Here’s everyone the Alabama Farmers Federation has endorsed for the 2018 midterm elections
Alabama farmers are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to elections. Contributing $5 billion to the state’s agricultural industry, and operating on nearly nine million acres of land within the state; an endorsement from the political arm of the Alabama Farmers Federation, the Farm PAC, can carry major weight in an election cycle. Founded in 1921, the federation has grown to more than 360,000 members; the group focuses its attention on sending a powerful message, to the Statehouse in Montgomery and Capitol Hill in Washington. Here are the candidates who Farm PAC (the political arm of the ALFA) has endorsed who they believe have the best pro-farm record and attitude: U.S. Congress District 1: Bradley Byrne District 2: Martha Roby District 3: Mike Rogers District 4: Robert Aderholt District 5: Mo Brooks District 6: Gary Palmer District 7: Terry Sewell Statewide races Governor: Kay Ivey Lt. Governor: Will Ainsworth Secretary of State: John Merrill State Treasurer: John McMillan Attorney General: Steve Marshall* State Auditor: Jim Zeigler Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries: Rick Pate Public Service Commission Place 1: Jeremy Oden Place 2: Chris “Chip” Beeker Jr. Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice: Tom Parker* Place 2: Tommy Bryan Place 3: Will Sellers* Place 4: Jay Mitchell Court of Civil Appeals Place 1: Christy Edwards Place 2: Chad Hanson* Place 3: Terry A. Moore* Court of Criminal Appeals Place 1: Richard Minor Place 2: Chris McCool Place 3: Bill Cole * = denotes change from the primary endorsements The updated list of State House and Senate endorsements can be found here. The group has also thrown their support behind State Constitutional Amendments 1, 2 and 4.
Sprint to Nov. 6: The race to frame the Brett Kavanaugh story
Brett Kavanaugh‘s confirmation to the Supreme Court fired the starting pistol for the final sprint to Election Day in the United States, with control of the House and Senate at stake. The nation’s reckoning with power and who to believe about sexual misconduct has generated a new anger factor among the electorate and made the Nov. 6 balloting a referendum on more than President Donald Trump. What to watch over the final four weeks: ___ KAVANAUGH, TO THE COURT Trump swore in Kavanaugh Saturday as the nation’s 114th member of the Supreme Court after a savage battle that splintered the Senate and riveted the country. Kavanaugh took his oath of office to his lifetime seat just hours after the climactic 50-48 roll call. It was the narrowest Senate vote to confirm a justice since 1881. It was a fitting result for a 100-member chamber that represents a nation deeply split over an array of issues, from health care to who should be considered an American. A yawning divide has opened in the last year over whether allegations of sexual misconduct should be enough to topple accused men from the pinnacle of their professions. Enter Kavanaugh, the appellate court judge accused by Christine Blasey Ford in emotional sworn testimony of sexually assaulting her in the 1980s, while the two were in high school. Accusations from other women followed, none corroborated. Kavanaugh denies that he ever sexually assaulted anyone. In a frequently-shouted sworn statement of his own, he decried the Senate for putting his nomination in jeopardy. Hosting a ceremonial swearing-in for Kavanaugh Monday evening in the White House East Room, Trump declared Kavanaugh had been the victim of a “campaign of political and personal destruction based on lies and deception” and added, “You, sir, under historic scrutiny, were proven innocent.” ___ THE KAVANAUGH EFFECT The Kavanaugh confirmation has blown open the midterm elections from being a national referendum on Trump’s stewardship to a raw emotional discussion over the lack of women in power and how to handle sexual misconduct allegations. With Kavanaugh’s ascension to the high court, Republicans, long dispirited by Trump’s string of scandals and the prospect of losing their congressional majorities, are whooping it up. “It’s turned our base on fire,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said. He added Monday that the fight over Kavanaugh, particularly that his nomination was stymied by unproven allegations, injected the GOP with an “adrenaline shot that we had not been able to figure out how to achieve in any other way.” What’s unclear is whether GOP unity is enough to preserve the GOP power in Congress. The same question faces the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct after the White House successfully argued that the Kavanaugh allegations should not be conflated with the rest of the movement. Even before the confirmation, Kavanaugh’s opponents had a comeback line, printed on the back of jackets they wore to the Capitol: “November is coming.” ___ NORTH DAKOTA Almost immediately after the Senate vote, Democrats felt the chill from faraway North Dakota. That’s the state Trump won by 36 percentage points against Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016. And even before the Kavanaugh controversy, the Senate race there was among a handful of close contests that could decide whether Republicans keep control of the Senate, where they have a 51-49 majority. Then on Saturday, Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp defied her state’s support for Trump and voted against Kavanaugh’s confirmation. Heitkamp said she was concerned about Kavanaugh’s temperament after his emotional performance before the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Without hesitation,” Heitkamp told reporters, she believed Ford. Polls have put her Republican opponent, Rep. Kevin Cramer, comfortably ahead. He told The New York Times that #MeToo was a “movement toward victimization” that had caused a backlash. “The world got to see close up how ugly it can be when you go too far,” he’s quoted as saying. ___ FRAMING THE STORY Now it’s a four-week race to tell the story. Trump has a busy campaign schedule to spread the word that the allegations against Kavanaugh were a “hoax that was set up by the Democrats” at what he’s called a dangerous time for men who can be falsely accused. “I think you’re going to see a lot of things happen on Nov. 6 that would not have happened before,” Trump said Monday as he departed for an event in Florida. This week alone, he’s expected to hold rallies in Iowa, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky. McConnell has cast Kavanaugh’s opponents, many of whom protested in the halls of the Senate and yelled at lawmakers, as “the mob.” Democrats are pointing to the Republicans’ handling of the Kavanaugh confirmation as one more reason to oppose the president who nominated him and mocked Ford. “Folks who feel very strongly one way or the other about the issues in front of us should get out and vote,” said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” ___ GOVERNORS Look for Kavanaugh’s confirmation to remain a major issue, even though governors don’t have a direct say in the matter. Republican candidates in heavily Democratic states previously called for further investigation of sexual assault claims against Kavanaugh and their Democratic opponents said that wasn’t enough. Democrats are expected to take over some of the governors’ offices now held by the GOP, which controls a near-record 33 offices. Thirty-six states are electing governors this year, with competitive races in states where the Republican incumbents are stepping aside as they hit term limits, including in the swing states of Florida, Nevada and Ohio. The Democratic candidates in Florida, Georgia and Maryland are seeking to be the first black governors there. Republicans, meanwhile, are pushing to pick up seats in increasingly Democratic Colorado and Oregon while keeping them in most of New England as well as the South and much of the West. ___ 2020 CANDIDATES Yep, they’re already running — especially two members of the Senate Judiciary Committee who had visible roles during the Kavanaugh hearings. Sen. Cory
2018 statewide election ad roundup: August 31 edition
The November 6 general election is less than 70 days away and Alabama’s candidates have taken to the internet and the airwaves with campaign ads in hopes of swaying Yellowhammer State voters to their side. For the third week in a row, Walt Maddox was the only statewide candidate to release a new ad; the latest in a series of ads where an invisible announcer addresses an empty debate podium labelled “Kay Ivey,” asking the podium a series of questions. The empty podium never answers; leaving the announcer to ask “Governor Ivey? Governor?” Maddox then responds to the question himself, securing his positions on issues from his pro-life stance, to Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh‘s confirmation. This week Maddox addresses the topic of school safety. Gubernatorial ads Democrat Walt Maddox: Title: Debate Topic #6: School Safety Published: August 27, 2018 Tone: Intense
It’s Election Day in some cities in Alabama
It’s Election Day! In August? Yep. Some big municipal elections are happening in many cities in the Yellowhammer State today; Auburn and Bessemer are among those who will have a chance to elect a new mayor, and members of the Huntsville and Mountain Brook communities will be electing city council seats. Oneonta, Jacksonville and Opp are holding elections for their city school boards; and the city of Ozark will decided today whether or not they will allow alcohol sales on Sunday. According to the Alabama Secretary of State’s office, the following elections will be held today: City of Huntsville – Regular Municipal Election – City Council Seats City of Opp – School Board Election – Districts 1, 2, and 4 City of Mountain Brook – Municipal Election – City Council Seats City of Oneonta School Board Election – Places 2 and 4 City of Ozark – Election for Sunday Sales of Alcohol City of Scottsboro – Municipal Election – City Council Seats City of Auburn – Regular Municipal Election City of Phenix City – Referendum for Elected City School Board City of Muscle Shoals – Ad Valorem Tax Election for Educational Purposes City of Bessemer – Regular Municipal Election City of Jacksonville – School Board Election – Places 1 and 2 Sample Ballots and full lists of candidates for some cities: City of Huntsville City of Mountain Brook City of Bessemer City of Auburn
2018 statewide general election ad roundup: August 3 edition
The November 6 general election is less than 100 days away and Alabama’s candidates have taken to the internet and the airwaves with campaign ads in hopes of swaying Yellowhammer State voters to their side. This week, both gubernatorial candidates rolled out the big guns introducing their first tv ads for the general election to voters across the state and displaying qualities they believe make them excellent candidates for the position. In Governor Kay Ivey‘s new ad she highlights her success in preparing students today for the jobs of tomorrow by praising her own “Strong Start, Strong Finish” education initiative to integrate Alabama’s early childhood education, K-12 education, and workforce development into a seamless educational experience for Alabama students. Democratic candidate Walt Maddox used a bit of word play in his new ad “Running.” In the ad, Maddox comments on the different types of “running” he’s done in his lifetime: running as a football player, running one of the state’s largest cities, running as a way to improve mental clarity, and stay in shape; and running for governor. Gubernatorial ads Republican Kay Ivey: Title: Strong Start, Strong Finish Published: August 2, 2018 Tone: Optimistic Democrat Walt Maddox: Title: Running Published: July 31, 2018 Tone: Thoughtful
Two Alabama House District races decided after provisional ballot counts
Out of the more than 20 runoff elections statewide, a few races resulted in a race just too close to call, including both Mobile County House District 102, and Chambers and Lee County House District 38. Both races were decided Tuesday evening after the counting of provisional ballots in each district, with Satsuma Police chief Shane Stringer winning House District 102, and Debbie Wood winning House District 38. In the District 102 race, Stringer went head to head with The Call News Publisher and owner Willie Gray. The two were neck-and-neck after the runoff receiving a total of 5,103 votes, with Stringer garnering only 25 more votes than Gray. After the counting of provisional ballots Stringer maintained his lead and won the race with a final margin of only 28 votes; 2,580 for Stringer to 2,552 for Gray. “A lot of people have worked really hard this last year on our campaign and we will be forever grateful, Gray posted on Facebook. “The provisional ballots were counted today and we have come up short. I can’t thank my family and friends enough for their support during this year-long process. I want to congratulate Shane Stringer on a hard-fought race. Now, let’s get back to making our district the best ever! Stringer faces no opponent in the November general election, giving him an automatic win for the district. Wood however, will face her democratic opponent Brian McGee in the November general election after winning her race by even closer margins than Stringer. Wood received 2,165 votes compared to her runoff opponent Todd Rauch‘s 2,159 – giving her a six vote lead heading into the provisional ballot counting. The margins remained the same Tuesday night, and Wood secured the Republican nomination with only a six vote lead. “I’m very humbled and very excited and I look forward to facing my opponent in November,” Wood told AL.com. At this point neither Rauch nor Gray have filed for a recount, both conceding their opponents wins.
Judge dismisses Troy King’s lawsuit against Steve Marshall
Attorney General candidate Troy King’s efforts to stop his opponent Steve Marshall’s ability to spend questionable campaign donations fell apart on Thursday when a Montgomery judge, Circuit Judge James Anderson, dismissed a lawsuit King filed against Marshall. It all began Monday, when in an eleventh hour effort kit announced a lawsuit he filed against Marshall — just one week before voters hit the polls to cast their ballots in the primary runoff election on July 17. King alleged that Marshall accepted $700,000 from the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) political action committee and that the group uses money from other PAC’s to fund their own PAC; violating Alabama’s PAC to PAC money laws. King then sued Marshall on Wednesday, attempting to deter Marshall from spending the contributions. “Now, during the 2017 election cycle, according to RAGA’s public filings with the Internal Revenue Service, the RAGA’s PAC has again accepted a number of contributions from other PACs, including, earlier this year, nearly $16,000 from the J.P. Morgan PAC plus another $50,000 in PAC contributions in the last quarter of 2017. RAGA’s PAC has now, during the election cycle, made hundreds of thousands of dollars of contributions to Steve Marshall for Alabama, Inc,” said King’s lawsuit, according to WHNT. But Thursday afternoon a Montgomery judge, Circuit Judge James Anderson, dismissed the lawsuit, and denied King’s request for a restraining order against Marshall. “Anderson said the Republican PAC is federally regulated and questioned how he and state law would have jurisdiction over transfers that happened in another state,” the Associated Press reported. After the ruling, Marshall’s campaign released a statement accusing King of abusing the judicial process to stage a political stunt. “He did so routinely as AG and Republicans fired him in 2010 because of it,” the Montgomery Advertiser reported. “We are glad the court has confirmed this and look forward to getting back to the issues Alabama voters actually care about in the final days of this campaign.”
Steve Marshall shows fundraising lead over runoff opponent Troy King
In the race for Attorney General, incumbent Steve Marshall is showing a substantial fundraising lead over his opponent Troy King, just ten days prior to the July 17 runoff election. The race has amassed a significant amount of attention from political PAC’s and voters alike, giving good reason for the millions accumulated and spent by both men. Although the title of “Attorney General” might not seem like the most glamorous title in Alabama politics, the position is viewed by many as the second most important job in state government. “The powers given by the state constitution and the Legislature are significant,” Retired political science professor Jess Brown told AL.com. “But the very nature of the office is that the occupant is the chief lawyer for this state and can, in fact, go represent state government even when they don’t want him to.” A look at the numbers Marshall is financially in the lead with $2.4 million raised for his campaign. Thus far he’s spent $2.1 million of those dollars. King follows a significant amount behind having raised $1.8 million, and spending $1.7 million. Both men received a bump in donations after the June 5 primary, but King holds the edge here; Marshall garnered $257,000 in donations, while King amassed $302,000. Both men paused their campaigns after the unexpected death of Marshall’s wife Bridgette Gentry Marshall in late June. Resuming his race on June 30, King vowed to keep on message of his political record and qualifications going forward. Marshall resumed his race earlier this week, saying Bridgette would have wanted him to get back to work and serve the people of Alabama.
AG Steve Marshall resumes his campaign in wake of wife’s death
Incumbent Attorney General Steve Marshall has pressed play on his campaign after pressing pause due to the untimely and tragic death of his wife Bridgette Gentry Marshall. Marshall explained he is honoring his wife’s memory by continuing the campaign saying she would have wanted him to get back to work and serve the people of Alabama. “In the week following Bridgette’s passing, I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support my family has received. Bridgette was a precious wife, mother, daughter, and friend. She was the brightest light in my life and in so many others,” Marshall posted to his Facebook page. “As we move forward, I am choosing to honor Bridgette’s memory in all that I do. Right now, that means getting back to work and continuing to serve the people of Alabama.” Marshall’s opponent Out of respect and in solidarity for Marshall, his primary runoff opponent Troy King also paused his campaign when he heard the news of Bridgette’s death. Resuming it on June 30, King vowed to keep on message of his political record and qualifications going forward, “I commit that I will keep my campaign to a discussion of our political records and our Republican qualifications and allow the voters to decide this race on the merits alone — seemingly a change of course from his previous strategy. In the weeks prior to Bridgette’s death, King and Marshall found themselves exchanging political jabs, but both candidates seem resolved to keep things civil for the coming weeks. King and Marshall face-off in the runoff election on Tuesday, July 17.
John Merrill expects 15 to 18 percent turnout in July 17 runoff
The July 17 primary runoff is only 12 days away, and while candidates plead with voters over the airways, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill says to expect a high turnout for the election. He expects anywhere from 15 to 18 percent of voters to show up to the polls. “I think it will be that high, even though that’s a low number, I think it’ll be that high in the runoff because we have the Lieutenant Governor’s race, we have the Attorney General’s race, and so we’ve got some interest,” Merrill told Yellowhammer News. Merrill predicted a voter turnout of 25 to 30 percent in the June 5 primary election, showing his prediction prowess as 26 percent of the Yellowhammer State’s registered voters made their voices heard at the polls according to the tabulations. In December, Merrill had also estimated 25 percent of voters would turnout for the highly contested special election between Doug Jones and Roy Moore; but more than 1.3 million voters participated, 40 percent. The 2010 primary runoff drew almost 23 percent of Alabama voters, and in 2014 it was turnout was only 11 percent. There are nearly 3.4 million registered voters in Alabama.
Five things you need to know about Chris McCool
The primary elections are over, but some highly sought spots still remain open due to the primary races resulting in runoffs. One of those races is for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Place 2. Three candidates stepped up to the plate seeking election in the June 5 primary. Both Chris McCool and Rich Anderson garnered enough support to tip the race into a a runoff election set for July 17. With that in mind, here are the five things you need to know about Chris McCool: 1. Has served on the Executive Committee of the Alabama District Attorneys Association (ADAA) for 10 years. During that time he’s served in multiple roles: as President, Vice President, and Treasurer. 2. He’s won a lot of awards for the work he’s done. In 2007, he was named “Prosecutor of the Year” by VOCAL (Victims of Crime and Leniency) and “District Attorney of the Year” by the ADAA. He was also named “Prosecutor of the Year” by the Alabama Forest Owners Association in 2012. 3. He’s worked as an adjunct professor. McCool was an adjunct professor in the Trial Advocacy Program at the University of Alabama, School of Law from 1998 to 2000. 4. He knows a thing or two about farming. He lives on, and manages, the farm that has been in his family for five generations. 5. Roll Tide Roll (need we say any more?). McCool graduated from the University of Alabama in 1990, with a bachelor’s degree in History and Classics, and the University of Alabama, School of Law in 1993.
Five things you need to know about Brad Mendheim
The primary elections are over, but some highly sought spots still remain open due to the primary races resulting in runoffs. One of those races is for the Supreme Court, Place 1. Incumbent Brad Mendheim and Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Sarah Stewart both garnered enough support to tip the race into a a runoff election set for July 17. With that in mind, here are five things you need to know about Brad Mendheim: 1. He was appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey to replace Justice Glenn Murdock. In January 2018, Mendheim was appointed by Governor Kay Ivey after Alabama Supreme Court Justice Glenn Murdock announced his resignation. “In appointing someone to serve on the Alabama Supreme Court, it is imperative to appoint someone with impeccable legal credentials and with unquestioned character and integrity; Judge Brad Mendheim exceeds those requirements,” Ivey said in a news release. “With more than 17 years of judicial experience, Judge Mendheim will bring the valuable knowledge of a trial judge to the highest court in our state. As an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, I know Judge Mendheim will follow the law and serve with honor.” 2. He has served as a judge for over 15 years. In 2001 Mendheim was elected to serve as district judge in Houston County, a position he held until 2008 when he was elected to serve as a circuit judge for the 20th Judicial Circuit covering the Henry and Houston Counties near the Georgia and Alabama state lines. He was then reelected in 2014 for another six year term before Ivey appointed him as a Supreme Court judge in 2018. 3. He’s presided over 300 jury trials. According to Mendheim’s campaign page, he’s presided over 300 jury trials and has twice been called upon to has been called upon to sentence men to death for their convictions for capital murder. He’s also presided over numerous cases of crimes against children, violent felonies, criminal cases, and small claims cases over the course of his career. “I’ve been a trial court judge for most of my career, and I look forward to bringing that experience to the Supreme Court, while working with my new colleagues to ensure justice is achieved in every case we hear,” Mendheim said when he was appointed to the Supreme Court. 4. He served six and a half years as an Assistant District Attorney Before he became a judge, Mendheim worked at a law firm in Dothan for several years. He was then given an opportunity to serve as an assistant district attorney for the 20th Judicial Circuit where he served for just over six years. “As a local prosecutor, he handled every type of criminal case, from the most minor traffic ticket to death penalty cases. Brad personally tried over 120 criminal jury trials, most of which were serious felonies and crimes of violence,” said Mendheim’s campaign page. 5. He was born in Dothan and still lives there. Born to the late Brady and Nancy Mendheim in Dothan, Ala. Medheim attended Auburn University to obtain his bachelors degree and Samford’s Cumberland School of Law for his J.D. But Mendheim had a love for his hometown, and returned after school to begin his career in law, and has spent 17 years serving the area as a judge.
