Richard Shelby wins re-election, 6th term in US Senate
Alabama U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby won re-election to the U.S. Senate on Tuesday night, besting Democratic challenger Ron Crumpton in what turned out to be a decisive victory for the incumbent Republican. Crumpton, a Democrat from Shelby County with a history of political activism, is best known in the Yellowhammer State as an advocate for legalizing medicinal marijuana. “I want to thank the people of Alabama for once again placing their trust in me to serve as their U.S. senator,” said Shelby following the results. “This responsibility is one that I do not take lightly and I am honored by the support I received tonight. “As we work together to advance conservative principles, my focus will be on policies that prioritize Alabamians and all Americans — not Washington. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to stand up on behalf of our great state and work towards a prosperous future for our children and grandchildren.” Shelby, 82, will begin his sixth term in U.S. Senate in January 2017.
Incumbent Richard Shelby easily wins Alabama primary over sea of challengers
Voters across the Yellowhammer State decisively re-elected Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) to continue as their representative in the U.S. Senate . The race was called with Shelby leading by over 35 points. With 99 percent of Alabama’s precinct’s accounted for, his closest opponent former Marine Capt. Jonathan McConnell garnered only 28 percent of the vote to Shelby’s 65 percent, with all other challengers taking only about 8 percent of the vote. “I am honored that the people of Alabama have once again trusted me to be the Republican nominee for the United States Senate,” said Shelby following his victory. “Serving as your Senator is a privilege and responsibility that I do not take lightly, and I will continue to stand up against big government for all Alabamians and Americans.” Shelby continued, “Tonight’s victory would not be possible without the countless volunteers and supporters who worked to help me advance our conservative message across the state. I am grateful for each and every vote I received today, and I look forward to continuing the conservative fight in the General Election.” Shelby now moves to the General Election on November 8 and will take on Democratic victor Ron Crumpton.
In Alabama congressional races, incumbents stay safe
Despite incessant worrying over what Donald Trump-anti-incumbent-fueled voter turnout would mean at the polls, all members of the Alabama congressional delegation managed to hold on to their seats in Tuesday’s primary election. U.S. Senate Republican Richard Shelby, who was first elected to the Senate in 1986, faced challenges from four Republican opponents. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Shelby won by over 35 points. His closest opponent former Marine Capt. Jonathan McConnell garnered only 28 percent of the vote to Shelby’s 65 percent, with all other challengers taking only about 8 percent of the vote. On the Democratic side, business owner Shadrack McGill, who served in the state Senate from 2010 and 2014, and challengers John Martin, Marcus Bowman and Ron Crumpton faced off also in hopes of unseating Shelby, with Crumpton taking home the Democratic nomination, winning 56 percent of the vote. U.S. House of Representatives AL-01 Former state senator U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne secured his first full term in office after defeating challenger Dean Young. Byrne, first elected to Congress in a special election in 2013, took home 60 percent of the vote, with 100 percent of precincts reporting. AL-02 Former Montgomery City Council member and three-term Congresswoman, U.S. Rep. Martha Roby defeated Wetumpka Tea Party founder Becky Gerritson to represent the 2nd District, which includes much of Montgomery and southeast Alabama. Roby won slightly more than 66 percent of the vote, meanwhile Gerritson took home only 27 percent of the vote, and Bob Rogers just over 5 percent. AL-03 First elected to the House in 2003, former Calhoun County commissioner U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers defeated longtime Auburn public school administrator Larry DiChiara to represent the 3rd District, which covers east-central Alabama. Rogers won 76 percent of the vote to DiChiara 24 percent. Standing between Rogers and his eighth term in Congress is Jesse Smith. Smith, a Phenix City native, was was unchallenged for the Democratic nomination. AL-04 Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04) defeated opponent Phil Norris the Republican nomination for representative of Alabama’s 4th Congressional District, moving one step closer to his eleventh term in office. First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996, Aderholt received 102,348 votes, 81 percent, with 100 percent of precincts reporting. AL-05 Third term Congressman Rep. Mo Brooks, who represents Alabama’s 5th District — encompassing the counties of Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison, Morgan and most of Jackson — was un-opposed. AL-06 Co-founder and former longtime president of the Alabama Policy Institute, U.S. Congressman Gary Palmer, was un-opposed. Palmer is Alabama’s newest Congressman and first elected in 2014 to represent portions of Birmingham, nearly all of Jefferson County outside of Birmingham, and the entirety of Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Colbert, Coosa and Shelby counties. AL-07 Alabama’s lone Democratic representative, Terri Sewell, who assumed office in 2011 was un-opposed. Her district encompasses portions of Birmingham,Tuscaloosa and Montgomery.
Get to know Ron Crumpton, Democratic challenger to GOP incumbent Richard Shelby
Sen. Richard Shelby, who has represented Alabama in Washington since 1986, is facing opposition on both sides this year. One of those opposing the long-time senator is Ron Crumpton, a Democrat from Shelby County with a history of political activism and big ideas for Alabama. Crumpton took his first job at Vestavia Bowl, where he learned to repair the various machines that run the bowling alley, and worked as a landscaper spring and summer. After a back injury ended his career in mechanics and landscaping, Crumpton pursued a degree in Political Science and Journalism at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Originally planning to be a journalist, Crumpton wrote an article for UAB’s school magazine on the merits of medical marijuana. The article was picked up by several state news outlets and eventually led Crumpton to get involved with legislation that was making its way through the state Legislature. From there, Crumpton spent about eight years lobbying politicians in Alabama and testifying before multiple committees, including the first joint hearing on sentencing reform. When Jeff Sessions, Alabama’s junior U.S. senator, faced no opposition in 2014, Crumpton vowed that Shelby would not have that opportunity in 2016. “I was tired of seeing Republicans run unopposed,” Crumpton said. “And I was tired of seeing Democrats run to the right and get trampled in general elections.” Through his website, Crumpton has released an ambitious “9-Point Plan for the Economy” and an “11-Point Plan for Social Justice.” His plan for the economy calls for raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, addressing equal pay for women, breaking up the “too-big-to-fail” banks, ending tax breaks for companies moving overseas, investing in infrastructure and education and more. “The majority of these schools are too small, antiquated and just don’t serve their purpose,” Crumpton said of his plan to invest in education. “How can we expect our children to learn the technology of the future when they’re using the technology of the past?” “You can’t be against raising the minimum wage and support cutting social programs and say you’re for the people of Alabama,” Crumpton said, taking a dig at Shelby’s record. Crumpton noted that Shelby currently sponsors and co-sponsors the fewest bills in the Senate and garners the lowest number of co-sponsors for his legislation. “Apparently, all he’s doing is running around fighting Obama,” Crumpton said. “That’s not doing the people of Alabama any good.” While Crumpton acknowledged it will be difficult to match Shelby’s campaign account – whose money comes mostly from Boeing, Lockheed Martin and others, according to OpenSecrets.org – he believes his message will effectively reach its audience. “I think Senator Shelby is under the misconception that working for defense contractors is the same as working for Alabamians; it’s not,” Crumpton said. “I think we can get the support; we’ve just got to point out that he’s not working for Alabama.” Specifically, Crumpton plans to discuss Shelby’s votes to raise the retirement age, to turn Social Security into a voucher program, and to create a flat-tax that would cause seniors to pay highers taxes on Social Security and Medicare benefits. Further, Shelby has voted against provisions to assist veterans and Sessions has called such efforts an “entitlement we can’t afford.” “I think our veterans are an entitlement that we can afford,” Crumpton said. “We seriously need to look at how we do things in this country and in this state.” — This part is part of our ongoing “Get to know” series spotlighting the various candidates in the 2016 Senate race. Click here to get to know the other candidates we’ve highlighted thus far.
