Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and former U.S. transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, both widely viewed as potential 2028 Democrat presidential contenders, took the stage July 31 at the National Urban League's annual conference in Nashville.
The Urban League, one of the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organizations, discussed racial justice, equal opportunity and the future of diversity initiatives, among other topics, at this year's event. The group also released its 2026 State of Black America report, "America 250: Is the American Dream Dead?"
Pete Buttigieg told The Tennessean he appeared at the Urban League conference to promote the organization’s work combatting “a systematic attack on Black political power through gerrymandering.
"And as the National Urban League has demonstrated in their economic research, there are persistent gaps, some of which are getting worse when it comes to wealth and income," he said. "So I wanted to make sure I was part of that conversation."
Both Beshear and Buttigieg participated in fireside chats hosted by National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial.
“I do think the next president should be a Democratic governor,” Beshear told the crowd. “That’s because we get things done.”
On stage, Beshear touted his track record of winning elections in deep red Kentucky, a state President Donald Trump won by 30 points in 2024.
In an interview with The Tennessean, Beshear discussed what he sees as midterms momentum for Democrats across the South.
"Southern Democrats have, for far too long, been overlooked, left out, sometimes looked down upon," he said. "But we have scrapped our way back to a seat at the table."
He also echoed his own calls for Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, who has taken a leave of absence following a medical incident in mid-June, "to show the people of Kentucky and the American people he still has capacity to serve."
"Nobody in their job is in the hospital for six weeks without calling their boss, explaining what's going on and when they will get back to work," he said. "His refusal to be transparent is absolutely unacceptable."
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Molly Davis covers growth and development in Nashville. You can email her with comments, questions and tips at mmdavis@tennessean.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What Pete Buttigieg, Andy Beshear said in Nashville at Urban League
