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.

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"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.

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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.

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"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.