Kentucky Dem Robin Webb flips parties
State senator from Eastern Kentucky flips Appalachian Kentucky to Republican control
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Kentucky just lost the last of its rural Democrats in the state Senate.
State Sen. Robin Webb — a long-serving Democratic lawmaker representing eastern Kentucky’s coal country, announced she’s switching parties on Friday— effectively ending a chapter of rural Democratic representation in the state.
“While it’s cliché, it’s true: I didn’t leave the party — the party left me,” she said in a statement provided to 24sight News, arguing that the Democratic Party has moved to become out of touch with rural Kentucky. “It has become untenable and counterproductive to the best interests of my constituents for me to remain a Democrat.”
The switch places Kentucky’s Appalachian region is now firmly in Republican hands and strengthens the GOP’s supermajority.
“The only difference today is the letter next to my name,” she added in her statement. “I will continue to be a fearless advocate for rural Kentucky.”
State GOP leaders, including Senate President Robert Stivers, welcomed her with open arms. The Republican Party of Kentucky called it a “natural fit,” as more lawmakers from traditionally blue districts realign with their voters’ changing political identities.
And Republicans at the national level including Republican National Committee Co-Chair KC Crosbie applauded the move.
“On behalf of the national party, I want to extend our warmest welcome to our newest Republican lawmaker,” Crosbie said in a statement provided to 24sight News.
While Kentucky’s Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear prevailed in his last two elections, The Associated Press noted recently that other states with a large rural contingency including Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia lost Democrat senators with the states trending Republican at the national level.
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The voters in Eastern KY are going to get exactly what they deserve.
They should not be allowed to do this while in office because they screwed the people over who voted for them and they should have to serve the term as that and then run for reelection as their new party Thais is completely corrupt