In yet another piece of unfortunate news for the Democrats at both state and national levels, a Democratic senator from Kentucky, Sen. Robin Webb of the rural 18th senate district, has declared her intention to switch parties and align herself with the Republicans, citing that the Democrats have shifted excessively to the left.
This development is detrimental to the Democratic Party on several fronts. Firstly, it highlights a growing discontent and lack of trust in the party from both its elected officials and its electorate, as evidenced by a recently elected senator with a rural constituency changing her political affiliation. Secondly, Sen. Webb’s defection further undermines the Democratic Party’s already fragile position in the state, which, despite having a Democratic governor, is increasingly trending towards Republican ideologies for cultural reasons.
Regardless, Sen. Webb articulated her reasons for the party switch, stating that as a professional and rancher from coal country, she possesses a profound connection to the residents of her state and desires her political party to embody her values and those of her constituents. She began, as reported by Fox News Digital, “First and foremost, I’m a mother, a rancher, and a lawyer with deep personal and professional roots in Kentucky’s coal country.”
Furthermore, she elaborated that the party’s persistent shift to the left has left her feeling uneasy and dissatisfied, remarking, “As the Democratic Party continues its lurch to the left and its hyperfocus on policies that harm workforce and economic development in my region, I no longer feel it represents my values.”
In addition, she articulated that remaining a Democrat is not feasible for her, as it would contradict the best interests of her constituents, regardless of their party affiliation. She stated, “It has become untenable and counterproductive to the best interests of my constituents for me to remain a Democrat.”
Regarding her choice to depart from the Democratic Party, Robert Benvenuti, Chairman of the Republican Party of Kentucky, concurred that the values of the Democratic Party have significantly shifted and no longer resonate with Kentuckians, who previously supported the party robustly as coal country workers.
He remarked on the new objectives of the Democratic Party, as reported by Fox News Digital, stating, “Like countless other Kentuckians, [Webb] has recognized that the policies and objectives of today’s Democratic Party are simply not what they once were, and do not align with the vast majority of Kentuckians.”
Moreover, he extended a warm welcome to the state senator as she joins the Republican Party, expressing his respect for her and her approach to issues. He commented, “I always respected that [Webb] approached issues in a very thoughtful and commonsense manner, and that she never failed to keenly focus on what was best for her constituents. It is my pleasure to welcome Sen. Robin Webb to the Republican Party.”
Conversely, Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge expressed his discontent, stating, as reported by Fox News Digital, “Senator Webb has chosen to join a political party that is currently working around the clock to take health care away from over a million Kentuckians, wipe out our rural hospitals, take food off the table of Kentucky families and take resources away from our public schools. If those are her priorities, then we agree: she isn’t a Democrat.”
Watch McCarthy explain the civil war brewing in the Democratic Party here: