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Beshear Named to National Democratic Task Force Aimed at Helping Party Win Future Elections

Governor Steve Beshear's image as a Democrat able to govern the red state of Kentucky has earned him a position on the newly appointed Democratic Victory Task Force.

The Democratic National Committee, which announced the group's membership Thursday, hopes it can help position the party to win future elections.

DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced the initiative shortly after Democrats suffered significant losses during last month’s midterm elections. The group is being told to review and assess the Democratic Party and its related organizations, and find ways that the national and state parties can better perform during, but not limited to, future midterms.

Beshear has earned a national reputation as a conservative Democrat who has been able to win and govern in a state where President Obama remains extremely unpopular. In announcing his participation in the task force, the DNC lauded Beshear for implementing the statewide health benefit exchange known as kynect and cutting the state government workforce to its smallest size in 40 years.

The other nine members of the Democratic Victory Task are:

  • Naomi Aberly, a political activist and civic volunteer who is currently a Vice Chair of the DNC’s National Finance Committee, an Advisory Board Co-Chair of Organizing for Action and most recently served as a Co-Chair of Wendy Davis’ campaign for Governor of Texas.
  • Donna Brazil, an adjunct professor, author, a syndicated columnist, and the Vice Chair of Voter Registration and Participation at the Democratic National Committee.
  • Maria Cardona, a Principal at the Dewey Square Group (DSG), the founder of Latinovations, and a CNN/CNN en Español Political Contributor. 
  • Marc Elias, the chair of the Perkins Coie Political Law practice.
  • Teddy Goff, a founding partner at Precision Strategies, a communications, digital, and data firm that builds and executes campaigns for candidates, nonprofits, and businesses.
  • Maneesh Goyal, the Founder and President of both marketing agency MKG and Live in the Grey, an initiative and consultancy focused on company culture and professional fulfillment. 
  • Rick Palacio, the Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party.
  • Lee Saunders, the president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO.
  • Eric Schmidt, the Executive Chairman of Google.
Kevin is the News Director at WKU Public Radio. He has been with the station since 1999, and was previously the Assistant News Director, and also served as local host of Morning Edition.
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