Kentucky’s Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear just took a political hit as State Sen. Robin Webb officially switched parties, abandoning the Democrats to join the GOP. Webb, a longtime figure in Kentucky’s coal country, said the Democratic Party has “lurched too far left” and no longer represents her values. “I didn’t leave the party — the party left me,” she declared.
The defection comes as Trump’s dominance in Kentucky grows stronger, with the former president securing over 64% of the vote in 2024. Republican leaders hailed Webb’s move as proof that the state’s conservative shift is complete, while Democrats blasted her as “not a Democrat.” Meanwhile, Beshear — once seen as a 2028 presidential contender — now faces mounting pressure to keep his party from unraveling in one of America’s reddest states.