Moore’s Win Wasn’t About Trump
Controversial former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore took a major step Tuesday in writing the next chapter of his political life. Moore defeated Senator Luther Strange in a Republican runoff for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Moore will now face Democrat Doug Jones in a general election December 12th. For analysis on the results we hear from David Mowery, an independent political consultant in Montgomery.
Interview highlights
On the national narrative that Moore’s win is a rebuke of President Donald Trump because of his endorsement of Luther Strange:
“That’s the easy narrative. Most of the time people learn the wrong lessons from elections and in this case I don’t think that’s correct at all. I think it has a lot more to do with dynamics on the ground. Having a former chief justice that is very strong with the hard right and that’s a good portion of the electorate, especially in a Republican primary in our state, and having a flawed, appointed candidate in Luther Strange … I think the election was decided outside of Trump or Bannon or Palin or anybody really.”
On the shape of the general election for Senate:
“I think it really depends on how much money the national Democrats can pump in and how much money the national Republicans can pump in. Roy Moore is right at 50-50 with the general election electorate usually. But this is a different dynamic because this is a special [election]. You don’t have anything else driving turnout to get Democrats or Republicans to the polls. So it’s almost like anything can happen.”
On Democrat Doug Jones’ chances in the race:
“I think that they’re not great. But I think that this may be the perfect storm … If the Senate Leadership Fund or the Trump people or whatever want to link him to national Democratic figures and really kind of go in on some of the cases that he’s been involved in and things like that, I think that he could have trouble. On the other hand, Roy Moore is a flawed candidate, not great fundraiser … Doug has a chance, but it’s a slim chance.”
Alabama’s racial, ethnic health disparities are ‘more severe’ than other states, report says
Data from the Commonwealth Fund show that the quality of care people receive and their health outcomes worsened because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What’s your favorite thing about Alabama?
That's the question we put to those at our recent News and Brews community pop-ups at Hop City and Saturn in Birmingham.
Q&A: A former New Orleans police chief says it’s time the U.S. changes its marijuana policy
Ronal Serpas is one of 32 law enforcement leaders who signed a letter sent to President Biden in support of moving marijuana to a Schedule III drug.
How food stamps could play a key role in fixing Jackson’s broken water system
JXN Water's affordability plan aims to raise much-needed revenue while offering discounts to customers in need, but it is currently tied up in court.
Alabama mine cited for federal safety violations since home explosion led to grandfather’s death, grandson’s injuries
Following a home explosion that killed one and critically injured another, residents want to know more about the mine under their community. So far, their questions have largely gone unanswered.
Crawfish prices are finally dropping, but farmers and fishers are still struggling
Last year’s devastating drought in Louisiana killed off large crops of crawfish, leading to a tough season for farmers, fishers and seafood lovers.
