More Democrats on Alabama ballot for Tuesday elections than in previous years
Alabama’s primary ballot features multiple offices and something voters in the Republican-controlled state haven’t seen in years: Democratic races for statewide and congressional positions. Alabama Democrats have 27 total candidates running for state positions or Congress this year, more than double the 13 from 2014. That means there are several Democratic primary races, compared to just one for a statewide office four years ago. Many of the eventual Republican nominees will still run unopposed in the General Election because no Democrats qualified. But with Democratic opposition to President Donald Trump running high and after Democrat Doug Jones’ victory in Alabama’s U.S. Senate in December, the once-powerful party is trying to show signs of life. Aside from the governor’s campaign, in which five Republicans and six Democrats are vying for their party’s nominations, here are some other races to watch: ___ Attorney General Republican appointee Steve Marshall is facing voters for the first time in a statewide race as he seeks election to the office of attorney general, and it might not be easy. Marshall, a former Marshall County district attorney, has served in the job since February 2017, when then-Gov. Robert Bentley tapped him after naming Luther Strange to the U.S. Senate. Marshall is being opposed in the GOP primary by Alice Martin, a former federal prosecutor who was the state’s chief deputy attorney general; Troy King, a former state attorney general and Birmingham lawyer Chess Bedsole. Birmingham attorneys Joseph Siegelman and Chris Christie are vying for the Democratic nomination. Siegelman is the son of former Gov. Don Siegelman. The attorney general is responsible for representing the state in criminal and civil matters, and the office often is a stepping-stone to other positions. Just ask U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a former Alabama attorney general. ___ Congress Rep. Martha Roby’s bid to hold on to her District 2 seat from the Wiregrass region of southeastern Alabama for a fifth term highlights the state’s congressional primaries. The House Appropriations Committee member is being opposed by candidates including Bobby Bright, who Roby defeated to claim the seat in 2010. Other opponents include Rich Hobson of Enterprise, who managed Roy Moore’s unsuccessful Senate campaign last year. Roby gained Republican critics after distancing herself from Donald Trump’s vulgar comments about women during his presidential campaign in 2016. The eventual GOP nominee will face either education researcher Tabitha Isner of Montgomery or activist and military veteran Audri Scott Williams of Cottonwood. They’re competing for the Democratic nomination in the Republican-dominated district. Reps. Mo Brooks of Huntsville and Robert Aderholt of Haleyville also have challengers in the GOP primary, and Democrats have primaries in four districts in all. There was just one Democratic congressional primary in 2014. ___ Lieutenant Governor Alabama has been without a lieutenant governor for more than a year, and the primary is a first step toward filling the office. Alabama Public Service Commission president Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh is running in the Republican primary against two state legislators: Rep. Will Ainsworth of Guntersville and Sen. Rusty Glover of Mobile. Cavanaugh has outpaced other candidates in fundraising with nearly $1.1 million in total contributions through April. The eventual Republican nominee will face Democratic minister Will Boyd, who lost the U.S. Senate primary against Doug Jones in the special election last year. The office of lieutenant governor, who is president in the state Senate, has been vacant since April 2017, when Kay Ivey succeeded Robert Bentley as governor following his resignation and guilty plea amid a sex-tinged scandal. Ethics is a top issue in the race as the Legislature looks to review Alabama’s ethics law next year and lawmakers currently face corruption charges. ___ Supreme Court The Alabama Supreme Court isn’t in the news as often as it used to be without Roy Moore as chief justice, but the primary ballot includes three contested races on the nine-member, all-Republican panel. Current court members Lyn Stuart and Tom Parker are vying for the Republican nomination for chief justice. Stuart has been serving in the position since Moore’s suspension for violating judicial ethics and later resignation to run for the Senate. Either Stuart or Parker will face Bob Vance Jr., a Jefferson County circuit judge who is unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Court appointee Brad Mendheim is opposed by circuit judges Debra Jones of Anniston and Sarah Hicks Stewart of Mobile for the GOP nomination for Place 1 on the nine-member court. And attorneys John Bahakel and Jay Mitchell of Birmingham are both seeking the Republican nomination for the Place 4 seat. The winner will face Democrat Donna Wesson Smalley in November. ___ State School Board Republicans are fighting over two seats on the Alabama State Board of Education, and the winners of both races will have Democratic opponents in the fall. Four Republicans are running for the District 2 seat held by Betty Peters, who isn’t seeking re-election. They include former Dothan school board member Melanie Hill; Coffee County resident Sybil Little; John Taylor of Dothan; and Auburn City School Board President Tracie West. The winner will face Democrat Adam Jortner in November. Business executive and former Madison school board Rich McAdams and Wayne Reynolds, a retired educator and registered nurse from Athens, are seeking the Republican nomination in District 8. The seat is now held by Mary Scott Hunter, who is running for the Alabama Senate. Jessica Fortune Barker is on the ballot as a Democrat in the General Election. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Republicans likely looking at a run-off in Attorney General’s race
Early polls and pundits called the republican primary for the Attorney General’s race the most competitive. Now with over $5 million spent in a sometimes contentious race there’s no clear front runner a run-off looks inevitable. 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.” Current Attorney General Steve Marshall is financially in the lead with $1.9 million in contributions. Chess Bedsole follows him with $1.7 million, former Alabama Attorney General Troy King has garnered $1.4 million and former state assistant attorney general and U.S. Attorney Alice Martin has obtained almost $1 million. Bedsole’s funds came mostly from his own contributions to his campaign. But Republican candidates will also face a somewhat formidable Democratic foe, in the November general election; former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman‘s son Joseph Siegelman has also thrown his hat in the race. And Chris Christie, no; not that Chris Chrisite has joined the race as well. University of Alabama Political Science Department Chairman Dr. Joseph Smith thinks the democratic race might actually gain some traction, due to a decent turnout for a Democratic primary in Alabama. “because of the candidates at the top of the party’s ticket. Gubernatorial candidates Walt Maddox and Sue Bell Cobb are “quality candidates,” Smith told AL.com. The most important thing in winning the race, Smith believes; is name recognition. “Marshall certainly wins on incumbency, and I think he’s got the most advertising going on,” Smith continued. “You would think Troy King would have pretty good name recognition, since he was the former attorney general, but I don’t know if that has faded from people’s heads in the last few years.” Marshall and Bedsole have tied themselves to President Donald Trump in their political ads, while Martin has chosen to emphasize the corruption issue while King has remained a fairly quiet candidate, Brown thinks he’s mostly betting on name recognition getting him into a runoff race. The primaries will be held on Tuesday, June 5.
Who’s who in statewide and congressional races on the primary ballot
Alabama’s primary ballot features multiple offices and something voters in the Republican-controlled state haven’t seen in years: Democratic races for statewide and congressional positions. Alabama Democrats have 27 total candidates running for state positions or Congress this year, more than double the 13 from 2014. That means there are several Democratic primary races, compared to just one for a statewide office four years ago. Many of the eventual Republican nominees will still run unopposed in the General Election because no Democrats qualified. But with Democratic opposition to President Donald Trump running high and after Democrat Doug Jones’ victory in Alabama’s U.S. Senate in December, the once-powerful party is trying to show signs of life. Aside from the governor’s campaign, in which five Republicans and six Democrats are vying for their party’s nominations, here are some other races to watch: ___ Attorney General Republican appointee Steve Marshall is facing voters for the first time in a statewide race as he seeks election to the office of attorney general, and it might not be easy. Marshall, a former Marshall County district attorney, has served in the job since February 2017, when then-Gov. Robert Bentley tapped him after naming Luther Strange to the U.S. Senate. Marshall is being opposed in the GOP primary by Alice Martin, a former federal prosecutor who was the state’s chief deputy attorney general; Troy King, a former state attorney general and Birmingham lawyer Chess Bedsole. Birmingham attorneys Joseph Siegelman and Chris Christie are vying for the Democratic nomination. Siegelman is the son of former Gov. Don Siegelman. The attorney general is responsible for representing the state in criminal and civil matters, and the office often is a stepping-stone to other positions. Just ask U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a former Alabama attorney general. ___ Congress Rep. Martha Roby’s bid to hold on to her District 2 seat from the Wiregrass region of southeastern Alabama for a fifth term highlights the state’s congressional primaries. The House Appropriations Committee member is being opposed by candidates including Bobby Bright, who Roby defeated to claim the seat in 2010. Other opponents include Rich Hobson of Enterprise, who managed Roy Moore’s unsuccessful Senate campaign last year. Roby gained Republican critics after distancing herself from Presidential Donald Trump’s vulgar comments about women in 2016. The eventual GOP nominee will face either education researcher Tabitha Isner of Montgomery or activist and military veteran Audri Scott Williams of Cottonwood. They’re competing for the Democratic nomination in the Republican-dominated district. Reps. Mo Brooks of Huntsville and Robert Aderholt of Haleyville also have challengers in the GOP primary, and Democrats have primaries in four districts in all. There was just one Democratic congressional primary in 2014. ___ Lieutenant Governor Alabama has been without a lieutenant governor for more than a year, and the primary is a first step toward filling the office. Alabama Public Service Commission president Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh is running in the Republican primary against two state legislators: Rep. Will Ainsworth of Guntersville and Sen. Rusty Glover of Mobile. Cavanaugh has outpaced other candidates in fundraising with nearly $1.1 million in total contributions through April. The eventual Republican nominee will face Democratic minister Will Boyd, who lost the U.S. Senate primary against Doug Jones in the special election last year. The office of lieutenant governor, who is president in the state Senate, has been vacant since April 2017, when Kay Ivey succeeded Robert Bentley as governor following his resignation and guilty plea amid a sex-tinged scandal. Ethics is a top issue in the race as the Legislature looks to review Alabama’s ethics law next year and lawmakers currently face corruption charges. ___ Supreme Court The Alabama Supreme Court isn’t in the news as often as it used to be without Roy Moore as chief justice, but the primary ballot includes three contested races on the nine-member, all-Republican panel. Current court members Lyn Stuart and Tom Parker are vying for the Republican nomination for chief justice. Stuart has been serving in the position since Moore’s suspension for violating judicial ethics and later resignation to run for the Senate. Either Stuart or Parker will face Bob Vance Jr., a Jefferson County circuit judge who is unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Court appointee Brad Mendheim is opposed by circuit judges Debra Jones of Anniston and Sarah Hicks Stewart of Mobile for the GOP nomination for Place 1 on the nine-member court. And attorneys John Bahakel and Jay Mitchell of Birmingham are both seeking the Republican nomination for the Place 4 seat. The winner will face Democrat Donna Wesson Smalley in November. ___ State School Board Republicans are fighting over two seats on the Alabama State Board of Education, and the winners of both races will have Democratic opponents in the fall. Four Republicans are running for the District 2 seat held by Betty Peters, who isn’t seeking re-election. They include former Dothan school board member Melanie Hill; Coffee County resident Sybil Little; John Taylor of Dothan; and Auburn City School Board President Tracie West. The winner will face Democrat Adam Jortner in November. Business executive and former Madison school board Rich McAdams and Wayne Reynolds, a retired educator and registered nurse from Athens, are seeking the Republican nomination in District 8. The seat is now held by Mary Scott Hunter, who is running for the Alabama Senate. Jessica Fortune Barker is on the ballot as a Democrat in the General Election. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
2018 statewide election ad roundup: June 1 edition
The June 5 Republican and Democratic primaries are only 4 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. Surprisingly, in the final week before the primary, none of the republican candidates for governor have rolled out any new ads. However, not surprisingly, Sue Bell Cobb released a new ad this week for the eleventh week in a row, Walt Maddox took a different approach to his new ad, using his field staffers to create the ad. Lieutenant governor candidates Will Ainsworth, and Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh both released new ads firing shots at one another, while Attorney General candidates Chess Bedsole, was the only candidate in his race to roll out a new ad. Gubernatorial ads Democrats Sue Bell Cobb: Title: On Retirement Published: May 28, 2018 Tone: Sentimental Walt Maddox: Title: Walt Maddox Field Staffers Making a Difference Published: June 1, 2018 Tone: Benevolent Lieutenant governor ads Republicans Will Ainsworth: Title: Shooting Straight Published: May 25, 2018 Tone: Direct Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh: Title: Truth Published: May 25, 2018 Tone: Agitated Attorney General ads Republicans Chess Bedsole: Title: Ready Published: May 24, 2018 Tone: Assertive
2018 statewide election ad roundup: May 25 edition
The June 5 Republican and Democratic primaries are only 11 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. All of the Republican gubernatorial candidates fought for voter’s attention, with each one rolling out a new ad this week. In true Sue Bell Cobb fashion, Cob rolled out two new ads this week, maintaining her streak for what is now her tenth week in a row. Only Rusty Glover, and Will Ainsworth released new ads in the Lieutenant Governor’s race, while Chess Bedsole, Steve Marshall, and Alice Martin let voters know what’s on their minds. (Hint: it’s corruption) Lone-wolf Jim Zeigler launched his first ad of the 2018 election cycle in the early morning hours last Saturday while tens of thousands of Alabamians were up and watching the royal wedding. Gubernatorial ads Republicans Tommy Battle: Title: Battle For Governor Commercial 2 Published: May 24, 2018 Tone: Encouraging Title: Battle For Governor Commercial 3 Published: May 24, 2018 Tone: Pragmatic Scott Dawson: Title: “The Time is Now” Bus Tour Published: May 24, 2018 Tone: Urgent Bill Hightower: Title: Recycling Published: May 22, 2018 Tone: Contemplative Kay Ivey: Title: Prosperity Published: May 21, 2018 Tone: Optimistic Democrats Sue Bell Cobb: Title: Clean Water is a Human Right Published: May 23, 2018 Tone: Accusing Title: Lifelong Learner Lottery funds Quality Educational Childcare Published: May 24, 2018 Tone: Lighthearted Lieutenant governor ads Republicans Will Ainsworth: Title: Pencil Published: May 22, 2018 Tone: Direct Rusty Glover: Title: “Common Sense” – Rusty Glover for Lieutenant Governor Published: May 22, 2018 Tone: Earnest Title: “Legacy” – Rusty Glover for Lieutenant Governor Published: May 23, 2018 Tone: Virtuous Attorney General ads Republicans Chess Bedsole: Title: Justice Published: May 24, 2018 Tone: Forceful Steve Marshall: Title: Stand Published: May 22, 2018 Tone: Conventional Title: A Principled Conservative Published: May 24, 2018 Tone: Defensive Alice Martin: Title: Stop the Deal-makers Published: May 23, 2018 Tone: Disapproving State Auditor ads Republicans Jim Zeigler: Title: Jim Zeigler – 2018 – State Auditor Published: May 19, 2018 Tone: Assertive
2018 statewide election ad roundup: May 11 edition
The June 5 Republican and Democratic primary is only 25 days away and Alabama’s gubernatorial candidates have taken to the internet and the airwaves with campaign ads in hopes of swaying Yellowhammer State voters to their side. With the primary less than a month away, candidates upping the ante, with several candidates releasing new ads for the first time in months. In the Gubernatorial races, Kay Ivey, and evangelist Scott Dawson, both released new ads this week to combat Tommy Battle‘s massive ad rollout last week. Sue Bell Cobb continued her campaign tradition, issuing a new ad for the eighth week in a row, while Walt Maddox released his first new ad in months. Several Lieutenant governor candidates announced new ads this week, including Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh, Rusty Glover, and Will Ainsworth. Attorney General candidate Troy King published his first television ad this week, with opponents Steve Marshall, Chess Bedsole releasing new ads as well. Gubernatorial Ads Republicans Kay Ivey: Title: Life Published: May 9, 2018 Tone: Principled Kay Ivey: Title: Tough as Nails Published: May 9, 2018 Tone: Resilient Scott Dawson: Title: “Learning About Faith” Published: May 11, 2018 Tone: Belief Democrats Walt Maddox: Title: Walt Maddox for Governor Published: May 11, 2018 Tone: Leadership Sue Bell Cobb: Title: SBC LotteryDad Video Published: May 8, 2018 Tone: Hopeful Lieutenant governor ads Republicans Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh: Title: “Shoes” Published: May 8, 2018 Tone: Preserving Rusty Glover: Title: “Peoples Choice” – Rusty Glover for Lieutenant Governor Published: May 3, 2018 Tone: Impactful Will Ainsworth: Title: “Leadership” | Ainsworth for Lt. Governor Published: May 7, 2018 Tone: Initiating Will Ainsworth: Title: “Hostage” | Ainsworth for Lt. Governor Published: May 8, 2018 Tone: Confronting Will Ainsworth: Title: Rickey Cornutt on Will’s Fight for Farmers Published: May 11, 2018 Tone: Folksy Attorney General ads Republicans Troy King: Title: Cause (Troy King for Attorney General) Published: May 8, 2018 Tone: Watchful Steve Marshall: Title: Steve Marshall – Fighting for Alabama Published: May 9, 2018 Tone: Protective Chess Bedsole: Title: Chess Bedsole “Rally” Published: May 1, 2018 Tone: Defensive
Wetumpka TEA Party hosts GOP candidate meet and greet
The Wetumpka TEA Party will host the River Region Candidate Fair on Monday evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m. for candidates running in the 2018 Republican primary election. Over 40 candidates have confirmed their attendance for the event, which will be held at the Wetumpka Civic Center. Advertised as a “meet & greet,” the event will allow Alabamians to meet each candidate individually and ask them questions about the position they are seeking, rather than listen to speeches and debates. The Wetumpka TEA party will also be conducting a straw poll at the end of the night, with results posted Tuesday morning. “Our mission at the Wetumpka TEA Party is to educate citizens on national, state and local issues and help them get involved in our representative government,” said Wetumpka Tea Party founder Becky Gerritson. “It is important that people vote for their elected officials because they know what the candidates stand for and do not just rely on 30 second commercials and attractive yard signs. This is a terrific opportunity to meet the candidates who are running for an elected position, to ask them questions and understand what each candidate stands for.” The following candidates have confirmed their attendance on Monday night: CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES Governor: Bill Hightower, Kay Ivey, Scott Dawson, Tommy Battle (will send a representative) Lieutenant Governor: Will Ainsworth, Twinkle Cavanaugh, Rusty Glover Attorney General: Chess Bedsole, Troy King, Alice Martin Auditor: Stan Cooke, Elliott Lipinsky, Jim Zeigler Secretary of State: Michael Johnson, John Merrill Treasurer: Stephen Evans, John McMillan Commissioner for Agriculture and Industries: Gerald Dial, Rick Pate (will send a representative) STATE LEGISLATURE Alabama House of Representatives 31: Dustin DeVaughn, Mike Holmes Alabama House of Representatives 88: Al Booth Alabama Senate 25: Will Barfoot, Ronda Walker Alabama Senate 30: Clyde Chambliss (Unopposed) ALABAMA COURT SYSTEM Supreme Court Chief Justice: Tom Parker AL Supreme Court Place 1: Sarah Stewart AL Court of Civil Appeals Place 1: Michelle Thomason, Pat Thetford Circuit Court 19 Judge: Bill Lewis (Unopposed) PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION Public Service Commission Place 1: Jeremy Oden, Jim Bonner Public Service Commission Place 2: Chip Beeker, Robin Litaker LOCAL AND CIRCUIT RACES: Elmore County Sheriff: Bill Franklin (Unopposed) Probate Judge (Elmore): Vicki Bonner-Ward, John Thornton Elmore County Commission Dist 4: Bart Mercer (Unopposed) Coroner (Elmore): Brad Linville, Jody Jeffcoat Circuit Clerk (Elmore): Michael Dozier, Angie Cruise-Gardner FEDERAL RACE U.S. Congress Dist 2: Rich Hobson, Bobby Bright, Barry Moore A flier for the event may be viewed here: River region candidate fair.
Attorney General candidates make their case in candidate forum
Republican candidates for attorney general shared a stage for the first time in an occasionally contentious forum that previewed a race shaping up to be one of the most hotly contested of 2018. Attorney General Steve Marshall, former U.S. Attorney Alice Martin, former Attorney General Troy King and GOP lawyer Chess Bedsole spoke Saturday to the Mid-Alabama Republican Club. Marshall, who was appointed by then-Gov. Robert Bentley, said he is running an independent office focused on enforcing the law, not politics. Martin emphasized her record prosecuting public corruption cases, while King said the state had been embarrassed by recent scandals. Martin criticized Marshall as a party-switcher. Bedsole said he was the only one who had not sought the appointment from Bentley, who resigned during an ethics investigation. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Business Council of Alabama endorses Steve Marshall for Attorney General
ProgressPAC — the political action committee of the Business Council of Alabama — on Monday announced the endorsement of incumbent Attorney General Steve Marshall in the Republican primary. “Attorney General Steve Marshall’s commitment to the rule of law, putting violent criminals in jail and working to put an end to the opioid crisis made our endorsement an easy decision. His willingness to fight federal overreach makes him a tremendous asset to Alabama’s vibrant business community,” said ProgressPAC Chairman Mike Kemp. ProgressPAC’s board of directors said they voted to endorse Marshall because of his character and his support of issues that are important to Alabama’s business community. “For these reasons and others, ProgressPAC is proud to endorse Steve Marshall in the June 5 primary,” explained Kemp. Marshall said he is honored to receive the endorsement. “ProgressPAC understands the importance of fostering a pro-business environment in Alabama and I’m honored to receive their endorsement,” said Marshall. “This support from the business community will give us great momentum heading into the June primary.” Marshall served as district attorney in Marshall County Ala. for 16 years. He built a reputation of fighting crime and was instrumental in the passage of state legislation to track the sale of ingredients used to produce crystal meth. Marshall also took a lead role supporting the passage of the Brody Act which has made it possible to prosecute criminals for two crimes if they kill or injure an unborn baby during an attack on the mother. Marshall also serves as co-chair of Governor Kay Ivey’s Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council. Steve and his wife, Bridgette, have a daughter named Faith and currently reside in Albertville, Ala. Marshall faces Alice Martin, Chess Bedsole, and Troy King in the June 5 Republican primary.
Donald Trump’s Alabama Field Director Chess Bedsole paid $64,000 in July
On October 9, 2015, then-presidential long-shot and Republican outsider Donald Trump tapped Alabama’s Chess Bedsole to be the state’s field director. Bedsole, a lawyer and municipal judge who lives in Birmingham, previously served as counsel in the U.S. Senate and was dispatched to Broward County, Florida during the 2000 Presidential election for the recount effort of President George W. Bush. Since returning home to Alabama, Bedsole has represented numerous candidates and officials across the state as well as the Alabama Republican Party. For months, Bedsole hasn’t been paid for his efforts aiding the Trump campaign. That changed in July when the consultant was paid a whopping $64,000 for his services, presumably for January through July of 2016. Prior to July’s payment, his last payment was $15,000 in December — averaging a little more than $5,000 a month in 2015. Bedsole’s recent paycheck is a mysterious one, as the campaign has paid very few employees recently despite the fact spending nearly doubled last month.
