For the past decade, Gavin Newsom has been the Democrats’ Golden Boy in the Golden State. Newsom’s polished, media-friendly aura and persona keep him in the national media spotlight, but that doesn’t mean he’s the best candidate to recover vital swing states in the electoral college.

Since President Ronald Reagan finished his second term, no California candidates have been elected to the White House, and the state is arguably the furthest to the left with its policies, initiatives, and regulations.

When considering Gavin Newsom’s record, you must remember that he has enjoyed an unofficial rubber stamp to get any policies he vocally supports. During that time, California’s economy has grown, but it has also lost hundreds of thousands of residents who cited unaffordable living as the primary motive for relocating to Texas, Florida, and other states across the south.

Newsom’s policies play well to the crowd that Democrats have already locked in: upper-middle-class or wealthy females with a college degree who live in urban areas. That demographic is valuable in blue states, but ask Kamala Harris if she wishes she had expanded her base of support to males who are blue-collar workers without a college education or middle-class suburban mothers.

Two southern states have Democratic governors juxtaposed by Republican-led chambers: North Carolina has Gov. Josh Stein, and Kentucky has Gov. Andy Beshear. Stein, who was elected last November, is a rookie compared to Beshear. Beshear will complete his final term in 2026.

During Beshear’s tenure as governor, which began in December 2019, the Republican Party has consistently held the majority in both chambers of the Kentucky General Assembly: the state House of Representatives and the state Senate.

The Republican Party has controlled the Kentucky State Senate since 1999. As of the 2025 session, Republicans hold 31 of the 38 seats, maintaining a supermajority.

This Republican dominance in the legislature has enabled the party to set the legislative agenda and override Governor Beshear’s vetoes. For instance, in the 2024 legislative session, Republicans upheld their supermajorities, allowing them to pass legislation against the governor’s objections.

Despite leading a deeply Republican state, Democratic Governor Andy Beshear has achieved several notable bipartisan accomplishments by collaborating with Kentucky’s GOP-controlled legislature. Here are some key examples:

1. Legalization of Medical Marijuana

In 2023, Governor Beshear legalized medical cannabis, with Beshear and Republican lawmakers jointly celebrating the achievement.

2. Sports Betting

Kentucky legalized sports wagering, marking a major policy shift supported by both parties. Beshear praised these efforts as examples of “divided government working to get the tough things done that voters want”.

3. Expansion of Voting Access

In a rare move among Republican-led states, Kentucky expanded voting access through House Bill 574. The law introduced three days of early in-person voting, transitioned the state toward universal paper ballots, and maintained an online portal for requesting absentee ballots. Governor Beshear signed the bill into law, highlighting its bipartisan support and its role in making voting more accessible for Kentuckians

4. American Rescue Plan Investments

Beshear and legislative leaders from both parties collaborated to allocate federal American Rescue Plan funds toward critical infrastructure projects. The bipartisan agreement directed investments into building better schools, expanding broadband, providing clean drinking water, and creating more than 14,500 jobs across the state.

5. Income Tax Reduction

In 2025, the Kentucky House passed House Bill 1, which reduced the state’s income tax. The bill received bipartisan support, with Governor Beshear signing it into law. Republican leaders credited the tax cut for bolstering Kentucky’s economy and noted the collaborative effort in achieving this legislative milestone.

Beshear has prioritized attracting businesses to Kentucky. He promoted the state at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, highlighting Kentucky’s workforce and potential for corporate expansion, especially in the electric vehicle battery sector.

Another notable feat for Beshear was healthcare expansion. Kentucky expanded healthcare access for 100,000 residents across the Bluegrass State.

Regardless of how Trump’s final year ends in 2028, independent voters will have at least one new choice at the top of the ticket, and most likely, the Democratic candidate will also be new, unless Kamala Harris opts to run and defies the odds against her. It’s safe to assume that voters who aren’t blindly loyal to either Republicans or Democrats will want a candidate with a proven track record of working with the opposing party to reach compromises and deliver positive results.

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) criticized Democratic leaders and city officials across the country for what she described as efforts to obstruct Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations during a recent episode of her podcast, Unmuted with Marsha.

In the latest installment, Blackburn interviewed former Acting ICE Director Jonathan Fahey to discuss increasing threats against ICE agents, deportation policy reforms, and legislative proposals aimed at bolstering law enforcement protections.

Blackburn argued that cities such as Nashville, Los Angeles, Boston, and Chicago are impeding ICE’s efforts to detain and remove undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes. “People do not want Tren de Aragua, MS-13, violent gangs in their neighborhoods and communities,” Blackburn said. “They not only want them out; they want them out fast.”

The Tennessee senator specifically raised concerns about the alleged doxxing of Homeland Security investigators and ICE agents in Nashville, calling for greater safeguards for officers targeted by transnational gangs.

Blackburn highlighted two pieces of legislation she is sponsoring: the REMOVE Act, which she said would expedite deportations of noncitizens with criminal convictions, and the Protecting Law Enforcement from Doxxing Act, aimed at shielding officers’ personal information from public release.

Fahey, who served as acting ICE director under the Trump administration, echoed Blackburn’s concerns, warning that anti-ICE rhetoric and policy resistance from some city governments may undermine public safety and embolden violent criminal networks.

The podcast episode adds to Blackburn’s ongoing efforts to position herself as a strong supporter of immigration enforcement and law enforcement protections, as she prepares for reelection in a state where border security remains a top issue for conservative voters.

By now, most conservative voters in Tennessee expected Governor Bill Lee to deliver sweeping conservative reforms across the board. He came in promising to cut taxes, empower parents in education, and protect traditional values—and he had two terms to make it happen. Yet after six years, the results fall short.

First, take education—a defining issue for conservatives. Lee staked much on universal school vouchers and charter expansion. But his universal voucher proposal failed in 2024 amid objections over its cost and questionable structure—even from deeply conservative rural Republicans wary of siphoning funds from fragile public schools. He backed a school voucher program in 2019, only to have it struck down by courts. Despite touting his “Education Freedom Act” in a special session yahoo.com+1chalkbeat.org+1, the more comprehensive universal plan has yet to clear legislature and seems to have dissipated as a focal point.

On social issues, Lee has been more style than substance. He signed Tennessee’s first drag-ban law in March 2023, but it was quickly enjoined as unconstitutional. The sticky government involvement in schools—mandating “outing” of trans‑identifying students to parents—while controversial, offers little forward motion beyond grievance signaling theguardian.com. Conservatives see virtue signaling; but real gains feel lacking.

Tax and regulatory reforms are similarly half‑measures. Yes, Lee championed the bank tax repeal and corporate tax breaks—$400 million annually, plus a $1.55 billion rebate payout. Yet many grassroots conservatives focused more than anything on issues like education, immigration, and inflation—making these fiscal moves feel like background noise. As conservative activist Jody Barrett told The Guardian, corporate tax cuts barely registered amid the wider legislative distractions.

Gun policy presents the clearest accomplishment—permitless carry legislation was signed. But conservatives view Lee’s response post‑Covenant shooting as cautious at best. He didn’t call for new gun restrictions, but neither did he push bold reforms—just a special session and minor tweaks. For a movement calling for decisive leadership, this felt tepid.

Perhaps the biggest blot, though, was the ethics scandal. Lee’s keynote trip to a Florida conference funded by the Alliance Defending Freedom—later lumped into an ADF lobby arm—prompted an ethics violation and repayment order from Tennessee’s Ethics Commission. Even Republicans voiced frustration, calling it a needless distraction from his legislative agenda.

So what have conservative voters been left with? A drag-ban that likely won’t survive court challenge, a voucher plan that stalled, corporate tax relief mostly ignored by the electorate, and an ethics scandal that undermines his moral authority. Bill Lee ran as a forceful conservative—but two terms in, conservatives are asking: where’s the tangible legacy?

It’s not damning to call Lee a moderate: he won broad bipartisan appeal. But that appeal often meant dialing back the bold conservative reforms his base wanted. Rural conservatives, in particular, wanted a partner who would aggressively champion constitutional principles, limited government, and parental control in schools—not one who repeatedly conceded to legislative caution or would drag out voucher fights.

Bill Lee’s brand is safe. His style is calm. But conservative voters aren’t clamoring for safe—they’re looking for impact. And after six years, his track record looks more like maintenance than transformation.

Tennessee education officials are considering a rule change that would allow schools to more quickly remove disruptive students with disabilities from their classrooms, even without a formal behavioral assessment.

Currently, a 2022 state rule requires schools to conduct a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) to understand the reasons behind disruptive behavior before making changes to a student’s educational placement. The proposed change would allow temporary placements in more restrictive settings for students identified as a “disruptive force.”

While some disability advocates support the proposal for safety reasons, they caution that it should be a last resort. Jeff Strand, public policy director for the Tennessee Disability Coalition, emphasized that decisions to move a student should involve their family and IEP team, and such actions should not become routine.

Strand also highlighted that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires collaboration with families on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for eligible students. He warned that premature or repeated restrictive placements could violate students’ rights and hinder their educational progress.

The board discussed the proposal in May following concerns from local school districts regarding significantly dangerous or disruptive behavior from students with disabilities. J.C. Bowman, executive director of the Professional Educators of Tennessee, noted the increasing behavioral challenges in classrooms and stressed the importance of ensuring that any placement changes support the ongoing education and needs of the student.