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GOP dominates in Alabama Legislature
FOX10TV.com ^ | Nov. 5, 2014 | Kim Chandler

Posted on 11/05/2014 5:53:47 AM PST by alancarp

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Republicans strengthened their grip on the Alabama Statehouse in a Tuesday election sweep that saw House Speaker Mike Hubbard win re-election despite his indictment on felony ethics charges.

The GOP built upon the existing supermajority won in 2010 and increased their numbers in both chambers. Republicans will hold nearly 70 percent of the seats, a formidable number that will allow them to cut off filibusters and push through legislation if they stick together as a caucus.

...[snip]...

Republican defeated several Democratic incumbents in the 105-member House of Representatives to boost their numbers from 66 to 72 seats, according to unofficial returns. In the 35-member Alabama Senate, Republicans went from holding 23 seats to at least 25.

A lion of the Alabama Democratic Party is facing possible defeat in the single state Senate race that remained undecided Wednesday morning.

Seven-term state senator Roger Bedford of Russellville trailed by just 60 votes to Republican Larry Stutts. The election’s razor-thin margin will almost certainly trigger an automatic recount under Alabama election law. Republicans had futilely targeted Bedford’s district for more than decade but were never unable to unseat the fiery Democrat.

(Excerpt) Read more at fox10tv.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Politics/Elections; US: Alabama
KEYWORDS: alabama; election; legislature; supermajority
Alabama Republicans had owned 87 of the 140 total legislative seats in the state before last night. Now it looks like something around 98+. A LOT of money poured into the campaign from the AEA (Teacher's Union) has won nothing for the Democrats - after their entire stated goal was to 'break the super-majority'.

Instead, Alabama voters went in the opposite direction: completely away from the Dems.

That race referred to in the last two paragraphs is of particular note. It was redrawn - by the GOP - to be a relative safe Democrat seat as they carved up the districts after the 2010 census. As of this morning, it looks like the Democrats have lost even THAT seat.

Crazy/absurd radio ads from the (losing) Bedford campaign over the last weekend seemed to suggest that they suddenly knew they were in trouble - and it looks like they have indeed lost, notwithstanding the recount.

Alabama may now be the reddest state in the nation with 2/3rd+ majorities in both state houses and all major statewide offices.

1 posted on 11/05/2014 5:53:47 AM PST by alancarp
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To: alancarp

Being from the state, I can offer this insight.

Most people from the state are not pure-Republicans or pure-Democrats. Generally, big-talk from DC doesn’t score. Obama-Care didn’t deliver lower rates or fix what was broken. Most people don’t want unions in the middle of delivering jobs. The guy who shows up to say it’s the government’s job to inspect/audit ditches....will be laughed at. The minute you threaten hunting and fishing in any fashion...you will be asked to leave. A big hocus-pocus tax refund created by a RINO that equals a whopping $135....is mostly laughed over.


2 posted on 11/05/2014 6:12:01 AM PST by pepsionice
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To: alancarp

“However, Democrats argued the lines packed black voters into majority-minority districts making it difficult for Democrats, particularly white Democrats, to win outside those minority districts.”

Can’t help snickering here - the Democrats DEMANDED that blacks be packed into their own districts, so that black democrats could be elected to office at state and federal levels...and Republicans were glad to comply.

So at the federal level you wind up with something like this (random numbers, but they make the point):

With packing: 240 Reps, 195 Dems (including 30 black Dems)

Without packing: 220 Reps, 215 Dems (including 5 black Dems)

So the blacks definitely get to send more people to DC, but their party is virtually powerless because of that. Additionally, as mentioned in the article, white Dems in the South are simply out of luck - there is no room for them when blacks are packed-in.

Love it!


3 posted on 11/05/2014 6:20:37 AM PST by BobL (Don't forget - Today's Russians learn math WITHOUT calculators.)
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To: alancarp
"Alabama may now be the reddest state in the nation with 2/3rd+ majorities in both state houses and all major statewide offices. "

Baldwin County, on the east bay of Mobile, kicked out every Democrat from elected positions in the county during the last elections.

There are zero Democrats in (elected) government positions in Baldwin county.

4 posted on 11/05/2014 6:38:47 AM PST by blam (Jeff Sessions For President)
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To: alancarp

Nice.


5 posted on 11/05/2014 6:45:40 AM PST by Impy (Voting democrat out of spite? Then you are America's enemy, like every other rat voter.)
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To: pepsionice

I agree with my fellow Alabamian. We pretty much don’t like any of them. Just leave us alone. We do love our junior Senator Jeff Sessions. No one will even run against him.


6 posted on 11/05/2014 6:51:48 AM PST by Himyar (Sessions: the only real man in D.C.)
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To: Himyar

Jeff is pretty old, and I think the game is for him to do twelve months, retire, and the Gov pick some replacement (ex-gov Riley’s son maybe) to replace him, with a new election in 2016. I’d like to see someone else but Jeff’s done a good enough job.


7 posted on 11/05/2014 7:01:30 AM PST by pepsionice
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To: pepsionice

I’m in the Tennessee River Valley - it’s similar to the rest of the state, but not quite. So long as the GOP does what it needs to do, we’ll hold those seats. In fact, the gains from what happened in 2012 say as much.

That said, I concur with your assessment (I haven’t been here all my life, but my entire extended family has).


8 posted on 11/05/2014 7:04:28 AM PST by alancarp
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To: pepsionice

Sessions turns 68 next month. I see no reason yet why he’d retire, especially right after a reelection victory. You still have Shelby in, and he’s 80. Unless he goes native, I don’t see why Jeff can’t do two more terms and retire at 80. Shelby needs to retire in 2016 when his term ends.


9 posted on 11/05/2014 12:38:49 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
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