Primary Runoff Election 2014 Results
Alabama voters made their selections in statewide, state legislative, congressional and local primary runoffs Tuesday.
In a race closely watched in North Alabama, policy analyst Gary Palmer secured the Republican nomination in Alabama’s 6th Congressional district. Palmer defeated State Representative Paul DeMarco. The six weeks between the June primary and the Tuesday runoff were marked by heated campaigning and negative ads. Alabama’s 6th Congressional district is solidly Republican, giving Palmer a high chance of winning the general election in November. The winner of that race replaces retiring longtime U.S. Representative Spencer Bachus of Vestavia Hills.
Here are the results from key races with the winner declared by the Associated Press.
Statewide Races
Secretary of State (GOP)
100 percent precincts reporting
John Merrill – 53 percent
Reese McKinney – 47 percent
Auditor (GOP)
100 percent precincts reporting
Jim Zeigler – 65 percent
Dale Peterson – 35 percent
Public Service Comm Place 2 (GOP)
100 percent precincts reporting
Chip Beeker – 59 percent
Terry Dunn – 41 percent
Congressional Race
U.S. House District 6 (GOP)
100 percent precincts reporting
Gary Palmer – 64 percent
Paul DeMarco – 36 percent
Alabama voters also approved a constitutional amendment that will allow cotton farmers to vote to make a fee mandatory that they have been paying voluntarily on each bale of cotton.
With 99 percent of the precincts reporting Tuesday night, the constitutional amendment was passing with 67 percent voting yes and 33 percent voting no.
The $1 a bale fee is now paid on all cotton when it’s delivered to the gin, but those who don’t want to pay it can get a refund. Less than 10 percent usually request a refund. The fee is used for cotton promotion and research.
The constitutional amendment drew supported from the Alabama Farmers Federation and other agricultural groups.
Alabama coal mine keeps digging after hundreds of fines and a fatal explosion
Following the death of a grandfather, Crimson Oak Grove Resources has left a community afraid for their homes and lives. An expert warns one resident may need to evacuate her home while she still can.
Florida’s 6-week abortion ban will have a ‘snowball effect’ on residents across the South
Abortion rights advocates say the ban will likely force many to travel farther for abortion care and endure pregnancy and childbirth against their will.
Attitudes among Alabama lawmakers softening on Medicaid expansion
Alabama is one of ten states which has not expanded Medicaid. Republican leaders have pushed back against the idea for years.
Birmingham is 3rd worst in the Southeast for ozone pollution, new report says
The American Lung Association's "State of the Air" report shows some metro areas in the Gulf States continue to have poor air quality.
Why haven’t Kansas and Alabama — among other holdouts — expanded access to Medicaid?
Only 10 states have not joined the federal program that expands Medicaid to people who are still in the "coverage gap" for health care
Once praised, settlement to help sickened BP oil spill workers leaves most with nearly nothing
Thousands of ordinary people who helped clean up after the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico say they got sick. A court settlement was supposed to help compensate them, but it hasn’t turned out as expected.
