LOUISVILLE, Ky. — While most of Churchill Downs’ spectators watched thoroughbreds race the track, jockeying of a different kind unfolded in the stands.
The Kentucky Derby — the most famous sporting event annually held in the Bluegrass State on the first Saturday in May — draws a spate of celebrities and business executives. With the amount of influence in attendance, it’s no wonder Kentucky politicians come out to the races.
Despite Saturday’s rainy weather, horse racing fans gathered at the track early to take their seats and place bets in ticket booths. Some high-profile guests, including Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and his family, walked a red carpet to talk with local and national media outlets about the Derby.
Others, like Democratic Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and Republican U.S. Rep. James Comer shared photos from the red carpet and grandstand online.
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul said on X he planned to attend the Derby with his wife, Kelley, on Saturday.
“While you’re enjoying mint juleps and hot browns like we are, remember to thank all of those working to make the Derby possible!” Paul said, referring to a classic Derby cocktail and a dish that orignated in Louisville.
Stephen Voss, a political science professor at the University of Kentucky said “there’s so many reasons” a politician may want to be seen at the Kentucky Derby. The event historically attracts many of the state’s power brokers, giving candidates and elected officials a chance to network “in a way that’s festive with the people whose support they need.”
Beshear, the state’s top Democrat, said during his Thursday press conference that the Derby is “our premier day for talking to businesses that either are looking at Kentucky or could potentially look at Kentucky.” The governor added that the event brings a boost of tourism to the state.
“I typically see about two races on Derby day — one if I’m just lucky enough to be standing next to the window and one, the Derby race itself,” Beshear said. “But I mean, this is a date where we don’t just see celebrities and athletes, which are great, it raises the profile of the event, but we see international CEOs enjoying the best of the best of hospitality.”
Beshear himself had a viral moment from during an interview he did at Churchill Downs earlier in the week. He told Louisville TV station WDRB that running for president in 2028 is “something I would consider” if he could be someone who could bring the U.S. together. That quote was picked up in national media reports.
Ahead of the main race, Republican Attorney General Russell Coleman shared on X that the Derby is a “a tradition that brings the eyes of the world to the Commonwealth.”
“The Derby is more than a race. It’s a symbol of our history and culture,” Coleman said. “From the thundering hooves to the hats and hospitality, this day reminds us — there’s no place like the Bluegrass.”
Voss said one advantage for politicians who make news at the Derby is that media coverage of the event “reaches a lot of people who do not like politics and who basically avoid political news.”
“This is a chance for those politicians to get name recognition with people who are usually very difficult or expensive to reach, and they’ll be reaching them for free. Well, minus the cost of attending,” Voss said. “As political ads go, that’s cheap. What’s not to love, right? They get to go to this event, have a good time and they’re probably doing more for their political careers than they accomplished at the average boring or riskier outing.”
Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a Republican who is now seeking to replace Mitch McConnell in the U.S. Senate in 2026, made an appearance at Churchill Downs Thursday — also known as “Thurby.” While the Kentucky Derby is the last race on Saturday, horses run the track throughout the week at Churchill Downs.
Politicians even celebrate the Derby outside of the Bluegrass State. On Thursday, McConnell held his annual Pre-Kentucky Derby Luncheon in the U.S. Capitol with a menu that included Kern’s Kitchen Derby-Pie, fried chicken and biscuits, fried okra and corn pudding.
President Donald Trump issued a statement Saturday calling the Derby “an iconic American institution and an elegant celebration of our culture, customs, and unwavering competitive spirit.” The Republican last attended the races in 2022.
The Derby also is an opportunity for politicians to be seen in a personable way, Voss said.
“Sometimes we talk about it as the ‘Which candidate would you want to have a beer with?’ but it’s more general than that,” Voss said. “People trust more the representation they’ll get from a politician who seems more like them in certain ways, seems to have common sense, and being seen having fun, doing something like going to the Derby, makes the politician seem like less of a politician. Seems more like someone able to deliver the sort of representation a regular voter would like.”
This article is republished under a Creative Commons license from Kentucky Lantern, which is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jamie Lucke for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com. Follow Kentucky Lantern on Facebook and Twitter.
McKenna Horsley covers state politics for the Kentucky Lantern. She previously worked for newspapers in Huntington, West Virginia, and Frankfort, Kentucky. She is from northeastern Kentucky.
