Incumbent Gov. Kay Ivey wins GOP primary in Alabama
FILE - Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey delivers her state of the state address at the State Capitol building in Montgomery, Ala., Tuesday evening, Jan. 11, 2022. In a pair of campaign ads this GOP primary season, Ivey falsely declares the election was stolen from Donald Trump and accuses the federal government of “shipping illegal immigrants" to the state.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Incumbent Gov. Kay Ivey has won the crowded Republican primary for governor in Alabama, according to The Associated Press.
Out of eight total competitors, Ivey’s two biggest rivals, Tim James and Lynda Blanchard have never been elected to public office. However, Blanchard was appointed in 2019 by then-President Donald Trump to serve as an Ambassador to Slovenia and James is the son of former Alabama governor, Fob James.
James, Blanchard and other challengers attacked Ivey during the campaign for not being conservative enough. Dean Odle, another primary candidate for governor called her, “a Democrat in Republican clothing.”
But Ivey has a strong conservative record. This year, Ivey signed one of the most restrictive laws around transgender care — criminalizing gender-affirming treatments for minors.
“I believe very strongly that if the Good Lord made you a boy, you are a boy, and if he made you a girl, you are a girl,” Ivey said when she signed the legislation.
She also signed a law in 2022 to allow Alabamians to be able to carry a concealed gun without a permit.
In 2019, she signed the “Human Life Protection Act,” which would outlaw abortion in Alabama if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.
And though her messaging waivered at times, she also had made false claims about widespread 2020 election fraud.
Speaking at her watch party in Montgomery, Ala., before the race was called by the AP, Ivey said:
“Tonight marks the end of one campaign and the beginning of another. And y’all, this is the most important one yet. The Democrats are going to do everything they can try to take back power in this state and we cannot let them reverse the progress we’ve made in Alabama.”
A former educator, Ivey, who is 77, was sworn in as governor of Alabama after her predecessor resigned in 2017. She was then elected to a full term in 2018 and is seen as having an easy path to victory this November. Her Democratic challenger is unknown at this point — that primary race heads to a runoff. Alabama hasn’t elected a Democrat for governor in nearly a quarter-century.
9(MDA2ODEyMDA3MDEyOTUxNTAzNTI4NWJlNw004))
Inside a secret Ukrainian drone command post, where Russian soldiers are seen as prey
NPR visits a secret drone command center near the front lines in eastern Ukraine, where crews are using remote-controlled aircraft to hunt Russian soldiers on the battlefield.
This mashed potatoes recipe breaks all the rules for a tasty twist on the holiday dish
A mashed potatoes recipe that breaks all the rules and perks up your holiday meal
In a year of tough news, these are some of the stories that made us smile in 2024
Whether we were paying attention or not, 2024 was filled with good news. In case you weren't, NPR's member stations have been keeping track. Here are some of the stories that made us smile this year.
Here are two seismic changes pushing Honda and Nissan into merger talks
The two major Japanese automakers are discussing a merger. Here is what to know, from the reasons why they are doing this to how it could impact you.
‘Close Your Eyes’ is the best film of 2024 — but these 10 others are also contenders
Fresh Air's film critic takes stock of the past 12 months' worth of movies, pairing 10 of his favorites, and picking one that stands alone.
How to protect yourself from AI scams this holiday season
Generative AI is making it easier for fraudsters to dupe people, now more than ever. Protect yourself from scams this holiday season with these five tips.
