Alabama Politics » Alabama Republican Party

GOP Poll Shows Edge in Generic Ballot for Alabama Legislature

Rick Journey — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 14:45:16 +0000

Inboxes for reporters today contain results from a statewide poll commissioned by the state GOP concerning a generic legislative ballot.

McLaughlin & Associates reports 50% of voters prefer the Republican candidate on a generic legislative ballot.
Thirty-three percent favor the Democrat in the survey.

McLaughlin says Republicans get a boost from Independent voters (49%-15%).

When asked “The Democrats have been in control of Alabama’s State Legislature for 136 years, it’s time for a change,” 61% agree with the statement.

Read more of Rick Journey’s blog here.

AL GOP considering rule change to stop crossover voting

Jonathan Hardison — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 23:25:08 +0000

It could be more than a week before we find out who will face Bradley Byrne in the runoff for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
Secretary of State Beth Chapman today said provisional ballots will be counted and the vote certified next Tuesday or Wednesday, and only after that could Tim James or Robert Bentley ask for a recount.
Right now Bentley leads James by 208 votes.
The state GOP is gearing up for what could be a big logistical nightmare and is thinking about changing its rules on who is allowed to vote in that runoff because of all of this.
Republican party officials say they are concerned that Democrats and possibly even the AEA might try to influence the outcome of the runoff election because of the AEA’s dislike for Bradley Byrne. Byrne has campaigned on his pledge to fight the AEA’s influence on state government.
Right now, Alabama Republicans allow what’s called “crossover voting,” meaning anyone can vote in their runoff elections, even if they voted in the Democratic primary on June 1st. Democrats put a rule in place several years ago that prohibits that, and Republican party chair Mike Hubbard today said he thinks the Republicans should do the same before the July 13th runoff.
“I think that’s something we ought to consider,” Hubbard said Wednesday. “And I think it makes sense, I don’t know anybody who would have a problem with that. It just stands to reason if you voted in Democrat primary, then you shouldn’t be able to come over and have an influence in who the Republican nominee is.”
The state party could put that rule in place anytime in the next couple of weeks.
Once the primary vote is certified next Tuesday, this really becomes the Alabama Republican Party’s show. If James remains in third place by just a few hundred votes, he could ask for a recount, but the Hubbard says he has to ask for it by next Friday, and be willing to pay for the whole process.
That’s just the start of what promises to be a very busy next few days at party headquarters in Homewood.
“We don’t know if a recount is going to be requested,” Hubbard said. “The earliest it could would be next Tuesday after the provisional ballots have been counted. So we’ll just have to see if there is a request, and if there is we’ll be prepared to execute it if that’s what need’s to be done.”
If James or Bentley requested a recount after Tuesday’s certification, it would be up to the state party to run the process, with the candidate picking up the tab that could run between $300,000 and $600,000.
It will be a logistical challenge, there’s no doubt,” Hubbard said. “We would have to hire workers and hire overseers to comply and do it in a short amount of time.”
The recount would involve having representatives from the state party as well as from each campaign in every county to watch the votes being counted. Hubbard says his party would like to finish all that by the end of next week.
So what do Bentley, James, and for that matter Byrne do now during this uncertainty with the clock ticking on their 6 week spring to the runoff?
“I think this is just a natural time for there to be a quiet time, if you will,” Hubbard said. “You always need to be working behind the scenes, working on your campaign and making sure you have your operations together. But it’s not a time when you’re actually out doing a whole lot of campaigning with the media.”

Alabama Republicans pick up 45th House seat in special election

Bob Howell — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 02:06:02 +0000

By Bob Howell – WSFA12 News Anchor – Montgomery, AL

State Republicans celebrate the outcome of a special election for a House seat in District 40. Here’s Phillip Bryan’s release from the State GOP:

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Republican K.L. Brown Wins Special Election; GOP Picks Up 45th Seat in Alabama House

JACKSONVILLE, AL -Following a hard fought election and a critical race for both parties, Republican K.L. Brown has overwhelmingly won the House District 40 Special Election, with unofficial results showing Brown with 56% and Democrat Rickey Whaley with 43% of the vote. Independent candidate Carol Hagan received 2.7% of the vote.

Brown’s decisive victory moves the Alabama Republican Party within 8 seats of a majority in the Alabama House of Representatives as Brown becomes the 45th Republican.

Following announcement of the election results, Rep. Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn), Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, issued the following statement:

“Today’s historic victory is a major accomplishment for our Party and a great kickoff for the 2010 elections,” Hubbard said. “On Wednesday, we will seat our 45th Republican member of the Alabama House, the most in 136 years. This is a great start to changing the culture of corruption the Democrats have enjoyed for too long in the Alabama Legislature.

“We congratulate K.L. Brown, an exceptional conservative candidate who will be the voice of the people of Calhoun County and not the puppet of special interest groups in Montgomery.”

State GOP Chair reacts to Republican win in Mass.

Bob Howell — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:20:23 +0000

By Bob Howell – WSFA 12 News Anchor, Montgomery, AL

State GOP Party Chairman, Rep. Mike Hubbard of Auburn writes about the significance of the Republican victory in the U.S. Senate special election in Massachusetts.

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“Today, the people sent a message to Democrats that government is still for the people, of the people and by the people. The results of the Massachusetts election further proves that Democrats are out of touch and that Americans will not sit idle and allow big government to take over. The Alabama Republican Party congratulates Scott Brown, and takes the message sent tonight as an affirmation of the conservative principles that our Party holds so dear. We firmly believe that Brown’s victory tonight will be one of many for Republicans in 2010 – both natinally and in Alabama. Alabamians need jobs, not wasteful spending and political rhetoric – Democrats have offered only the latter for far too long.”

Ala GOP lauds MLK legacy

Bob Howell — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:22:53 +0000

By Bob Howell – WSFA 12 News Anchor, Montgomery, AL

The leader of the Republican Party in the state, Rep. Mike Hubbard of Auburn issued this statement on the impact of Martin Luther King’s legacy in Alabama:

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Birmingham, AL – The Alabama Republican Party honors the accomplishments and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as we continue to work to make his dream of opportunity and equality a living reality for all people.

Rep. Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn), Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party released the following statement regarding Dr. King’s legacy:

“The principles of freedom, justice and equality for all people were Dr. King’s dream of ensuring, and we humbly honor his legacy today. I am proud that the Alabama Republican Party’s ideals are based on those in which Dr. King championed. The impact that Martin Luther King had on our nation proves that we must all remain vigilant and take action when government begins to infringe on our rights – and offers proof that one voice can fuel a movement, which can change a nation.”