Democrats
Struggling Democrats hope growing union support will provide boost in midterms
With support for unions at its highest point since 1965, Democrats hope they can capitalize on that sentiment as they struggle to connect with voters on other issues.
Alabama Republicans Condemn Pro-Trump Mob As Many Vow To Continue The Fight
Alabama lawmakers in Congress ranged in their reactions to Wednesday's Capitol breach by a mob of Trump supporters.
Alabama Democrats Under New Leadership As Legal Battles Loom
This past weekend, members of the state Democratic Executive Committee removed party chair Nancy Worley and elected state Rep. Chris England chair instead. Worley sued to stop the meeting from happening, but ultimately the Alabama Supreme Court allowed it to go on. An attorney for the faction that pushed for new leadership says looming legal battles are not a cause for concern.
Jones, Byrne Lead in Fundraising Among Candidates in 2020 US Senate Race
Democratic incumbent Sen. Doug Jones raised $1.8 million for his election campaign during the past three months, outpacing the still-forming field of candidates for Alabama’s 2020 U.S. Senate elections.
Jefferson County’s First African American Sheriff Wants to Boost Diversity
Mark Pettway begins his job as Jefferson County sheriff today. He’s the first African American to hold that post after defeating longtime Republican Sheriff Mike Hale in November. One of his priorities is to hire and promote more women and minorities in law enforcement.
New Jefferson County Commission Takes Office With Three New Members
Sheila Tyson and Lashunda Scales were sworn into office as Jefferson County commissioners Wednesday, along with Steve Ammons, a former Vestavia Hills City Council member. Tyson and Scales are Democrats; Ammons is a Republican. The Republican majority continues on the commission with incumbents Jimmie Stephens and Joe Knight.
Jeffco Voters Elect County’s First African-American Sheriff and District Attorney
Mark Pettway upsets longtime Sheriff Mike Hale and Danny Carr wins Jefferson County District Attorney.
The Biggest Donors Eclipse The Rest In Gubernatorial Campaigns
By Glenn Stephens Hundreds of thousands of dollars from Alabama’s richest person and a group of Tuscaloosa-based political action committees are fueling the race for governor as the campaign enters its final three months. Incumbent Republican Gov. Kay Ivey and Democratic challenger Walt Maddox, mayor of Tuscaloosa, have gotten most of their campaign money from […]
Jefferson County Unveils New Mural Showing Diversity
A new mural unveiled at the Jefferson County courthouse Tuesday depicts a diversity community. It's an answer to two murals from the 1930s which show slaves picking cotton and shirtless industrial laborers.
The Governor’s Race: Candidate Lineup
Want to know more about who’s running for governor? Here are the candidate profiles as they appeared originally here by Cheryl Slocum with the non-profit news site BirminghamWatch. Eleven people have lined up to run for governor this year. Among the candidates are some of the state’s best-known names, including the governor herself, and some that […]
Black Women Boosted Doug Jones to Victory. Now What?
To black women in Alabama who propelled U.S. Sen. Doug Jones to victory in the Dec. 12 special election, it was a way to make a powerful statement about the need for greater focus on their priorities.
Three Reasons Alabama Made Democrat Doug Jones its Next Senator
In a dramatic and highly contentious race, Alabama voters on Tuesday elected Democrat Doug Jones to the U.S. Senate. Jones will occupy the seat previously held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. This marks the first time in a quarter century an Alabama Democrat won a U.S. Senate seat.
Doug Jones and Roy Moore Vary Widely on Top Issues in Senate Race – BirminghamWatch
BirminghamWatch’s Glenn Stephens took a look at where US Senate candidates Roy Moore and Doug Jones stand on key issues. Here’s their story. Doug Jones and Roy Moore Alabama voters will choose between candidates with contrasting views on topics ranging from health care to abortion, and taxation to immigration when they vote for a new U.S. […]
Apathy and a Divide Among Some Black Voters
If he has a chance at defeating conservative Republican Roy Moore in Tuesday’s US Senate election, Democrat Doug Jones needs lots of votes, especially from African Americans. But some in the black community say it’ll take more than a history of prosecuting the KKK members responsible for the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing to energize them to support Jones.
Democrats Hope for a Comeback in the U.S. Senate Race
Doug Jones is best known for successfully prosecuting the 16th Street Baptist Church bombers and helping indict Birmingham abortion clinic bomber Eric Robert Rudolph. Now the former US Attorney is running in the Democratic Senate primary for the seat formerly held by Jeff Sessions.
Analysis Shows Great Voting Divide in Jefferson County, A Win for Ben Carson
Less than half of Jefferson County's 411,838 registered voters went to the polls on Tuesday. A total of 82,928 voted in the Democratic Primary and 93,985 voted in the Republican Primary.
Alabama Clinton Supporters Look to November After Super Tuesday Win
Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton stormed through Alabama and much of the South on Super Tuesday, clinching victories. Clinton claimed a commanding primary victory over Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders with 78 percent of the vote in the Alabama Democratic primary. Clinton was propelled by heavy support from African-American voters. Nine in 10 black Democrats supported Clinton.
Alabama Democrats Trying to Get Their Groove Back
Being a Democrat in Alabama wasn’t always taboo. They held a majority in state government for more than a century. But that changed in 2010 when they lost those seats to Republicans. In one of the state’s most conservative counties, Democrats are working on getting their groove back. “We have to get Democrats to come […]
A Look Ahead to the “SEC Primary”
The SEC Primary, also known as Super Tuesday is next week. A look ahead at what we can expect to see when Alabamians go to the polls, and an update on the ethics trial of House Speaker Mike Hubbard. State Legislators are now getting involved. Hear the latest from Kyle Whitmire the state political columnist for The Birmingham News and AL dot com.
With Republicans Dominating the Ballot Box, What’s Next?
Alabama Republicans are celebrating their election victories as they maintained control of all statewide offices and all but one congressional seat. Republicans also added to their supermajority in the the Alabama legislature. That means 4 more years for Governor Robert Bentley and 4 more years of Republican dominance.
John Archibald: Don’t Despair about Political Corruption
Corruption seems to be gaining the spotlight in Alabama politics after being dormant for a few years. That's thanks to the indictment of Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard on 23 corruption charges. He's the latest in a long line of politicians wrapped up in corruption cases. But Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald says don't despair.
INTERVIEW: Controversial Comedian Bill Maher
For his decades-long career, comedian and commentator Bill Maher has skewered cherished customs and beliefs. Whether on his HBO show "Real Time with Bill Maher," in his film "Religulous," or doing stand-up, he doesn't shy away from controversy. Politics, drugs, faith -- nothing is sacred. He'll be performing in Birmingham this Sunday, but WBHM's Dan Carsen caught up with him first. It's a serious conversation, but it starts out on a light note and ranges far and wide from there.
Capitol Journal Update
Few issues in Alabama politics right now have drawn such strong opinions as the state’s immigration law. This week, lawmakers held the first hearing this legislative session on possible changes to the law. We hear about that and other action in Montgomery this week from Don Dailey. He’s co-host of Alabama Public Television’s Capitol Journal.
Election 2008: National Conventions
Republicans are leaving St. Paul, Minnesota, following the conclusion of the Republican National Convention. That leaves 60 days for John McCain's and Barack Obama's camps to battle it out on the campaign trail. One Republican delegate who is eager for that fight is Alabama State Senator Hank Erwin. He says he's upbeat, excited and energized about McCain as he returns to Alabama.
