Latest news with #RobinWebb
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sen. Webb: 'Give me a chance'
GRAYSON Sen. Robin Webb, who just last week was the lone Democrat representing rural Kentuckians, said she never expected her party switch to garner so much attention. Webb, who has represented back-country counties in Frankfort since the 1990s, has been the center of both praise and contempt after announcing she would be joining the Republican Party last week. Often voting in line with Republican legislature and sponsoring bills with bi-partisan support throughout her decades in the General Assembly, Webb said she didn't anticipate her announcement to be a surprise, or that it was worthy of reaching the national stage. 'Oh heck no. I'm not that important,' Webb said when asked if she expected to appear in national and international headlines, including multiple talking segments on Fox News since the announcement. That attention has brought Webb an array of reactions, a mixed bag of 'disappointment and meanness expressed — but it's overall been positive,' she said. After decades in the legislature and at the near halfway point of her Senate term, Webb said she chose to join the Republican party to 'get it out of the way,' ahead of the General Assembly's interim budget session. 'I wanted to be starting legislative work in earnest and get it out of the way so it wouldn't be a distraction,' Webb said. 'I felt like it was the transparent and ethical thing to do, to not do it at the last minute.' As mentioned, Webb's legislative history has often leaned conservative on issues related to gun, conservation and agricultural issues, which she said compounded onto a 'disconnect and rural divide' within Kentucky's Democratic Party. 'Of course there are a few issues we separate on,' Webb said of her former party. 'They just have a different demographic and I felt like we weren't being acknowledged.' That division, Webb said, became more clear to her on energy, agricultural and social policies, although she said she still strived to remain 'party-blind when it comes to work.' 'Like I said, my votes are pretty consistent the past 25 years. Nothing much has really changed about me,' Webb reasoned. 'I landed where my votes and things have taken me.' The Senator's district — Boyd, Carter, Greenup and Lewis County — has continued to trend from historically Democrat to Republican in local and national races, but Webb told The Daily Independent her decision to change parties was not swayed by future political races or aspirations. 'I felt like if my voting record was that far off, I would've probably had opposition,' Webb said, adding running as a Democrat candidate has never lessened her popularity in her district. 'I represent a Republican district and I won one of the most Republican counties in the state,' Webb said. 'To nip that myth, I do not have my eye on any other office. I like where I am and will run for state senate again.' In response to statements of betrayal possibly felt by rural Democrats who officially have no representation in Frankfort, Webb said that shouldn't be the case as she will continue to legislate as she always has. 'They should feel like I'm being transparent and honest,' Webb said. 'I'm being true to myself and trying to be true to my people. 'I thank everybody who has put me where I am and all the party support I've received from both sides,' Webb said. According to Webb, her party affiliation was not swayed by national politics, either, as she said 'nationally, I don't agree with anybody completely,' as her national focus has been preserving Second Amendment rights and preserving 'the Constitution as a whole.' Webb's primary focus in the Senate, however, will continue to be on 'rural issues and voters.' 'I will continue to look at how to help my people and continue to look at their issues,' Webb said, '(and) try to bring our share of tax dollars and try to grow our economy. 'I'm still who I am and I hope that they give me a chance to do it,' Webb said to her voters — no matter their registration. 'My people mean more to me than anything and that's not going to change.'
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Can this two-party system be saved?
Sen. Robin Webb, a longtime state lawmaker from Carter County, is the latest mountain Democrat to defect to the Republican Party. (LRC Public Information photo) A great darkness has descended upon the Democratic Party of Eastern Kentucky. All but banished from the hills and hollows they call home, Democrats are searching for a path to political relevancy that seems increasingly narrow and increasingly unlikely. Despite what seem to be some positives for Democrats, state Sen. Robin Webb — one of the longest serving Democrats in the Kentucky legislature — changed her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. This comes even as popular Democrat Andy Beshear is serving his second term as governor amid talk that Eastern Kentuckian Rocky Adkins, a Beshear aide, could run to succeed him. Meanwhile, a bonafide Democratic challenger, Prestonsburg attorney Ned Pillersdorf, is considering a run against Republican U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers in the 5th Congressional District. Webb is simply the latest in a long line of prominent Appalachian Democrats who have decided to join the swelling ranks of the Republican Party of Kentucky. Most of these conversions have been explained as a product of the Democratic Party no longer representing the values of the politician in question. More cynical political observers ascribe this mass exodus from the region's ancestral party to simple self-preservation: long time politicians fearful of losing their preciously held jobs at the very heart of Trump country. Regardless of the reasons, these now common party switches are not a positive sign for the Democratic Party. Nor are they the only evidence that Appalachian Democrats should be worried. Despite Beshear's relative success across Eastern Kentucky in the last gubernatorial election and the mounting number of enthusiastic liberal activists in the region, Democrats have failed to make significant headway of any kind in the region. A reality made all the more stark by Elliot County, Kentucky, breaking its 144 year support for the Democratic Party in the 2016 election for president. After 2024, an outside observer cannot help but conclude that all the fervor of local activities and all the efforts of a relatively popular governor do nothing to boost the chances of the Democratic Party in the Kentucky mountains. So is all hope for the Democratic Party lost in Appalachia? Is there simply no immediate future left for the party of Rocky Adkins in his native region? The short answer is 'quite possibly.' Yet, as is often the case, the long answer is both more complex and more truthful. The long answer is that the situation is bad for Eastern Kentucky Democrats. Nor is any attempt to sugarcoat this fact with hopeful news coverage and opinion pieces likely to improve circumstances. To solve a problem requires first a frank admission of the facts as they are and not as anyone may wish them to be. From these hard realities, a solution may emerge and a path to two-party competition in the region becomes, if not likely, at least possible. First and foremost, Kentucky Democrats must admit that the average Appalachian voter does not trust the Democratic Party anymore. The brand has been greatly damaged and no blunder in the Trump administration is likely to provide a miracle realization among the populace that will change this fact. Voters in the region feel that the Democratic Party has abandoned them in favor of various ill fated social crusades that do little to better society and certainly have done little to solve the great troubles that plague the Appalachian mountains. As an obvious consequence of this, Appalachian Democrats simply must give up any and all attempts to appeal to voters through the methods and messages of the national Democratic Party. There should be no more attacks in Johnson County by the Kentucky Democratic Party chairman on Republican attempts to end deeply unpopular D.E.I. programs. Democratic officials should also acknowledge that abortion and LGBTQ issues are simply not the cross to die on in a largely conservative region. Nor should the party persist in its continued and constant veiled attacks upon a president whose popularity remains rock solid across the region. Instead, Democrats should focus on their historic strength in the region — the economy. They should offer solutions to the housing and jobs crises that face Eastern Kentucky. They should make 'putting Eastern Kentucky back to work' and other local issues the heart of their message. As Republicans tie themselves to the newly popular national party, they should break free from Harris and Schumer to develop a uniquely Appalachian brand of liberal economics. The social liberalism can be left to Louisville and Lexington. Second, Appalachian Democrats must face the reality of a changed Appalachia and party system. Union voters once formed the heart of the Democratic Party in the region. However, many of these voters feel that Democratic policies undercut their jobs and have hollowed out the unions. Whether this is true or not is beside the point; it is how voters feel and Democrats must acknowledge that older working class miners are unlikely to be the backbone of their party, though they should of course continue to angle for their support. Instead, Democrats should target those in the region who tend to be most skeptical of Trump and the policies of the newly constituted Republican party — public school teachers, small business owners, and the young. Though most of these groups have historically voted Republican, things are changing in this country and seizing upon this reality is to the advantage of Eastern Kentucky Democrats. All of this advice is not given to 'save' the state from the Republican Party or because I fear the Democrats are the only avenue to creating a better commonwealth. This advice is not even offered by someone who is currently a member of the Democratic Party. Instead, I offer this frank counsel because as a citizen and political scientist, I understand that both parties are strongest when they are faced with a formidable and influential opposition. Iron sharpens iron, and two party competition creates the best sort of policy. Kentucky is very close to losing this vital check on political authority — that is, unless rural Democrats step up their game. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
In Our View: Sen. Webb switcheroo
State Sen. Robin Webb finally made the switch from being a Democrat to a Republican. Not many political watchers are surprised by her move. Her switch is likely more about political survival than policy changes. Webb's press release said, in part, 'I didn't leave the Democratic Party, they left me.' Ronald Reagan was the first to use that line and countless others have used it since. It has been a talking point for switchers for decades in both parties. The Kentucky Senate doesn't have any members who are Democrats and live in rural areas. She is up for reelection next year and it would be an uphill battle running as a Democrat. However, switching parties is not without risk. She could have an opponent in a primary who would run to the right of her. A party leader could promise a member that if they change parties, they would clear the field — meaning there will be no primary opposition. But a party leader can't do that. They could try, but today's Republican party in Kentucky is very conservative. Any conservative Republican could run against her on her voting record from years ago. Political advisors who manage campaigns are experts at dredging up past history. Her most recent voting history has been with Republicans. More often than not, she has voted with Republicans on key issues. Up until last week, she was the most Republican-like Democratic senator in Frankfort. Webb has been in the Senate since 2009. Prior to that, she was in the state House of Representatives. There will almost certainly be a potential conservative candidate combing over her voting record. Webb has not been on a fundraising binge. According to online financial documents, she has about $31,000 in her campaign fund. She has not been actively raising funds. Having $31,000 on hand is not a lot of money for running a Senate campaign. She had no opposition in 2022, her last election. Webb represents the 18th District. That includes all of Boyd, Carter, Greenup and Lewis Counties. The district has 51% of the voters who are Republican and 38% are Democrats. The rest are listed as Independent or other. The population is about 150,000. If Democrats want to run a candidate, they need to move fast. The filing deadline to run is in January of next year. Popular Gov. Andy Beshear is the only statewide-elected Democrat. He's won his last three elections. Webb knows her district well. She's watched the Boyd and Greenup County courthouses go to almost all Republican office holders. That could have weighed in her decision.
The Hill
31-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Long-time Kentucky Democrat switching parties
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — A long-time member of the Kentucky General Assembly said she's switching political parties. State Senator Robin Webb of Grayson in Carter County is now a registered has served in the legislature since 1999 and has been in the Senate since 2009 — all as a Democrat. But she told FOX 56 News on Friday that she's been considering changing parties for the last couple of years. 'I just want people to know where I stand. I know who I am — that's not changing. I'm not changing my priorities. I'm not changing my advocacy positions. And my votes will remain the same on subject matter. I think everyone knows that,' Webb said. 'We've got to think of the people of Kentucky. Sometimes we get into this, you know, 'I'm on this team' or 'that team,' and I understand that — that's our system, and I respect that. But at the end of the day, we've got to do what's right,' state Sen. Gerald Neal, a Democrat, said. This marks the largest-ever Republican supermajority in the Senate — 32 of the Senate's 38 members are Republicans.
Daily Mail
31-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Kentucky Senator who served as Democrat for 27 years defects to Republican Party in stunning move
A longtime state lawmaker who has served as a Democrat for the past 27 years announced on Friday that she is switching parties, joining Republican supermajorities in the latest setback for Democrats trying to rebuild support across rural Kentucky. State Senator Robin Webb, who was first elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1998, revealed she will join the ranks of GOP lawmakers who control the flow of legislation in the state. The defection leaves Kentucky Democrats even more isolated in rural America. Webb was one of the last rural Democrats in Kentucky's legislature, and her defection means her former party will be instead tethered to urban and suburban districts in a state with large stretches of rural territory controlled by the GOP. Webb felt increasingly disconnected from the Democratic Party and could no longer stomach its 'lurch to the left.' 'It has become untenable and counterproductive to the best interests of my constituents for me to remain a Democrat,' Webb said. 'I will continue to be a fearless advocate for rural Kentucky and for the residents of eastern Kentucky who have been so good to me and my family.' The departure of Webb, who represents a four-county district, is more than symbolic: it underscores the near-total GOP takeover of Kentucky's rural political map. Democrats, already reduced to urban and suburban strongholds, now find themselves with virtually no foothold in the state's sprawling countryside. Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge said that Webb chose to align with a political party attempting to fund tax breaks for the wealthy 'off the backs of vulnerable' people. It was a barbed reference to the multitrillion-dollar tax breaks package passed recently by US House Republicans. To make up for some of the lost tax revenue, Republicans focused on changes to Medicaid and the food stamps program. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates 8.6 million fewer people would have health care coverage and 3 million fewer people a month would have SNAP food stamps benefits with the proposed changes. 'If those are her priorities, then we agree: she isn't a Democrat,' Elridge said. Webb stressed that her core values have not changed. 'The only difference today is the letter next to my name,' she said. Webb has compiled a personal and professional resume deeply ingrained in Kentucky culture. She's a hunter, a horse enthusiast, and a former coal miner who changed career paths to become an attorney. Webb first joined the Kentucky House in 1999, when Democrats controlled the chamber. She spent a decade as a state representative before joining the GOP-led Senate in 2009. Republicans seized total control of the legislature in the 2016 election, when they rode Donald Trump's coattails to win the Kentucky House. Republicans padded their legislative numbers in subsequent elections, giving them their overwhelming majorities. Republicans attained that dominance by winning in rural districts previously held by Democrats, but Webb's district had remained a blue dot on the map until Friday. Her party switch leaves Democrats mostly devoid of a rural presence in the legislature. One exception is Democratic state Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty, who represents an Appalachian district. The state's two-term governor, Democrat Andy Beshear, won a number of rural counties and shrank GOP margins in others in his 2023 reelection. His popularity was built on the state's robust economic growth during his tenure and his handling of disasters, from tornadoes and floods to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kentucky Democrats are trying to spark a rural comeback with a grassroots strategy, evidenced by the state party's ongoing 'listening tour' with stops in culturally conservative towns across the state. State Republican Party Chairman Robert Benvenuti said Webb's party switch reflects a broader political trend. In 2022, the GOP overtook the Democratic Party in statewide voter registration. 'Like countless other Kentuckians, she 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,' he said. Lawmakers will begin their 2026 session in early January, but Beshear has said he will likely call lawmakers back for a special session sometime this year to take up storm-relief funding. Parts of southeastern Kentucky were devastated by deadly tornadoes earlier this month, while other parts of the Bluegrass State were inundated by flooding in April.
