Kentucky House Member Wade Hurt "HURTS" GOP, Switches Parties To Become A Democrat.

Jefferson County GOP House member switching to Democrats
State Rep. Wade Hurt, a Republican who sailed to victory last year after his Democratic opponent was declared ineligible to run, said Friday that he is switching parties.

Hurt, 44, a longtime GOP activist, said he made the decision because he believes a Democrat can better represent his district in a legislative body controlled by the Democrats.

The 37th District, which Hurt represents, is 62 percent Democratic and 29 percent Republican by registration.

The largely working-class district had been represented by Democrats for generations. Ron Weston held the seat before Hurt, and state Sen. Perry Clark had it for a dozen years before Weston.

Clark’s father, Paul Clark, represented the district for 15 years before that.

Hurt became an unlikely winner in October, when Jefferson circuit judge ruled that Democrat Jeffrey Donohue was ineligible because one of the two people who signed the papers nominating him did not live in the 37th District, as required.

Because Democrats were not allowed to replace Donohue on the ballot, and because no independents or write-in candidates had filed, Hurt became the winner of the November general election.

Hurt’s switch means there are now 59 Democrats and 41 Republicans in the House.