Republicans Maintain Firm Control After Alabama Midterms
Republicans left no doubt about their hold on Alabama politics Tuesday. Republican incumbent Gov. Kay Ivey turned back a challenge from Democrat Walt Maddox. The Republicans kept all statewide offices and won all contested congressional races in Alabama. We take a look at the election results for Republicans with Jacksonville State University political science professor Lori Owens.
Interview Highlights
Ivey’s low-key campaign strategy and choice not to debate:
“Certain people would have liked to have heard both of their views, but she was ahead in the polls. She had no incentive to debate Walt Maddox. If she had agreed to do that, that would have elevated his status, basically. So they made a strategic decision for her not to debate him and it worked out last night.”
Whether Alabama Republicans would win regardless of the specific candidate:
“I think we’re gonna see that for a while. I think where you’ll see the battles will be in those Republican primary races. But the Republicans will have to be very careful not to overplay their hand. But the Republicans who would be vulnerable would be the incumbent Republicans. Right now they would be more vulnerable to other Republicans who might want to kick them out of office.”
Concerns for Republicans despite their dominance:
“We went from one-party Democrat and very briefly we had a strong two-party system in this state. And now, obviously, we’re very one-party Republican. But success breeds complacency. One-party-ism ultimately breeds some corruption when you don’t have another loyal opposition party that can be the watchful eye on you. The biggest danger right now to Republicans will be they will eventually start fighting among themselves the way the Democrats did when they were the dominant party. The Republicans already do have various factions. So when you don’t have a strong opposing party, you’ve got to have an enemy somewhere and the enemy will be inside the tent, if you will.”
How a forgotten tape recorder led to Tunde Adebimpe’s debut album
The TV on the Radio cofounder talks about making Thee Black Boltz.
A dad accused of killing his 3 young daughters is on the run. Here’s what to know
Travis Decker is accused of suffocating his daughters during a recent camping trip in Washington. Authorities say the Army veteran is "well versed in wilderness survival" and considered dangerous.
Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, Pew study says
The Pew report reveals how religious disaffiliation and population growth have influenced the global religious landscape.
Canceled climate grants would have cut pollution while boosting production, jobs at two Alabama ironworks
The U.S. Department of Energy rescinded $3.7 billion in clean energy grants last month, saying the projects selected would not generate a positive return on investment.
Cold case mystery ‘Dept. Q’ focuses more on the characters than crime
An Edinburgh police detective and a team of misfits search for a woman who vanished several years earlier. Critic John Powers says the byplay of characters makes Dept. Q worth watching.
Gunman kills 9 in a mass shooting at a school in Austria
"There are no words to describe the pain, the disbelief and the grief that all of Austria feels right now," said the country's Chancellor Christian Stocker. "Our country has fallen silent in horror."