomination for Governor

In May 2019, Andy Beshear won the Democratic nomination for governor with 37.9% of the vote.

August 2019: Promise to Construct the I-69 Ohio River Crossing

In August 2019, Andy Beshear promised to construct the Interstate 69 Ohio River Crossing between Henderson, Kentucky, and Evansville, Indiana, by 2023, stating his intention to complete the project during his first term as governor. The project was estimated to cost $914 million plus financing and interest.

October 2019: Filed Lawsuits Against Pharmaceutical Companies

In October 2019, Andy Beshear filed nine lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies for their alleged involvement in fueling Kentucky's opioid epidemic.

December 10, 2019: Resigned as Attorney General and Inaugurated as Governor

On December 10, 2019, Andy Beshear resigned from his position as Attorney General and was inaugurated as Governor of Kentucky the same day.

December 12, 2019: Restored Voting Rights to Felons

On December 12, 2019, Andy Beshear signed an executive order restoring voting rights to 180,315 Kentuckians convicted of nonviolent felonies.

December 2019: Commitment to Accepting Refugees

In December 2019, Andy Beshear informed the Trump administration that Kentucky would continue to accept refugees under the U.S. immigration program, despite Trump's offer for states to opt out.

2019: Became Governor of Kentucky

In 2019, Andy Beshear became the 63rd Governor of Kentucky.

2019: Defeated Bevin in Gubernatorial Election

In 2019, Andy Beshear defeated incumbent Governor Matt Bevin in the general election with 49.20% of the vote to Bevin's 48.83%.

2019: Pledge to Bring More Advanced Manufacturing and Healthcare Jobs

In 2019, Andy Beshear pledged to bring more advanced manufacturing jobs and healthcare jobs to Kentucky, with the goal of offsetting job losses resulting from the decline of the coal industry.

2019: Proposed Teacher Pay Raise

In 2019, Andy Beshear pledged to include a $2,000 pay raise for all Kentucky teachers in his budgets, estimating the cost at $84 million. However, the Kentucky legislature did not include such raises in the budgets it passed.

2019: Advocated for Clean Energy Jobs and Clean Coal Technology

In 2019, Andy Beshear, accepting the scientific consensus on climate change, stated he wanted to create more clean energy jobs to employ those who lose their jobs in the coal industry and to expand clean coal technology in Kentucky.

2019: Replaced Kentucky Board of Education Members

In 2019, upon taking office, Andy Beshear replaced all 11 members of the Kentucky Board of Education before the end of their two-year terms.

March 2020: Responsible Gambling Awareness Month

In March 2020, Andy Beshear proclaimed March 2020 Responsible Gambling Awareness Month in Kentucky, supporting the legalizing of casino gambling, sports betting, fantasy sports betting, and online poker betting in Kentucky.

June 2020: Promised Free Healthcare

In June 2020, Andy Beshear promised to provide free healthcare to all African-American residents of Kentucky who need it.

October 5, 2020: Relaunch and Expansion of kynect

On October 5, 2020, Andy Beshear announced the relaunch and expansion of kynect, the state health insurance marketplace that was originally started in 2013 during Steve Beshear's term as governor and dismantled by Bevin in 2017.

March 2021: Law on Transfer of Minors Charged with Firearm Crimes

In March 2021, Andy Beshear signed a law that allows judges to decide whether to transfer minors 14 and older to adult court if they are charged with a crime involving a firearm, reversing a previous requirement.

June 11, 2021: Lifting of COVID-19 Restrictions

On June 11, 2021, Andy Beshear lifted most of Kentucky's COVID-19 restrictions, one day after the Kentucky Supreme Court heard oral argument on the emergency powers issue.

June 2021: Executive Order on College Athlete Compensation

In June 2021, Andy Beshear signed an executive order to allow college athletes to receive name, image, and likeness compensation, making Kentucky the first state to do so via executive order.

October 1, 2021: Declared Candidacy for Reelection

On October 1, 2021, Andy Beshear declared his candidacy for reelection as governor in the 2023 election.

2021: Restoration of Voting Rights for Felons

In 2021, Andy Beshear signed an executive order completely restoring the voting rights, and right to hold public office, of 180,315 Kentuckians who had been convicted of nonviolent felonies, restoring rights to more felons than any other governor in American history.

November 2022: Executive Order on Medical Marijuana and Delta-8-THC

In November 2022, Andy Beshear signed an executive order to allow medical marijuana possession and to regulate delta-8-THC.

January 4, 2023: Selected as Co-Chair of Appalachian Regional Commission

On January 4, 2023, Andy Beshear was selected as states' co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission for 2023.

March 31, 2023: Signed SB 47, Establishing Medical Cannabis Program

On March 31, 2023, Andy Beshear signed SB 47 into law, which established a medical cannabis program in Kentucky.

November 7, 2023: Won Reelection as Governor

On November 7, 2023, Andy Beshear won reelection as Governor of Kentucky, defeating Republican nominee Daniel Cameron with 53% of the vote.

2023: Kentucky gubernatorial election

In 2023, Andy Beshear participated in the Kentucky gubernatorial election.

2023: Re-elected as Governor of Kentucky

In 2023, Andy Beshear was re-elected to a second term as Governor of Kentucky, defeating Daniel Cameron by a margin of 5%.

2023: Daniel Cameron Ran for Governor

In 2023, Daniel Cameron, who was appointed by Andy Beshear to serve as Attorney General, unsuccessfully ran for governor against Beshear.

2024: Created Political Action Committee

In 2024, Andy Beshear created a political action committee to raise money for candidates who "push back against this national trend of anger politics and division".

2024: Participated in the World Economic Forum in Davos

In 2024, Andy Beshear participated in the World Economic Forum in Davos.

2024: Executive Order Banning Conversion Therapy

In 2024, Andy Beshear signed an executive order to ban conversion therapy for minors after Republicans in the state legislature had repeatedly blocked legislative efforts to do so.

April 2025: Launched a podcast

In April 2025, Andy Beshear launched a podcast covering a wide variety of topics.

July 2025: Commented on President Trump's decision to strike Iran

In July 2025, when asked about President Trump's decision to strike Iran, Andy Beshear said history would be the judge, adding: "We cannot have a nuclear Iran. But was it effective? If you're going to commit this act, it better work."