Long-time Eastern Kentucky Democrat has announced she’s switching sides and joining the Republican Party. Sen. Robin Webb, a lawmaker from Carter County, has served the public in the state legislature since 1999. She was one of two Democrats left in the statehouse representing parts of Eastern Kentucky. In times past, that part of the state was a stronghold for Democrats. However, over the last several decades, it has flipped red.
Webb, along with other Republicans in the state, said that the area becoming largely Republican is a sign that the current Democratic Party isn’t what it used to be. Webb, in a press release put out by the Republican Party of Kentucky, stated that she doesn’t feel as though she is leaving the Democratic Party so much as it has left her.
The newly minted Republican went on to say that her core values haven’t changed, just “the letter next to my name,” noting she will continue to focus her work and attention on issues impacting rural Kentucky. “The Kentucky Democratic Party has increasingly alienated lifelong rural Democrats like myself by failing to support the issues that matter most to rural Kentuckians,” Webb went on to say in the statement.
“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 workforce and economic development in my region, I no longer feel it represents my values,” the former Democrat said, according to the Kentucky Lantern.
“It has become untenable and counterproductive to the best interests of my constituents for me to remain a Democrat,” she added. Webb then thanked Republican Senate President Robert Stivers, along with several of her other colleagues in the General Assembly, for “the warm welcome” she’s received since making the switch.
Webb also said she’s looking forward to “continuing to focus on sound policy with rural Kentucky’s best interest in mind.” The new Republican was first elected to the state Senate in 2009, after a decade working in the House. This makes Webb one of the current longest-serving members in the General Assembly. The district she represents includes the counties of Boyd, Carter, Greenup, and Lewis.
Her departure hits Democrats in Kentucky like a sledgehammer, lessening their superminority to just six members. The GOP, on the other hand, now has 32 seats in the chamber. During her time of public service, Webb has been looked at as the more conservative member of the Democratic caucus, voting with Republicans on a few occasions, particularly on culture-war-related issues.
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One such occasion involved her support of legislation to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in public universities around the state. Webb was also appointed by Stivers to be the co-chair for the Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force where she sponsored a resolution to form the panel. The state senator is well-known for reaching across the aisle to raise support for bills she believes in, especially those related to agriculture and rural issues.
Stivers had high praise for Webb, going on to say, “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.”
“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,” he concluded. Rep. Patrick Flannery, who represents Webb’s home county, said in the press release that her party switch makes sense for both Webb and her constituents.
“Robin and I have always had an excellent working relationship,” Flannery recalled. “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.” Webb will be able to seek reelection in 2026.
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