State incumbents face uphill battle in primary contest

As Alabamians gear up to go to the polls to select their presidential nominee of choice, several other important races will likely get the attention of voters on Tuesday.

Sen. Richard Shelby is facing his stiffest competition in years. At the forefront of the onslaught is former-Marine Jonathan McConnell, who has taken Shelby to task over a myriad of issues. But McConnell isn’t the only Republican vying for Shelby’s seat – Shadrack McGill, John Martin and Marcus Bowman are also hoping to unseat the 30-year incumbent.

Further, Shelby is facing opposition from the other side of the aisle in political activist Ron Crumpton and West Africa native Charles Nana.

But Shelby isn’t the only longtime Alabama politician facing opposition. U.S. Reps. Martha Roby and Bradley Byrne are embroiled in high-caliber primary contests, while Reps. Mike Rogers and Robert Aderholt also face opposition.

Though Roby is being contested by two Republican candidates, Wetumpka Tea Party founder Becky Gerritson seems to have the best shot of unseating her. However, Roby’s preliminary polling and fundraising numbers are dwarfing even her toughest competitor. The winner will face Nathan Mathis, whose most recent political experience was a failed bid for state Senate in 2010, in the November General Election.

Similarly, Byrne seems to be winning the fundraising and name recognition battle against Dean Young, an Orange Beach developer who failed to unseat Byrne when he first challenged him in 2013. The primary winner will take all in this race, as there is no Democratic opposition.

Rogers is going toe-to-toe with former Phenix City school superintendent Larry DiChiara, who is mounting his opposition on the assertion that Rogers has been in Congress for too long. The winner in this race with face Democratic opposition from Army veteran Jesse Smith in November.

Aderholt is going up against Republican Navy veteran Phil Norris, whose website seems to hinge on his opposition to the policies of President Barack Obama.

Reps. Mo Brooks and Gary Palmer are facing no Republican opposition in the primary election but will face Democrats Will Boyd Jr. and David Putman in the general. Democratic Rep. Terri Sewell is running unopposed.