KY Gov. Andy Beshear announces new book, 'Go and Do Likewise'

Christopher Leach and Austin Horn, Lexington Herald-Leader on Feb 18, 2026

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear on Wednesday announced he’s releasing a book in September.

The book, titled “Go and Do Likewise,” will go on sale Sept. 22. It is described as a “compelling and insightful” story about the Kentucky governor’s faith, and how he uses it to shape his family and public life.

The book will also share how Beshear uses faith to counteract claims made by President Donald Trump and other public figures. It is available for presale on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Bookshop and Rakuten Kobo.

Beshear’s book follows several other prominent Democratic governors who have written books in recent months. Pennsylvania Gov. Joshua Shapiro’s book “Where We Keep the Light” was released last month, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s memoir “Young Man in a Hurry” comes out Feb. 24.

Beshear, who is considered a possible candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in 2028, has increased his presence in the spotlight in recent months.

The last three presidents have mass-published books prior to gaining the White House. Barack Obama’s “Dreams from My Father” and “The Audacity of Hope” were key in building hype leading up to his 2008 win. Donald Trump’s “Art of the Deal” was a bestseller. Joe Biden’s “Promise Me, Dad” about his son’s battle with brain cancer humanized the Washington veteran prior to his 2020 win.

The title of Beshear’s forthcoming book is biblical. It’s a reference to the Good Samaritan, one of the most famous parables told by Jesus in the Gospel. The story personifies Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor as yourself,” also known as the golden rule, which Beshear often cites as a defining principle of his politics.

In Luke 10:37, Jesus tells the story and commands the listener to “go and do likewise.”

Beshear’s frequent use of his faith in the political arena has set him apart from other Democrats eyeing the nomination for president. The majority of Americans still believe in God, though the proportion is declining. Allies believe it’s a distinguishing asset for Beshear, who was a deacon at his Disciples of Christ church in Louisville.

Not everyone has been a fan.

The use of that parable to justify his veto of a 2023 Republican-backed law banning gender-affirming care for minors in Kentucky recently sparked a discourse among Republicans.

“The irony is that Governor Beshear’s appeal to the command to ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ inverts the meaning of the text. As is often the case with progressive revisionism, the command is treated as a moral permission slip: love your neighbor in the way your neighbor defines as loving. That reduces love to radical subjectivism and evacuates it of moral content,” Andrew T. Walker, a prominent theology professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, wrote in response.

Beshear joined Jake Tapper on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday and said he did not plan to attend an annual bipartisan meeting and dinner with other governors at the White House. Some Democratic governors were not invited, and Beshear, who serves as chair of the Democratic Governors Association, said he won’t attend if not everyone is invited.

“There’s a time where you have to stand up against the drama of a president that’s turned an annual bipartisan tradition and treating it like he’s a 12-year-old, and it’s his birthday party,” Beshear said. “Inviting and disinviting people, lashing out at others.”

He recently made several rounds with television programs like “The View” and “The Daily Show,” where he made statements about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that sparked a back and forth dispute between the governor and the agency.

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