Name: Gov. Beshear named chair of Democratic Governors Association
Uploaded: 2025-12-08T20:45:37.196Z
Duration: 2 min 53 s
Description: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear was officially named as the chair of the Democratic Governors Association over the weekend. Democrats are hoping the 48-year-old will help win back votes in states where the party has lost ground.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear was officially named as the chair of the Democratic Governors Association over the weekend. Democrats are hoping the 48-year-old will help win back votes in states where the party has lost ground.

Phoenix

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has been officially named chair of the Democratic Governors Association, a key leadership position as Democrats look ahead to the 2026 midterm elections. Party leaders hope Beshear will help regain support in states where Democrats have lost ground.

Beshear has not confirmed any plans to run for president in 2028, though his recent activities and statements have fueled speculation. Democratic governors, meeting in Phoenix, emphasized that affordability—including housing, groceries, and child care—will be central to their campaign messaging for upcoming gubernatorial races.

Gov. Beshear named chair of Democratic Governors Association

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is taking on a key role in the Democratic Party ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Beshear was officially named as the chair of the Democratic Governors' Association over the weekend. Democrats are hoping the 48-year-old will help win back votes in states where the party has lost ground. Beshear is also seen as a contender in the 2028 presidential election. CBS News correspondent Nydia Cavazos spoke with the governor and joins us now from our Los Angeles bureau. Nydia, good to see you. So Beshear's recent media appearances, visits to early primary states, comments about considering a bid, all of that more than fueling speculation. What did he tell you about his plans for 2028? Lindsey, we had the opportunity to meet with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear over the weekend in Phoenix, Arizona. And this is a question that we've tried to ask him in many several different ways, but we still haven't been able to get either a direct yes or no answer to any potential 2028 plans. But I want you all to listen for yourself when we asked, are you planning to run in 2028? I think the next president needs to be a Democratic governor. I think we've got the experience and the proven results. I think we need an executive that can come in and help repair the federal government that this president has torn down. I think the American people are desperate for results quickly. And that's what Democratic governors deliver. So again, this isn't a direct yes or no answer to are you running in 2028? But there is a consensus among Democratic governors who we met over the weekend in Phoenix that the next Democratic presidential nominee will be a governor from a blue state or is a Democratic governor now. And so we will continue to press him for more answers. And so what are you hearing about the Democratic Party's strategy about winning back not only other voters who might be attracted to the party, but Democrats themselves who might have left? It all comes down to affordability. This is what we heard over and over for the past few days in Phoenix as Democratic governors gathered and they gather to talk about strategy and their campaign messaging as they're looking to capitalize off of their 2025 success with the gubernatorial races. But as far as 2026, we're talking about 36 different gubernatorial races. And so Democratic governors over the weekend discussed their strategy and also discussed the issues that their states are currently grappling with. And it all comes down to affordability again. And under this big affordability umbrella, we're talking about the rising prices of housing, groceries, the daily cost of living. And they also reference the lack of affordable child care. And so these are the issues that the Democratic governors are saying that they have to critically address going into 2026. And their campaign messaging has to be centered around bringing prices down. Nydia Capasos, thank you.

A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake shook northeastern Japan late on Monday (December 8), prompting orders for about 90,000 residents to evacuate and tsunami warnings that hours later were downgraded to advisories.

Aomori

7.5-magnitude earthquake strikes Japan's northeast

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday (December 8) that unity between Europe, Ukraine and the U.S. was important when negotiating an end to Russia's war in Ukraine. He made the remark during a visit to London.

London

Ukraine Invasion

Kyiv stresses European unity as allies 'skeptical' of U.S. peace plan

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European allies prepared to hold talks in London on Monday (December 8), after President Donald Trump accused him of not reading the U.S. proposal to end the war with Russia.

Zelenskyy to meet European allies after Trump criticism

Thailand has launched airstrikes on Cambodian military sites as renewed border violence threatens a U.S.-backed peace deal.

Bangkok

Renewed border violence threatens Thai-Cambodia peace

South African authorities have withdrawn a 90-day visa exemption for Palestinians, saying the recent arrival of a charter flight with 153 people onboard was part of a campaign of “forced migration.”

Johannesburg

Middle East Conflict

South Africa withdraws 90-days visa exemption for Palestinians

Chinese and Japanese ties came under further strain after a Chinese fighter aircraft trained fire-control radar on Japanese military jets for the first time.

Okinawa

Chinese fighter jet locks radar on Japan planes

A military coup declared in Benin on Sunday has failed, the country’s interior minister said, just hours after soldiers took over state television to announce the dissolution of government.

Porto-Novo

Benin coup attempt thwarted by soldiers loyal to Republic

Hong Kong's citizens were voting on Sunday in an election where the focus is on turnout, with residents grieving and traumatized after the city's worst fire in nearly 80 years and the authorities scrambling to avoid a broader public backlash.

Hong Kong Island

Hong Kong holds tightly guarded election amid anger over deadly fire

A U.S. envoy says territorial claims remain a sticking point in a proposed peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. The U.S.-led meetings have ended; meanwhile, Russia launched a massive strike on central Ukraine early Sunday.

Kyiv

U.S.-led peace talks wrap as Russia launches strike on Ukraine

Russia targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure overnight, meaning another winter of power outages for Ukrainians as Vladimir Putin tries to crush their resolve. Holly Williams reports.

Moscow

Russia targets Ukraine's energy infrastructure

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth doubled down on U.S. military strikes on alleged drug boats, saying President Trump can take decisive military action as he sees fit. Willie James Inman reports on the latest.

Washington

Pete Hegseth on boat strikes: "We will find you and we will sink you"

To crackdown on so-called “narcoterrorists”, the US has slowly but steadily been building up its military presence in the Caribbean. 15,000 troops are now stationed in the area, many in Puerto Rico.

Ponce

U.S boosts military presence in Puerto Rico amid Venezuela tensions

Residents in the Indonesian region of Aceh Tamiang have been struggling to get aid while mourning the loss of their loved ones, as the death toll from floods and landslides that hit Sumatra island this month rose to more than 900 people.

Jakarta

Indonesian families mourn loved ones as flood deaths pass 900

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that he had had a long and "substantive" phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Zelenskyy says he had 'substantive' phone call with U.S's Witkoff

Netflix is set to buy Warner Bros. in a deal valued at $72 billion, but the announcement has sparked concern among industry workers.

Hollywood

Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros. sparks industry concern

The man suspected of placing pipe bombs around Washington, D.C., on Jan. 5, 2021, had his first court appearance on Friday after he was arrested Thursday following a five-year manhunt. A judge ordered the suspect to remain in jail pending future hearings.

Judge orders D.C pipe bomb suspect to remain in jail

A 22-year-old woman who says she was born and raised in the United States tells "CBS Saturday Morning" about being chased down the street by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents as the Trump administration's New Orleans immigration crackdown ramps up.

New Orleans

ICE crackdown in New Orleans ramps up

One of the world's most influential architects Frank Gehry has died at the age of 96. Known for his whimsical, unpredictable style, he rose to fame with his titanium design for the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.

Bilbao

Influential architect Frank Gehry dies, 96

At least eleven people are dead after a mass shooting at a shebeen (an unlicensed bar), in Saulsville, a township just west of South Africa's administrative capital Pretoria.

Saulsville

Several killed in mass shooting west of South Africa's capital

The United States is warning its NATO allies that Europe must take on more of its own defence, and fast. According to an exclusive Reuters report, the Pentagon has set an ambitious 2027 deadline for European nations to assume most of the alliance’s conventional military capabilities.

U.S. threatens NATO withdrawal if Europe doesn't take lead by 2027

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide the legality of President Donald Trump's directive to restrict birthright citizenship in the United States, a contentious part of his efforts to curb immigration and a step that would alter how a 19th century constitutional provision has long been understood.

U.S. Supreme Court takes up birthright citizenship case

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory panel voted to change the recommendation for when children should get their first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine. Meg Oliver has more.

Shift in decades-long guidance on hepatitis B vaccine

Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday at an annual summit and agreed to diversify mutual economic ties, as the United States presses India to revise its decades-old partnership with Russia.

Delhi

Russia-India sign trade agreements despite pressure from the West

It's a deal described as the beginning of a new path to peace. Leaders from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed an agreement aiming to end the long-running conflict in eastern DRC. U.S. President Donald Trump hosted the leaders in Washington, DC.

DR Congo-Rwanda peace deal: Leaders sign accord alongside U.S.

The Pentagon announced another strike against an alleged drug-carrying boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean. This comes as lawmakers react to a classified briefing on the controversial Sept. 2 strikes targeting a vessel near Venezuela.

Pentagon announces new boat strike

New evidence was presented in court in connection with the case against Luigi Mangione, the man accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. CBS News' Katrina Kaufman reports.

Manhattan

New evidence shared in Luigi Mangione's pre-trial hearing

Israel has been cleared for the 2026 Eurovision song contest after the European Broadcasting Union said most members did not want a vote on participation, prompting four countries — the Netherlands, Ireland, Spain and Slovenia — to boycott the competition over the war in Gaza.

Israel’s Eurovision participation triggers boycotts

Honduran presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla said U.S. President Donald Trump’s last-minute support for rival Nasry Asfura hurt his chances in the country’s closely fought election.

Tegucigalpa

Honduras' Nasralla: Trump's influence damaged my election chances

A northern Virginia man was arrested and accused of placing two pipe bombs outside the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee headquarters on the eve of the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Scott MacFarlane has details.

FBI arrests suspect in 2021 D.C. pipe bomb case

A grand jury has rejected the Department of Justice's attempt to re-indict New York Attorney General Letitia James. CBS News legal contributor Jessica Levinson has reaction.

Breakdown