Randy Kelley elected chair of Alabama Democratic Party
Randy Kelley was elected chair of the Alabama Democratic Party on Saturday in a victory for longtime powerbroker Joe Reed, who lost a battle over control three years ago. Kelley won with 104 votes out of the 202 cast by members of the state Democratic Executive Committee. Kelley is a former vice-chair of the party but lost the position during the 2019 power struggle when the Democratic National Committee ordered new elections. “I personally know we are more in line with what Jesus stood for. He was for the least of these, and our opposition is for the most wealthy of these,” Kelley, a minister from Huntsville, told the gathered Democrats after winning the election. Kelley narrowly escaped a runoff that would have been required if no candidate captured more than 50% of the vote. Kelley defeated former congressional candidate Tabitha Isner and Josh Coleman, the president of Alabama Young Democrats. Coleman received 56 votes. Isner received 42 votes. Isner was later elected vice-chair of the party. State Rep. Chris England, who had served as party chair since the 2019 power struggle, did not seek another term as chair. Kelley’s election was a victory for Reed, who had supported former chair Nancy Worley and Kelley in the 2019 power struggle. Reed, chairman of the Alabama Democratic Conference, the state’s oldest Black political organization, had backed lawsuits that challenged bylaw changes that led to England’s election. Both of the state’s two major political parties met over the weekend. The governing body of the Alabama Republican Party passed a resolution urging the Alabama Legislature to approve closed primaries that require voters to register with a political party in order to vote in that party’s primary. Currently, Alabama has open primaries. The GOP also passed a resolution condemning the FBI raid of former President Donald Trump’s residence as harassment and a federal overreach. The FBI recovered “top secret” and even more sensitive documents from Trump’s home, according to court papers released Friday. Republished with the permissionof The Associated Press.
Young Democrats gather in Birmingham for committee meeting
Young Democrats from across the country are gathering in Alabama this weekend. The Young Democrats of America organization is holding a national committee meeting in Birmingham over the weekend. Josh Coleman, president of the Alabama Young Democrats, said it is the first time Alabama is hosting the event. It is part of an outreach effort into Republican stronghold states traditionally thought of as deeply red, Coleman said. He said the event was a “great kick-off” to the rebuilding of the Alabama Democratic Party. The state party recently changed bylaws to make sure more young voters and other key constituencies are represented on the party’s governing board. Young voters are among those who helped elect Sen. Doug Jones in 2017, Rebecca Pinn, secretary of the Young Democrats of America, said in a statement about the meeting on the group’s website. The meeting began Friday and lasted through Sunday. Republished with the Permission of the Associated Press.
Randall Woodfin names Josh Coleman as Birmingham’s first LGBTQ liaison
It may be outside of his first 100 days, but Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin is making good on yet another 100 days campaign promise: to hire an LGBT liaison to serve on my executive staff. On Sunday, Woodfin named Josh Coleman during the city’s PRIDE FEST event at Sloss Furnaces. “From our administration’s standpoint, when we watch what’s happening in our country, when we watch what’s happening at the state level, I think it’s important that municipal governments, local governments, play an active role in making sure that we’re not discriminating, that we fight against discrimination,” said Woodfin. As LGBTQ liaison, Coleman will build upon the relationship between the LGBTQ community and the City of Birmingham by focusing on the public safety of the LGBTQ communities, and by helping to prevent LGBTQ discrimination in our city wherever it may exist. Coleman currently serves as is vice president of Central Alabama Pride, a nonprofit focused on celebrating pride and diversity in Central Alabama. He also serves as the National Committeeman with the Alabama Young Democrats and is an Advisor of the Alabama Young Democrats’ LGBT caucus. Coleman also serves on the board of directors for Central Alabama Pride and the Greater Birmingham Democrats. Since 2008 Josh has served on the board of several non-profits, worked on a variety of political campaigns, and as Alabama’s volunteer coordinator for Hillary Clinton‘s 2016 presidential campaign. “It really is an honor to serve in this position, and have a mayor interested in making sure that all of its residents are represented,” said Coleman. “This is the next step in Mayor Woodfin’s commitment to having an open, fair and inclusive city.” In his new role, which begins June 25, Coleman Watch Woodfin make the announcement below:
