Beshear tells 'The View' he still has concerns about McConnell’s ability to serve

Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, in an interview on ABC's "The View" on Monday, said he still has concerns about Sen. Mitch McConnell's ability to carry out the duties of his office following the Kentucky Republican's return to the Senate last week after being hospitalized in June.

"I still have concerns and I think anybody who actually watches the video has concerns, both for him and for the position," Beshear said on Monday.

"But this is what's broken about the current Senate: they don't think they work for anybody. I mean, Mitch McConnell was gone for three months, three months away from work, and wouldn't tell his boss, which are the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky," Beshear said.

Last week, McConnell, who was in a wheelchair, briefly addressed journalists outside the Senate chamber this afternoon before heading to the floor to cast his first vote since June 11. McConnell was hospitalized on June 14 for reasons his office initially did not disclose. Subsequent statements from the senator revealed that he had suffered a fall that left him hospitalized. 

In July, Beshear sent a letter to McConnell and his staff calling on the senator to either show Kentuckians proof that he can still serve in office or resign. McConnell's office did not reply to Beshear's letter.

While discussing McConnell, Beshear segued into calling for term limits for members of Congress and the Supreme Court.

"None of us wish him ill will, but we all deserve senators that can actually do their job. And I think it's fair to say we can now all agree it's time for term limits for Congress. Yeah, and I'll throw it out for the Supreme Court, too."

Beshear, who chairs the Democratic Governors Association (DGA), recently received pushback from Latino leaders over a lack of investment in Texas gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa's campaign against incumbent governor Greg Abbott.

Asked by "The View" co-host Ana Navarro what his plan is to win back Latino voters, Beshear said that the DGA is out in key races, communicating directly to Latino voters in New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada -- notably leaving off Texas at first.

When asked about what work is being done in Texas, Beshear called Hinojosa a great candidate and said the DGA is assisting her campaign with both staffing and polling.

As AI concerns continue to dominate the political conversation, Beshear called for "strong federal oversight" and for starting a conversation with China to reach an agreement on AI.

Beshear, who has modeled himself as an example of how Democrats can win red states and is currently weighing a presidential run, was asked if being a moderate would hurt him in the current climate of the Democratic Party after democratic socialists won several primaries against establishment candidates and some incumbents.

The Kentucky governor leaned on his record, referencing vetoing anti-LGBTQ legislation and bills that would limit access to abortion. He also invoked wages growing in his state and drug overdose deaths going down over the past four years.

"I consider myself pragmatic, and I think that's what the American people from any candidate are going to look for," Beshear.

But Beshear ultimately said that if he were to run for president, he would not change who he is to win over voters.

"Listen, I am who I am, and I'm not going to change to try to get someone's vote that is looking for something else," he said. "If I decide to get in this, and I'm the person for the moment, good. But I care a lot more about this country. I care a lot more about getting us back on track. I care a lot more about my kids' generation getting excited about this country again and the direction we're going than any future title for myself."