Former Democrat Kentucky State Sen. Robin Webb switched to the Republican Party, citing the Democratic Party’s dramatic shift to the left and abandonment of rural voters. Republican leaders like Robert Stivers and Mitch McConnell praised her decision.
Explaining her decision, Webb emphasized that he values were unchanged. Reacting, Democrats, including KDP Chairman Colmon Elridge, criticized her as betraying constituents, while Senate Democratic Leader Gerald Neal vowed to continue advocating for woke values.
Describing her decision to local media, Robin Webb quipped, “The Democratic Party left me.” Building on this point, she announced, “The Kentucky Democratic Party has increasingly alienated lifelong rural Democrats like myself by failing to support the issues that matter most to rural Kentuckians.”
Connecting her decision to her personal history, she kept going. “First and foremost, I’m a mother, a rancher and a lawyer with deep personal and professional roots in Kentucky’s coal country. As the Democratic Party continues its lurch to the left and its hyperfocus on policies that hurt the workforce and economic development in my region, I no longer feel it represents my values.”
Continuing with that point, she explained that she can’t both represent her constituents and keep working with the Democrats. “It has become untenable and counterproductive to the best interests of my constituents for me to remain a Democrat,” the courageous state senator announced, adding, “My core values have not changed, just the letter next to my name.”
State Sen. Webb also explained her decision to Fox Business. Watch her do so here:
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Republican Senate President Robert Stivers welcomed the new ally with open arms. He explained, as quoted by local media, “Robin’s policy record speaks for itself. Whether it’s her advocacy for Kentucky coal and our energy independence, her support for responsible budgeting, or her commitment to rural infrastructure, workforce development, and judicial matters, she has long worked alongside Republican colleagues to advance the interests of Eastern Kentucky.”
Building on this point, he noted, “Her decision to officially join the Senate Majority Caucus is more than symbolic — it reinforces the strength of our shared policy priorities and our ongoing focus on delivering tangible results for Eastern Kentucky and the whole state.”
Rep. Patrick Flannery, who represents Webb’s home county, celebrated her decision. “Robin and I have always had an excellent working relationship. She has served as a mentor to me and many others. We represent the same constituency, and she’s making the same decision that many of our people have already made by changing her registration,” the Republican noted, also to the local media.
Adding his own take, controversial Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) reacted, “Congratulations to my longtime friend & former Democrat, Kentucky State Sen. Robin Webb, on making the right choice, joining the GOP. Robin is an admirable advocate for East KY families & I was proud to personally welcome her to the Party this morning.”
Taking a more bitter line, Colmon Elridge, a Democrat, freaked out. “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,” Elridge complained to the local media.