Kentucky Senate Democrat switches parties to GOP in major blow to Dem Gov Andy Beshear
Kentucky state Democratic Sen. Robin Webb, who represents Kentucky's rural 18th Senate district, is switching her party affiliation to Republican after she says the Democrat Party "left me."
"First and foremost, I'm a mother, a rancher and a lawyer with deep personal and professional roots in Kentucky's coal country," Webb explained. "As the Democratic Party continues its lurch to the left and its hyperfocus on policies that hurt workforce and economic development in my region, I no longer feel it represents my values.
Tariff Policy Is Making It 'Harder' On Americans, Democratic Governor Says
"It has become untenable and counterproductive to the best interests of my constituents for me to remain a Democrat."
Webb was originally elected to the Kentucky State House after defeating Republican Ramona Gee in 1998.
House Republican Enters Race For Mitch Mcconnell's Senate Seat, Setting Up High-stakes Gop Primary
Read On The Fox News App
This comes as a major blow to Kentucky Democrats, who have historically held a stronghold in rural regions of the state largely due to union workers and the coal industry.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear told a local Louisville news outlet that he "would consider" a run as the Democratic nominee for president in 2028, and the newly elected Democratic governor and potential presidential candidate now faces an additional challenge to mobilize his state's party ahead of the 2026 midterms.
"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," Republican Party of Kentucky Chairman Robert Benvenuti said.
Republican Ags Visit Us-mexico Border Wall As Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Clears Expansion Funding
"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," Benvenuti added. "It is my pleasure to welcome Sen. Robin Webb to the Republican Party."
Despite Beshear serving in the governor's office, the attorney general's office, secretary of state and both chambers of the state legislature have a Republican majority.
The Kentucky Democrat Party responded to Webb's party switch, saying "she isn't a Democrat."
"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," Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge told Fox News Digital. "If those are her priorities, then we agree: she isn't a Democrat."
"While it's cliché, it's true: I didn't leave the party — the party left me," Webb said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Gov. Beshear's office but did not receive a response.Original article source: Kentucky Senate Democrat switches parties to GOP in major blow to Dem Gov Andy Beshear
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Utah Democrats elect former lawmaker to lead in their quest for more blue districts
Brian King speaks at the Utah Democratic Party Convention at Ogden High School on May 31, 2025. (Alixel Cabrera/Utah News Dispatch) When Utah Democrats gathered at Ogden High School for their organizing convention on Saturday, the school hallways loudly echoed the voices of 600 delegates registering and debating whether an established politician or a newcomer had what it takes to transform red districts into blue after the departure of Diane Lewis, who had been in the role for the last four years. Ultimately, that was decided by thin margins, when 52% of delegates voted Brian King to be the new Utah Democratic Party chair, a choice that reflected the party's desire to trust widely known names to support its goal of gaining prominence in bright red Utah. 'This isn't just some abstract policy debate. What we're talking about is happening right now,' King said during his pitch. 'It's parents losing their Medicaid coverage. It's students being told what they can't study. It's immigrants being detained without due process and deported. It's workers picking up the tab while billionaires cash in.' King, who was a state representative from 2009 to 2024, when he quit to run for governor, highlighted his experience, saying he has been in the party long enough to know the dedication and planning needed to achieve its goals. He has also raised money and has cultivated important relationships across the state. Utah Democrats to choose between seasoned legislator and young campaigner as new leader He also committed to getting his hands dirty and filling up his calendar to show real progress. 'I've been able to stand on the House floor and say to the Republican supermajority, call them out for what they are, extremists who are out of touch with the values of Utah,' King said. 'I took on the governor on the fake stage, and I told the truth. I said, 'He's not a leader. He's a lapdog for the legislature.'' In a statement after his win, King commended the convention's turnout, saying it was a demonstration of Utah Democrats' energy, motivation and readiness to fight for their values. 'This is a new era and this is our moment. As chair, I'm ready to lead the charge to hold out-of-touch Republicans accountable, to connect with voters across the state and political spectrum, and to flip seats from the top of the ballot to the bottom,' King said. 'Monopolies, in politics and otherwise, aren't good for anyone and Utahns deserve better.' The day started early with caucus meetings, as cars filled up the school's parking lot and neighboring streets. While it's not an election year, delegates were fiery as party leaders and candidates mentioned some of the flagship policies the Republican Party has implemented in the state's Legislature and, most recently, since President Donald Trump took office this year — immigration, Medicaid cuts, book bans and controversial culture war issues. From the prayer to the candidates' speeches, Democrats expressed profound concerns on the political status of the country under Trump's direction, with some describing it as 'being at war.' While about 600 delegates showed up in person for the convention, 1,450 voted with the availability of digital ballots — a record number, the party said in a news release. Tara Benally, who traveled with her mom from the Utah portion of the Navajo Nation in San Juan County for the convention, said she hoped to get more representation in rural areas out of the leadership change. 'Not many people are aware of what's happening today or what's going on within the state, because a lot of information stops somewhere along the way and just doesn't get disseminated,' she said. Especially, she added, when tribes are so deeply concerned with the status of public lands, the expansion of extractive industries, and the transportation of uranium through their neighborhoods. 'What is being done to help resolve a lot of the emergency issues that have been brought? What has been done to help monitor the air quality? A lot of these things we hear up in the Wasatch Front, but have not come down to our area,' Benally said. 'When is that going to happen?' A couple of hours before the voting started, the candidates made their pitches to delegates, with King arguing that the choices they made on Saturday would define the state and the party for years to come, as many started to pay attention to real impacts of policy coming out of the White House and the Legislature. Ben Peck, a young campaigner and former executive director of the Salt Lake County Democratic Party, highlighted his track record running campaigns that led to the election of Democrats including Natalie Pinkney in a tight race for the Salt Lake County Council, Sheila Srivastava, the first woman elected to serve as Salt Lake County treasurer, and Rosalba Dominguez, a freshman Utah House representative. 'Our democracy is facing an existential crisis. We need a party that acts like that. We don't have time for part-time leaders anymore. We need a leader of our party whose full-time job is being the leader, building our party,' Peck said. Other candidates for the role, Archie Williams III and Jonathan Lopez, also made their case, however, but fell well below King and Peck in the in-person support. The party also voted to approve a platform highlighting values they hope to lift up, including economic security, equality of opportunity, investing in the common good, and American leadership. Additionally, it overwhelmingly passed a resolution condemning efforts to extend presidential tenure beyond two terms, as well as denouncing mass workforce reduction and benefit cuts in the Department of Veterans Affairs. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
‘Scary times': Ben Crump and Rep. Jasmine Crockett speak to Miami Gardens residents
Attorney Ben Crump and Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas had a message for South Floridians. Before a crowd of about 500 people at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Miami Gardens, both leaders urged the crowd to stay focused on local politics, build community and to stay engaged. Crockett and Crump spoke as part of the People's Meetup Townhall on Saturday, hosted by Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-Miami Gardens, a gathering that brought together Black leaders from across the country and Florida with the hope that this meetup leads to more. Crockett, a rising star in the Democratic party, is known for being an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump. Ben Crump, who is often referred to as 'Black America's Attorney General,' is widely known for representing families who lost loved ones to police brutality. 'We are in a moment in this country where we all need some reteaching in how to get back out there and fight,' Jones said. ' I think the people are sick of politicking, and I think the people are sick of politics.' The meetup comes at a time when the Democratic party is still reeling from the 2024 election and trying to regroup after losing ground in several key demographics, including Black men. Black voters overwhelmingly vote Democratic, but in 2024, Trump made surprising gains in that group of voters. President Trump was rarely mentioned but was still ever-present at the Meetup. Since his inauguration he has unleashed a fire hose of policies targeting diversity, equity and incIusion, education, immigration and federal workers that have all affected the Black community. In the state of Florida, Black communities have been dealing with laws limiting the way Black history can be taught — even finding different ways to teach history— and Gov. Ron DeSantis' campaign against DEI, which is much of the reason the panelists stressed the importance of being engaged in local politics. The event, moderated by former state Sen. Dwight Bullard and journalist Janey Tate, also featured comments from local elected politicians including Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Oliver Gilbert, who implored the audience to be involved in making change. 'History is going to be written, not just by the people in the front seats here, but the people from this building,' Gilbert said. Crockett and Crump emphasized that Black history needed to be taught at home and the dangers of ignorance. 'The enemies of equality will not win this war for justice and equality as long as we make sure that our children are more intelligent than those who seek to oppress them,' Crump said. Without referring to him by name, Crockett repeatedly criticized the Trump administration's policies and noted that 'someone' prefers people who are uneducated and wants to attempt to ensure future generations have less access to education. Crockett said education isn't just about knowing history, it's also about understanding policies and how they affect communities, referring to Trump's tariffs. 'There were people that were hurting, and they just wanted to believe there has to be something better, because the economy had not fully recovered from the global pandemic, but now we are starting to understand these global supply chains,' she said. 'We cannot be so limited to where our education is only in our city or our county or our state or our country,' she continued. 'We have to become educated, worldly citizens. That is when we can make the best decisions for us and future generations.' And as national policies ripple through local communities Crockett said constituents should lean on their local elected officials. 'Yes, you may be in Florida, and lord knows we need to pray for y'all, but the bright spots are your local officials,' she said. Crockett also said people have to have faith in the courts, as she painted a bleak picture of what she's seeing in congress: 'The Republicans have decided that they are going to abdicate their duties,' she said. 'So, they are not protecting the people's house, which is where I work. They are not protecting the Senate. They are not protecting their own constituency, but one area that has not fallen at this point has been our courts.' Both she and Crump noted that youth also need to be engaged in local and national politics, with Crump reminding the audience that young people led and played pivotal roles in the Civil Rights Movement, adding that he's proud of Crockett's courageousness to speak out even when it's unpopular and despite the criticism she's faced. 'I really do understand it's some very scary times out here, and they attack you for speaking up,' Crump said. 'Fear is contagious…but just like fear is contagious, courage is contagious, and if you stand up for yourself first, there's a second person to stand up, then a third person to stand up, then a fourth person, then a community will stand up, then a city will stand up, then a state will stand up, then a whole nation of our people will stand up. But it just takes us first to stand up on faith and courage like our ancestors did.' Crockett urged attendees to reach those that are feeling disenfranchised. And, she said, that starts by speaking with people you typically wouldn't talk to: 'We've got to start to reconnect with one another and see the humanity in one another.' Crump, whose rise came in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, said Black people should also seek to be unapologetic in their existence. 'They are unapologetic in their White supremacist beliefs,' he said. 'So just like they are unapologetic, we gotta be unapologetic in defense of Black life, Black liberty and Black humanity.'
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
Walz: Democrats need to be a ‘little meaner'
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) said his fellow party members need to be a bit more harsh in upcoming elections to put an end to political intimidation. After an unsuccessful bid for the vice presidency in November, Walz has shared staunch criticism of Elon Musk and other officials within the Trump administration. 'I'm getting called out on this because I called Donald Trump a wannabe dictator — it's because he is. It's because he is,' Walz said Saturday during his keynote address for the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention. He said people alleged that his comments were 'mean.' 'Well, maybe it's time for us to be a little meaner. Maybe it's time for us to be a little more fierce, because we have to ferociously push back on this,' Walz said, urging critics to rebuke the Trump administration's policies. Walz's words were echoed by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) during his remarks at the annual South Carolina Democrats' Blue Palmetto Dinner Friday night. 'I want to be clear: We can and we must condemn Donald Trump's reckless actions. But we would also be foolish not to learn from his impatience,' Moore, a first-term governor, said during his roughly 30-minute speech to the state party's officials and activists. 'Donald Trump doesn't need a study to dismantle democracy or use the Constitution like a suggestion box. Donald Trump doesn't need a white paper to start arbitrary trade wars that raise the cost of virtually everything in our lives,' he added. Walz and Moore also made an appearance at Rep. Jim Clyburn's (D-S.C.) annual fish fry Friday night, an event known to be dazzled by presidential hopefuls. The Maryland governor said he would not run for the Oval Office next election cycle but party members have floated him as a viable leader for 2028. On Saturday, Walz said that any work geared towards ensuring a Democratic win in the next presidential campaign would need to start soon. 'It starts this Saturday as us starting to organize. Donald Trump ran for president for four years after he got beat in 2020. The Republican Party ran for four years. Their school board members ran for four years. All of those things were happening,' the Minnesota governor said. 'And what I know about our party is we know how to work. We're people with grit and resilience. We know how to get things done,' he added.
