肯塔基州法兰克福。-民主党州长安迪·贝希尔(Andy Beshear)在共和党大本营肯塔基州的连任提高了他在下一代政治领导人中的地位，他在周二开始第二个任期时抨击了分裂的政治。

在阳光普照的肯塔基州国会大厦外的就职演说中，贝希尔援引他的基督教信仰作为执政的指导原则，宣称每个人都应该获得“真正的尊严和机会”。

这位46岁的州长在他的公开宣誓仪式上说:“我竞选公职，因为我相信我的孩子应该有一个更美好的世界，我相信联邦的每个孩子都应该有一个更美好的世界。”“我告诉你，这是我们的机会。这是肯塔基州与众不同的机会，成为这个国家的经济和道德领袖。”

午夜过后不久，贝希尔正式宣誓就职下一个任期——这是每四年一次的蓝草州仪式，以确保州政府首脑的连续性。在此之前，举行了一整天的就职活动，包括礼拜仪式、游行和公开宣誓仪式。

州长在11月份击败共和党司法部长丹尼尔·卡梅伦(Daniel Cameron)赢得了令人信服的连任胜利，扩大了贝希尔在该州的连胜纪录，否则该州将坚定地转向共和党。他在2023年美国最受关注的竞选活动之一中的胜利，可能为民主党人在共和党领地取得进展的更广泛努力提供了一个路线图。这也让他在未来几年成为全国关注的焦点，届时中国将寻找新一代领导人。

贝希尔承诺将以同样的同情心和同情心来领导，他说这种同情心和同情心在他的第一个任期内引导该州度过了如此多的困难。该州遭受了致命的龙卷风和洪水以及致命的疫情。

他对未来的乐观信息与他对分裂政治的谴责形成了鲜明对比，他说分裂政治播下了愤怒和仇恨的种子。

“我们面临的最困难的挑战之一是，政治——有时甚至是我们的治理——已经变得有毒有害，”这位州长说。"本应是思想交流的事情却演变成了不满和攻击。"

在一条旨在引起肯塔基州以外的共鸣的信息中，贝希尔谴责了他所说的旨在分裂美国人的政治策略和商业广告。他说，结果是证明愤怒和仇恨是正当的，同时使美国的一些人失去人性。这位民主党州长没有指出任何人被认为参与了这种策略。

展望他的下一个任期，贝希尔承诺尽自己的一份力量来帮助满足本州人民的日常需求。他说，这包括继续该州的经济成就，推动对公共教育的更多投资。他承诺将继续交付道路和桥梁项目，并让高速互联网进入肯塔基州的每个家庭。

这位州长还希望弥合肯塔基州政府的党派分歧。共和党在参众两院都占据压倒性多数，贝希尔在第一个任期内与共和党议员就一系列政策问题展开了争论，包括择校、税收、堕胎和跨性别权利。

“我们正处于一个真正有潜力实现我们共同梦想的时刻——一个更好的肯塔基州的梦想，”州长说。“如果我们不挡自己的路，我们能够也应该实现这个梦想。”

贝希尔的再次当选延续了一个家族王朝，这个家族王朝蔑视国家对共和党的倾斜。他的父亲史蒂夫·贝希尔曾担任过两届州长。

在赢得连任时，安迪·贝希尔强调了他对该州经济的管理，抨击了他所说的对手在堕胎问题上的极端立场，并在自然灾害和疫情中树立了一个同情领导者的声誉。

虽然贝希尔和民主党副州长杰奎琳·科尔曼赢得了选票，但共和党人在11月的投票中横扫了全州所有其他宪法办公室。

科尔曼也于周二宣誓就职第二个任期。像往常一样，当贝希尔和科尔曼达到他们宣誓的部分时，这一庄严的场合引起了笑声，他们发誓他们从未使用致命武器进行决斗，也没有以任何方式参与决斗。

公共就职典礼包括乡村音乐明星泰勒·查尔德斯的音乐表演，他是东肯塔基州人，唱了一首关于信仰和家庭的歌曲，名为“宇宙之声”贝希尔说，他是在阿巴拉契亚地区委员会的一次会议上认识蔡尔德斯的。与此同时，卫生保健工作者和教育工作者担任就职游行的司仪。

到安迪·贝希尔的第二个任期结束时，贝希尔将在过去20年中的16年中担任肯塔基州州长。共和党人马特·贝文在2015年接替任期有限的史蒂夫·贝希尔担任州长，只是输了一场选举给四年后的安迪·贝希尔。任期限制将阻止年轻的贝希尔在2027年下届州长竞选时寻求连任。

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear denounces politics of division at start of 2nd term in Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. --Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, whose reelection in the GOP stronghold of Kentucky boosted his standing among next-generation political leaders, railed against the politics of division as he launched his second term on Tuesday.

In his inaugural speech outside a sun-splashed Kentucky Capitol, Beshear invoked his Christian faith as a guiding principle for governing, declaring that every person deserves “true dignity and opportunity.”

“I ran for office because I believe that my kids deserve a better world, and I believe every child of the commonwealth deserves that better world,” the 46-year-old governor said at his public swearing-in ceremony. “And I'm telling you, this is our chance. This is Kentucky's chance to be the difference, to be both an economic and a moral leader of this country.”

Beshear was officially sworn in for another term shortly after midnight — a Bluegrass State ritual every four years to ensure continuity at the head of state government. It preceded a full day of inaugural events, including a worship service, a parade and the public swearing-in ceremony.

The governor scored a convincing reelection victory in November over Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron, extending Beshear's winning streak in a state that otherwise has swung decidedly toward the GOP. His victory, in one of the nation's most closely watched campaigns of 2023, could offer a roadmap for broader efforts by Democrats to make inroads in Republican territory. It also sets him up to be on the national radar in the coming years when the country looks for a new generation of leaders.

Beshear pledged to lead with the same empathy and compassion that he said guided the state through so much hardship in his first term. The state was hit by deadly tornadoes and flooding as well as the deadly pandemic.

His upbeat message for the future contrasted with his denunciation of the politics of division that he said have sown anger and hate.

“One of the most difficult challenges we have before us is that politics — and sometimes even our governance — has become poisonous and toxic,” the governor said. “What's supposed to be an exchange of ideas has devolved into grievances and attacks."

In a message meant to resonate beyond Kentucky, Beshear denounced political strategies and commercials he said were meant to divide Americans. The result, he said, has been to justify anger and hate while dehumanizing some in the U.S. The Democratic governor did not identify anyone be believes to have engaged in such tactics.

Looking ahead to his next term, Beshear pledged to do his part to help meet the everyday needs of the people of his state. That includes continuing the state's economic successes and pushing for greater investments in public education, he said. He pledged to continue delivering road and bridge projects and to bring high-speed internet to every Kentucky home.

The governor also looked to bridge the partisan divide in Kentucky's government. Republicans hold overwhelming majorities in both legislative chambers, and Beshear wrangled with GOP lawmakers over a series of policy issues during his first term — including school choice, taxes, abortion and transgender rights.

“We are at a moment in time where the true potential is there to achieve our collective dream — the dream of a better Kentucky,” the governor said. “And we can and we should realize that dream if we don't stand in our own way.”

Beshear's reelection continued a family dynasty that has defied the state's tilt toward the GOP. His father, Steve Beshear, is a former two-term governor.

In winning reelection, Andy Beshear emphasized his stewardship over the state's economy, railed against what he said was his opponent's extreme position on abortion and cultivated a reputation as an empathetic leader through natural disasters and the pandemic.

While Beshear and Democratic Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman won as a ticket, Republicans swept all other statewide constitutional offices on the November ballot.

Coleman also was sworn in for a second term Tuesday. As usual, the solemn occasion elicited giggles when Beshear and Coleman reached the part of their oaths in which they swore they’ve never fought a duel with deadly weapons or been involved in one in any way.

The public inauguration included a musical performance by country star Tyler Childers, a native of eastern Kentucky, who sang a song about faith and family called “Universal Sound.” Beshear says he got to know Childers at an Appalachian Regional Commission conference. Meanwhile, health care workers and educators served as grand marshals for the inaugural parade.

By the end of Andy Beshear’s second term, a Beshear will have presided in the Kentucky governor’s office for 16 of the last 20 years. Republican Matt Bevin succeeded term-limited Steve Beshear as governor in 2015, only to lose a closeelectionto Andy Beshear four years later. Term limits will prevent the younger Beshear from seeking reelection when the next governor's race occurs in 2027.