Challenges Faced by Andy Beshear: Obstacles and Turning Points

Life is full of challenges, and Andy Beshear faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

Andrew Graham Beshear is the current governor of Kentucky, serving since 2019. A Democrat, he previously served as the state's Attorney General from 2016 to 2019. Beshear is the son of former Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, who held the office from 2007 to 2015. His political career is notable for continuing a family legacy of leadership within the state.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles

2000: Start of pension debt accumulation

Governor Beshear has sought to fund the state's pension system, which has accumulated $24 billion in debt since 2000, the most of any state in the country.

April 2016: Sues Bevin over Budget Cuts

In April 2016, Andy Beshear sued Governor Matt Bevin over his mid-cycle budget cuts to the state university system and won the case.

2017: Kentucky Supreme Court Dismisses Lawsuit

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

April 2018: Successfully Sues Bevin over Pension Reform Bill

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

October 2019: Files 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.

2019: Proposed teacher pay raise

In 2019, Governor Beshear pledged to include a $2,000 pay raise for all Kentucky teachers in his budgets (at what he estimated would be a cost of $84 million). However, the Kentucky legislature has not included such raises in the budgets it passed.

March 25, 2020: Declares State of Emergency Over COVID-19 Pandemic

On March 25, 2020, Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic and encouraged business owners to require customers to wear face coverings while indoors.

April 2020: Legislature overrides veto on tax break for distilleries and breweries

In April 2020, the Kentucky legislature overrode Governor Beshear's veto after he vetoed a provision to allow distilleries and breweries to qualify for a sales tax break on new equipment.

June 30, 2020: Kentucky State Pension Fund status

As of June 30, 2020, the Kentucky State Pension Fund was at 58.8% of its obligations for the coming decades.

August 2020: Executive order releasing inmates

In August 2020, Governor Beshear signed an executive order to release inmates from overcrowded prisons and jails in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. However, subsequent research indicated that over 48% of those released committed a crime within a year.

November 2020: COVID-19 restrictions and legal challenges

In November 2020, the Kentucky Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Beshear's emergency executive orders. Also in November 2020, Beshear imposed new restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19, including closing indoor service for restaurants and bars, restricting in-person learning at schools, limiting occupancy at gyms, and limiting social gatherings.

November 18, 2020: Orders Schools to Halt In-Person Learning

On November 18, 2020, Andy Beshear ordered Kentucky's public and private schools to halt in-person learning due to increasing COVID-19 cases.

January 2021: Schools Resume In-Person Learning

In January 2021, Kentucky's public and private schools were expected to resume in-person learning, following Andy Beshear's order to halt in-person learning on November 18, 2020 due to increasing COVID-19 cases.

March 2021: Veto of bill on rental property damage

In March 2021, after the Kentucky legislature passed a bill to make it a crime to cause $500 or more damage to a rental property, Governor Beshear vetoed the bill, but the Kentucky House and Senate overrode his veto.

March 2021: Legislature Overrides Vetoes

In March 2021, the Kentucky legislature overrode Andy Beshear's vetoes on 27 bills.

August 2021: Mask mandate in public schools

In August 2021, amid an upsurge in cases driven by the Delta variant, Governor Beshear mandated that face masks be worn in public schools.

August 19, 2021: Temporary restraining order blocking school mask mandate

On August 19, 2021, U.S. District Judge William Bertelsman issued a temporary restraining order blocking the school mask mandate.

August 23, 2021: Rescinding of executive order requiring masks in schools

On August 23, 2021, Governor Beshear rescinded his executive order requiring masks in Kentucky schools.

December 2021: Leads Response to Tornado Outbreak

In December 2021, Andy Beshear led the emergency response to a tornado outbreak in western Kentucky.

2021: Opposition to funding Brent Spence Bridge project

In 2021, Kentucky Senator Chris McDaniel opposed Governor Beshear's proposal to use the state's rainy day fund or a general fund surplus to help pay for the Brent Spence Bridge project.

July 2022: Responds to Severe Flooding in Appalachia

In July 2022, Andy Beshear worked with the federal government to coordinate search and rescue missions due to severe flooding across Kentucky's Appalachia region.

March 2023: Veto of bill on transgender youth regulations

In March 2023, Governor Beshear vetoed a bill creating new regulations and restrictions for transgender youth, including a ban on gender-affirming care; the legislature overrode his veto.