Statewide Democratic campaigns have largely floundered this election cycle in Alabama, and Republicans are expected to be able to maintain supermajorities in both Houses of the Alabama Legislature. That said, there are some state legislative races where hardworking Democratic candidates are looking to unseat Republicans. Nowhere is this more true than in State Senate District 21, where Democratic nominee Lisa Ward has worked for over a year knocking on doors and has been able to raise nearly $100,000 to unseat Republican incumbent State Sen. Gerald Allen.
Senate District 21 includes much of Tuscaloosa and Pickens Counties.
Ward has been emphasizing door-to-door canvassing.
“I’ve literally been living in the streets for the last 2 years,” Ward told Alabama Today. “No one is interested in my race. My own party has dismissed me as being non-viable.”
“We’ve gotten national support and done podcasts and interviews all over the country with them, but nothing in Alabama,” Ward said, complaining that the Alabama Press has largely ignored her campaign. “Celebrities have come out to support us on social media. The list of well-known people is longer than the green mile. I have been shocked by how much name recognition we have in Pickens County.”
“The journey has been amazing,” Ward said. “Hard, high, and low…but people don’t know. We raised almost $100k. Every state in the nation donated. Over 700 individual donors. More recurring ones than most people.”
“We’ve got radio ads – TV ads,” Ward said. “We have done everything that a person can do. Even got Pickens on the map.”
Ward says that she supports the ratification of Amendment 9 in the coming election.
“If Amendment 9 passes, it will be because of my viral network and ability to reach across the state because of name recognition and credibility.”
Amendment 9 would provide that the state Alabama Public Service Commission regulates privately owned sewer systems and plants in the Town of Lake View, Alabama (in Jefferson and Tuscaloosa counties), from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2027. The PSC is an elected three-member board that oversees the regulation of utility companies, including wastewater utilities, in the state. When the PSC has oversight over a wastewater service, the commission has the power to approve or reject rates and establish rules and regulations for their operations,
Ward said that she has run an open dialogue on social media and has even received a Mockingjay pin (a reference to the Hunger Games).
Ward has been highly critical of Allen.
“Gerald Allen. What has he said he would do in this next term?” Lisa Ward said on Facebook. “Has he spoke to you about anything? Has he told you what he can improve on? Does he still support taking the $485M Covid money to build the new prisons? Is he going to work on the slave issue in the old prisons? Where he’s going to get the $5M he voted to take from the sheriff’s depts? Will he support open bids for the federal programs and follow the Davis bacon act when infrastructure begins? Has he addressed the hospital closing crisis? The jobs that left? If he will change his mind and repeal the gas hikes? Will he finally untax those groceries the entire state wants untaxed? Has he mentioned the billions in federal funding we have? Has he spoken about the school issue? Has he shared a vision for our District? Has he called or texted any of you?”
Ward is a former city councilwoman in Lakeview. She sat on her town commission for planning and zoning meetings and wrote the Articles of Incorporation. She said she knows how to help rural Alabama.
This is one of the most closely watched State Senate races.
The election is just eight days away.
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