Large numbers of Kentuckians ditching political parties

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – More Kentuckians are registering as Independent as opposed to Republican or Democrat in recent years.

Kentucky’s Secretary of State, Michael Adams sent out a tweet recently that sparked some interest with News 40, to which the station sought out some insight. Adams said large numbers of Kentuckians are choosing to go the Independent route rather than picking a traditional party such as Democrat or Republican. Adams said he believes there are a couple of reasons behind this.

Adams told the station that Kentucky is 46 percent Republican, 44 percent Democrat and a whopping 10 percent “other”, making Kentucky really a “purple” state. The secretary said that the idea of belonging to an institution is weakening and becoming a smaller part of peoples’ identity, adding that church membership is dwindling along with community involvement like the Kiwanis Club. The secretary also said he believes that many people are just growing tired of the polarization the United States has seen in politics over recent years.

According to Adams, there’s been proportionate growth in the Independent Party as far as Kentucky goes and it would seem that Kentucky is starting to catch up with other parts of the country. Adams quoted a great author in his interview with News 40, saying “I believe it was Mark Twain that said ‘When the world ends, I want to be in Kentucky because everything there happens 20 years after it happens everywhere else.”

Adams also made mention that he is in support of changing some laws around to allow Independent voters to engage in state primaries, as they are currently unable to under state law.