Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear secured a second term in office, defying the national trend against Democratic incumbents and offering a potential playbook for Democrats seeking success in the 2024 presidential election.

Andy Beshear’s victory stems from his focus on state-specific issues, such as advocating for exceptions to Kentucky’s abortion ban, and his ability to distance himself from President Joe Biden’s unpopularity.

He capitalised on the federal funds allocated to Kentucky during the pandemic and his handling of various crises, including tornadoes, floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beshear’s win over Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a close ally of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, demonstrates his ability to prevail in challenging political environments. Cameron’s support for Kentucky’s strict abortion ban proved to be a liability, highlighting a potential strategy for Democrats in the upcoming elections.

While Cameron conceded defeat and expressed his desire for a “better commonwealth,” Beshear’s victory signals a significant shift in Kentucky’s political landscape and offers hope for Democrats hoping to navigate the contentious 2024 election cycle.

Beshear said his victory “sends a loud, clear message — a message that candidates should run for something and not against someone. That a candidate should show vision and not sow division. And a clear statement that anger politics should end right here and right now.”

With this triumph, the 45-year-old governor has established himself as a Democrat to watch—a candidate capable of winning handily in challenging political conditions.

Riding his leadership over unprecedented economic expansion and his management of several calamities, including tornadoes, floods, and the COVID-19 epidemic, Beshear defeated Cameron, the state’s attorney general and a close aide to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Beshear repeatedly attacked Cameron during the campaign for his support of the state’s comprehensive abortion prohibition, which does not include an exemption for rape or incest victims. This may have been a prelude to how Democrats would run in 2024.

In an attempt to become Kentucky’s first Black governor, Cameron contacted Beshear to congratulate him on winning the legal firm.

“We all want the same thing for our future generations,” Cameron said in his concession speech, according to AP.

“We want a better commonwealth, one in which it can ultimately be a shining city on a hill, a model and example for the rest of the nation to follow.”