'Tough, smart, kind, empathy:' Andy Beshear praises Kamala Harris at Iowa Democratic event

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear helped rally Iowa Democrats at their biggest fundraiser of the year Saturday night, less than a week after President Joe Biden dramatically upset the 2024 election cycle by ending his reelection campaign and throwing his support to Vice President Kamala Harris.

Beshear, who delivered the keynote address at the Iowa Democratic Party’s Liberty & Justice Celebration, is among the politicians reportedly being vetted as a potential running mate for Harris .

He told the group he's been privileged to work with Harris during her tenure as vice president and, before that, California attorney general, and said he's confident the party is on the path to victory with November with her on top of the ballot.

"Let me make something clear. The vice president is not our presidential nominee by coronation," Beshear told attendees. "She's so popular, she won it by acclamation."

More: Andy Beshear is 'eager' to debate 'phony' JD Vance if he's Kamala Harris' running mate

Beshear, 46, is serving his second term as governor and previously was Kentucky’s attorney general from 2016 to 2019.

He told the Des Moines Register in an interview Saturday that if selected as Harris' running mate, he would be “eager” to debate Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance, whom he criticized for proclaiming his Appalachian roots while, in Beshear's view, disrespecting the region's people.

“This is a guy that used to come a couple weeks a summer, at best, to Kentucky and then wrote a book ( Hillbilly Elegy ) claiming to know us, claiming to understand our culture," Beshear said. "He called my people lazy, and these are the coal miners that built this country.”

He continued throwing jabs at Vance and former President Donald Trump in his address Saturday night, including noting that he won the eastern Kentucky county "JD Vance falsely claims is his home" by more than 20 points, and needling Trump for his 34 felony convictions in a New York state court.

Organizers said the dinner sold out, drawing about 450 people to the Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart told attendees that in the six days since Biden left the race, she's seen a new groundswell of enthusiasm across the party.

“I spend a lot of time on the phone, and I've got to tell you, there were a lot of excited people on the other end of those calls this week,” Hart said. "… The enthusiasm surrounding Vice President Harris is truly amazing to see."

The gathering followed a tumultuous three weeks in American politics, which saw the attempted assassination of Trump, his nomination at the Republican National Convention, Biden’s decision to step aside, and the elevation of Harris as Biden’s successor on the Democratic ticket.

Iowa’s Democratic Party faithful responded with exhilaration to Saturday's speakers, with attendees afterward saying they were optimistic going into the final stretch of the campaign. That's not to say that it's always been a smooth ride, and Carl McPherson of Des Moines, a member of the party's Polk County Central Committee, said his first reaction when Biden ended his campaign was sorrow.

"Personally I was sad because I didn't really want to see him step down. I wanted to see the naysayers rallying," McPherson said. "But he's putting country and party above personal interest, and he endorsed a very strong candidate. I believe we have a very good chance of winning."

Beshear touted his record in Kentucky, including opposing anti-LGBTQ legislation and working with Harris on initiatives to decriminalize marijuana possession and improve maternal health care.

Sheryl Jensen of Urbandale, also on the Polk County Central Committee, said party members are excited about Harris — and Beshear, whom she praised after his speech.

"He's saying all the things they're doing in Kentucky that I would like to see in the state of Iowa," she said.

State leaders predict gains in November elections

Elected officials such as Iowa House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst, Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum and Iowa Auditor Rob Sand also spoke, and repeated the message that Iowa's Republican leaders are too extreme for the state.

"Republicans feel like they’re going to be in charge forever," Konfrst said. "They vote like it and they act like it. It’s our job to show everyone that it’s not true."

Responding to national events, party leaders spoke of their enthusiasm for Harris while also honoring Biden. Jochum drew the first standing ovation of the evening in her speech by thanking Biden for "his remarkable 50 years of public service" and called him "a good and decent man (who) stepped up at a very critical point in our history, when the soul of America was at stake."

Iowa Democrats are also looking to make gains in the state's congressional delegation this year, all four of whom are currently Republicans, 2nd District candidate Sarah Corkery, 3 ^rd District candidate Lanon Baccam and 4 ^th District candidate Ryan Melton were on hand to make their pitch to the base.

A spokesperson said 1 ^st District candidate Christina Bohannan didn’t attend because of a schedule conflict.

All three candidates said they're hearing increased interest and enthusiasm from voters since Harris replaced Biden atop the ticket.

"We had more folks knocking doors today than we’ve had at any point in the campaign," Baccam said. "Something is happening in Iowa."

Overall, the lineup of speakers predicted the week’s events will lead to higher turnout, greater enthusiasm, and electoral success for Democrats in three months.

"We have felt that shift in the air just in the past few days," Corkery said. "We’ve been out at county fairs, and this is the first time we’ve had Republicans and independents lining up at our booth. They’re ready to switch, because of Kamala Harris."

Beshear too said that he believes Harris will lift the party to victory in November.

"The vice president gets it. She is tough and she is smart. And that's going to make her a good president," he said. "But she is also kind and has empathy, and that's going to make her a great president. President Trump's attacks aren't going to work."

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 'Tough, smart, kind, empathy:' Andy Beshear praises Kamala Harris at Iowa Democratic event