Democratic Gov. Beshear vetoes GOP bill to dismantle DEI efforts at Kentucky’s public universities

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed a GOP-backed bill Thursday to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at public universities, declaring that diversity should be embraced as a strength while branding the legislation as being “about hate.” Beshear, who is seen as a potential candidate for the White House in 2028, announced his veto in a social media video. Republican state Rep. Josh Calloway denounced Beshear’s veto on the social media platform X, calling it “nothing but political theater, and the people of Kentucky see right through it. “Historically, America has striven for equal opportunity, not subjective equity, which DEI now pursues through discriminatory missions, hirings and scholarships.” Kentucky Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald Neal commended Beshear for the veto, saying the bill would “do nothing to improve education in this state, but would instead send a harmful message that diversity is something to be feared rather than embraced.” The measure Beshear rejected would require Kentucky’s public universities and community and technical colleges to defund DEI initiatives. “I’ll always believe that diversity is a strength and never a weakness,” Beshear said in the video from his office at the Kentucky Capitol.