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Guest Essay

By Andy Beshear

Mr. Beshear, a Democrat, is the governor of Kentucky.

With the November elections over, the political analysis and finger-pointing have begun on cable news and within the national Democratic Party. While I’m deeply disappointed with the national result, I refuse to play the blame game. Campaigns are hard. Candidates and their families are put through hell. And all the candidates tried hard to win, even if they came up short.

What I offer instead is a way forward. I won re-election 12 months ago by five points in a state that Donald Trump just carried by 30 points. And I did so at a time when inflation and illegal border crossings were higher than they are now. So how was it possible? Because the people of Kentucky know I care about them personally and, most important, that I am focused on what matters most in their daily lives. That’s a trust leaders must earn not only in their messaging but also in their everyday actions.

When most Americans wake up in the morning, they are not thinking about politics. Americans wake up thinking about their jobs and whether they make enough money to support their families. We wake up thinking about the next doctor’s appointment for ourselves, our parents or our kids. We wake up thinking about the roads........

© The New York Times