Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear announces he is running for governor

Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear has announced he is running for governor.

Beshear, 40, made the announcement Monday morning in Louisville, where he also announced Jacqueline Coleman as his running mate. Coleman is an educator who also heads a non-profit organization.

The attorney general first listed his accomplishments during his time in office before stating his intention for higher office.

"Kentucky deserves better. So I stand here today with my wife Brittainy and our children Will and Lila to announce my campaign for governor," Beshear said.

Beshear listed campaign priorities during his announcement, including improving public education, battling the opioid epidemic and improving Kentucky workers' average wages.

This is one of many campaign appearances Beshear has scheduled for Monday. He will be in Lexington at 11:15 a.m.

Many have speculated Beshear would run for the governor's office. His father Steve was a two-term governor before Matt Bevin was elected.

Andy Beshear narrowly beat Whitney Westerfield to become attorney general in 2015. Since becoming attorney general, he has frequently been in opposition of the Bevin administration on many policies, most recently filing a lawsuit against a pension reform law passed by the Kentucky legislature and signed by the governor.