From our state House studio in Montgomery.

I'm Todd Stacey, welcome to Capitol Journal.

You'll have to forgive our unusual.

Open the flooding has our equipment a little wonky these days.

The highly anticipated primary election is finally over, as voters went to the polls o Tuesday to make their selections for who the Republican and Democratic nominees will be this November.

Some of those races are finished, while others are headed to a runoff on June 16th.

We'll start our coverage at th top of the ticket for governor.

There were no surprises this time in either contest.

Tommy Tuberville who decided to forgo reelection to the Senate to run for governor, won the Republican nomination with 85% of the vote.

He told supporters gathered at the Vulcan in Birmingham that he won't take the general election for granted.

The former Auburn coach said he believes he's running against an ideology rather than an opponent.

You know.

What about you're running against, the same guy you ran against, a few years ago.

Then must mean I'm not running against him.

I'm really not.

You know, I'm running against.

I'm running against socialism and communism.

I'm running against people that believe in killing the unborn.

I'm running against people.

My God, folks, I'm running against people that I don't kno if they believe in God anymore.

I'm running against people tha want to tear down our military.

I'm running against people that absolutely want to change this country.

And right, everybody a check and say everything's going to be great, but who's going to work and who's going to make the money?

I'm not running against a person.

I'm running against an ideology that is so bad, that is so far left, that has nothing to do with the last 250 years that this country has been great, that it's going to be it' going to be fun to run against because they have nothing positive to say.

We're going to talk about how great this country is and how much greater we can make it, how much greater we can make the state of Alabama.

In th Democratic primary, former U.S.

Senator Doug Jones ran away with the election, winning 78% of the vote.

He told his supporters he wants to unite Alabamians with a common purpose to change the state for the better.

This campaign started and has always rested on one simple belief that there's enough folk in Alabama who refuse to accept the way things are the way things have always been.

They've refused to say that the way they've always been is the way they're always going to be.

We're going to change that.

So let me ask you guys a question.

Do you hope and plan for a better future for yourself your family and your community?

Well, if you do and, Lord God, I hope you do.

Let's, let's let's admit that a competent, honest, responsive state government is critically important to realizing that potential.

That's what we're looking for.

Look at where Alabama is right now.

And I'm asking all of you, but also the folks that may be watching this looking.

Ask yourself right now, can we do better?

Can we do better than where we are?

I think so.

And starting here tonight, we can begin that change.

Perhaps the biggest race on the ballot this year was for the U.S.

Senate seat being vacated by Tuberville after a hard fought campaign.

That race is headed to a runoff between Congressman Barrymore and former Navy Seal Jared Hudson.

Alex Angle reports from Washington on the dynamics of that race and what comes next.

The field to succeed Senato Tommy Tuberville has narrowed.

Support has begun to coalesce around Congressman Barry Moore's Senate bid, but Jared Hudson could still put up a strong fight.

As we enter runoff season.

Backed by President Donald Trump, Barry Moor led the Republican race for U.S.

Senate Tuesday night, securing 39% of the primary vote.

Jared Hudson and Alabam Attorney General Steve Marshall battled it out for second place much of primary night.

But once Jefferson County's votes were counted, Hudson pulled ahead.

He's from the Birmingham area.

Speaking for sick of career politicians.

They're sick of the same old, same old.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.

And I think that's why Congressman Moore, I mean, almost $10 million worth of spin.

The Joker couldn't even break 40%.

Hudson leaned on his political outsider status to ascend from a relatively unknown statewide candidate to one competing against a sitting congressman and besting Marshall, who's been the attorney general for nearly a decade.

While Hudson dominated in the Birmingham area, more easily won in Baldwin County, the Wiregrass, and made headway in north Alabama.

Now, the battle for each to capture votes in their non-dominan areas in the state will be key in the runoff.

We're excited to get this win tonight.

We literally started this race.

Nobody knew who Barry Moore was because guess we have South Alabam people down here know us, right?

But if you go north to Montgomery or Birmingham or Huntsville, they didn't know who we were.

And so we were literally we came from last place in the first poll to first place tonight.

Moore also picked up a prominent endorsement on Thursday.

The Alabama Farmers Federation PAC is now backing him after previously supporting Marshall's Senate bid.

The U.S.

Senate Democrati race is also set for a runoff.

Attorney Everett Wes and civil rights advocate Dakari Lariat will face of against each other next month.

The runoffs are set for June 16th.

Reporting in Washington, Alex Ingle, Capital Journal.

Thank you.

Alex.

Another big race on the ballot was for Attorney General.

And it too is headed to a runoff.

Catherine Robertson led the way with 40% of the vote followed by Jay Mitchell with 34% and Pamela Casey with 25%.

That means Robertson and Mitchell will go to a runoff.

Robertson said she was eager to start campaigning again for the election on June 16th.

They've thrown a lot at m over the last couple of weeks, and so to come in with a commanding lead like this shows tha people really do their homework.

And I think they can say the difference between real leadership and authenticity and the other stuff.

And so I want you all to know I'm going to go ou over the next couple of weeks, and I'm going to wor hard to earn every single vote and get this thing done.

On June 16th.

Mitchell said he wants to remain on offense going into this runoff.

Looking forward to the next four weeks.

Our messag about having an attorney general who's truly for the people of Alabama, it's resonating in every corner of the state.

Having an attorney general who's going to back the blue at every step.

Yes.

And, let me tell you.

We got to have an attorney general who's going to stand with law enforcement when the going gets tough.

And we got to have an attorney general who stands for life.

We got to have an attorney.

We've got abortion pills flowing across the borders of our state right now.

We've got the state, the nation's toughest pro-life law.

We've got to make sure we have an attorney general there ready to enforce that law.

And I'm going to do that.

And let's take a look at other election results down the ballot.

The Republican primary for lieutenant governor is headed to a runoff.

Former GOP Chairman John Wall led the way with 40% of the vote, and Secretary of State Wes Allen won 38% on the Democratic side.

State Representative Phillip Ensler won the nomination outright with 58% of the vote to Darrell Simmons, 42%.

Carolin Dobson is the Republican nominee for Secretary of State.

She won 65% of the vote to Christopher Horn's 22% and Glenda Jackson's 12%.

Democrat Wayne Rogers ran unopposed for his party's nomination.

State treasurer Young Boozer secured the nomination for another term, winning 68% to Steve Lollies, 32%.

Roslyn Houston ran unopposed on the Democratic side.

State Auditor Andrew Sorrel fended off a primary challenge from Derek Chinn, winnin 68% of the vote to Chen's 32%.

Violet Edwards ran unopposed and is the Democratic nominee and for Commissione of Agriculture and Industries.

Cory Hill and Kristina Warne McInnis are headed to a runoff after winning roughly 35% of the vote each.

State Senator Jack Williams came u just short with 30% of the vote.

The winner of that race will face a familiar name in November.

Former AD Commissioner Ron Sparks ran unopposed and will be the Democratic nominee.

I'll be talking more abou the election later in the show, first with House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter and then later with Democrati Party vice Chair Tabitha Eisner.

So stick around for those conversations.

The state Capitol set the stage for two major events over the last week.

First, a national demonstration in response to changing of congressional maps in Alabama and around the South.

The event brought thousands, both locally and from other states.

Randy Scott was on hand and has this story.

There's tension in the statehouse as the special session wraps up.

Citizens here to witness lawmakers working on the governor's call to address voting districts.

At times expressed their frustration with the results.

The Republican Party had that seat in, I guess, and mobile number two seat.

The congressional seat, too.

So the district two.

And so that was one of the things, you know, there's been a push through the courts to try to overtak some of these red state seats, and that's certainly what happened in that one.

And with the ruling that happened in Louisiana, we felt like i gave us a chance to maybe regain that seat, but also opened up seven.

The session ended with tempers flaring.

But the debate continues.

Behind me is the state House, which is also known as the people's House.

The last few days, that special session, the people came to talk about issues dealing with the redistricting plans that lawmakers found themselves dealing with.

Well, now that the session is over with, more people are showing up.

And because of that, they needed a bigger venue and a bigger people's house to have it in front of people from around the country came to Montgomery for the All Roads Lead South rally.

Thousands filled the streets in front of the Capitol to hear from some state leaders.

I got two messages for you today.

Let's not stand out in November.

Let's vote every time.

Are the polls open?

Let' let's have an economic strategy.

I came out to show my support for Voting Rights Day to make sure voices are heard, and that we're not going mad.

So I think we're moving forward.

So we're here to just make sur everybody gets representation.

And it's that Alabama an in this out period you get it.

It's always inspirin to see people out here like it's you know at the end of the da there's a certain part of this, you know, that is being done on, on my behalf.

I'm the beneficiary o and so it's incredibly humbling.

I'm incredibly grateful.

Incredibly thankful, not for jus what people did to get me here, but what people are doin to stand up to to keep me here.

And I know this is bigger than me.

It's bigge than the congresswoman, Terri.

So it's about a broader voice.

Visitors also weighed in.

We're here today on the grounds of the state capitol, where they're trying to suppress our vote.

Take awa two of our members of Congress.

So we want the American people to know that we're fighting.

We're fighting for justice because injustice is anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

And we know that when they come to decimate black political power, we stand together.

We fall together.

So this is one country, one destiny.

So we are going to go out.

We're going to mobilize.

We're going to organize.

Well, first and foremost, this is about today.

It's about creating a moment of freedom.

Summer 2026 to have the largest voter mobilization, that we have not seen since 65 Voting Rights Act.

And so it really requires everybody to be, on this game all across the South, all across the country.

In Montgomery.

Randy Scott, Capitol Journal.

Thank you.

Randy.

Just a few days later, the Capitol played host to different kind of demonstration, this one with patriotic music, military flyovers, and a massive new American flag draped across the columns.

State leaders officially kicked off Alabamas America 250 celebration Thursday there at the Capitol.

Governor Kay Ivey says the event is meant to honor the nation's past while looking ahead to America's 250th birthday.

Coming up in a few months, Capital Journal's Jeff Sanders was there and has this story.

Patriotic music echoe throughout downtown Montgomery as hundreds gathered on the steps of the state capitol for the official kickoff of Alabama's America 250 celebration.

The centerpiece of the event, a massive American flag hanging between the Capitol columns honoring the nation's upcoming 250th birthday.

Today, I am proud to officially unveiled this massive 250th edition of our Stars and Stripes, Governor Kay Ivey told the crowd.

There's pride not only in America's history, but also in Alabama's future.

Y'all there.

There's no better time to be an American than today.

And there's no better time to be an alabamian than right now I am.

The ceremony feature performances from the Army Band, appearances from students and state leaders, and music from country superstar and Alabama native Randy Owen.

Home to the band.

Here we rounded up the.

Home to.

Show you some great.

As the nation prepares to celebrate 250 years of independence.

Ivey says the country's founding ideals still matter today.

In the United States.

Everyone can have a try and achieve it.

In the United States, our God given freedoms are protected by those brave men and women in our forces in the United States.

Our opportunity is limitless.

So let's keep striving to be a more perfect union.

The celebration concluded with a flyover of four F-35 fighter jets roaring up Dexter Avenue and over the state Capitol.

Reporting in Montgomery.

I'm Jeff Sanders for Capitol Journal.

Thank you.

Jeff.

Governor Ivey honore six Alabama companies Wednesday during the Governor's Trade Excellence Awards.

The annual event highlights the growing impact of international trade on the state's economy.

State officials say Alabama exports reache nearly 190 countries last year, totaling more than $2 billion in goods and services.

During the ceremony Ivey praised Alabama businesses for competing on a global stage.

More tha ever, Alabama's economy is tied to an international trade.

Customers in nearly every recognized country buy American made goods and service.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Folks, just like the Chevron Williams paint motto, Alabama covers the Earth, 4000 Alabama companies or exporters.

The businesses we are honorin today demonstrate that Alabama businesses can compete and win in markets all around the world.

They creat great made in Alabama products and reinforce Alabama's reputation as the best place to do business.

And we'll be right back with tonight's guests.

Alabama Public Television is your place for quality educational services.

Free professional development for educators and childcare providers with access to free, curriculum aligned videos, lesson plans and instructional resources with PBS Learning Media and all the PBS kids programs, parents know and trust.

Learn something new every da with Alabama Public Television.

Visit us at AP tv.org/education to learn more.

Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Joining me next is House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter.

Mr.

speaker thanks for coming on the show.

It's good to be here today, as always.

Pretty cool event across the street.

It was great.

Yeah, we got to enjoy that and got to spend some time with our buddy.

Yeah.

Your friend Randy.

Oh.

And I mean, I remember ssLC him performing up ther and that was just a real treat.

My home's in Alabama.

I mean, who doesn't love to hear that?

That's right.

Blasting down the Capitol steps.

That's very cool.

It was nice.

Very nice.

Well look who just had this election.

Y'al had a really successful night.

And I'm talking about the House Republican caucus, because there were some serious challenges facing your members and some that thought some of that, you know, were predicted maybe to flip, to, to for incumbents to get beat.

But y'all really had success across the board.

We did I mean, we you know, it went really well.

I think we got a possibly getting seven out of 11.

So we lost a few seats that w would like to have held on to.

That was good.

Members has done a good job.

And you know, it's it's like any thing we we've told our members, you know, you don't get beat on what you vote on here in Montgomery.

You get bea but not work in your district.

And sometimes you take for granted the things you need to do.

And, but, you know, I think there are so many outside interference as it was in this time, more than I've ever seen in my, tenure.

So I think that had something to do with it.

Probably.

But, we had a successful night.

90% of our members didn't have any opposition.

You know, we look like we would go for seven for 11 and, got a good chance doing that.

So I would say that's pretty successful.

I was especially looking at, Representative Lomax up there in Huntsville because when I, when somebody like Mo Brooks, a former congressman, he's been elected.

Everything up there, universal name I.D.. I mean, that just when that when that happened, everybody thought, goodness, that is a real serious problem for a freshman lawmaker.

But obviously he's distinguished himself in the four years he's been here.

Turns ou he didn't have a problem at all.

No, he, won in a landslide.

And I think, you know, they had a lot a lot of variables in that probably I think him being his age and and be honest, he's done a really good job and he's elevated the leadership as a freshman.

And, and he's very smart and articulate and very well receive by the people and his district.

I told him, though, after some of the commercials he did, it's a good thin his wife didn't run against him.

She she might have had a better result.

But nice looking family, great looking family.

And, you know, Huntsville is just exploding.

And he' certainly been a part of that.

And I think people saw that.

Also Rick Ream down in the Wiregrass.

That was a serious challenge down there.

It seemed like he kind o put together a grassroots thing.

And again, a freshman lawmaker.

And so that was to me was an impressive win.

It was done a great job.

I think, to Rick, if you look at how Rick, was able to work his district, they didn't just happened during the election.

You know, he he worked his district all four years.

You know, when he got money for grants or something, he made sure he went out to the schools or to the communities and made sure that they knew that he's working for them.

And I remember going to his kickoff, man, he had just about every mayor and the superintendent and the police chief and the sheriff there.

I mean, it was amazing.

And and they just got behind him because they seen that hard work.

So it was it was a good win for him.

You know, David mone was a good guy, very good guy.

And people respected him.

But, they, they rewarded Rick because of the wor he'd been doing for him.

Yeah.

One surprise, was Matt Simpson, representative Matt Simpson down there in Baldwin County.

Incumbent gets defeated.

Lots.

I know there was lots of money going around.

I mean, that surprised you all.

I mean, it seems like there were some legal challenges to to some of these.

There was I mean, we had some we had a dark money group out of Wisconsin that wa doing some really negative ads.

And to be honest with you, they weren't.

In truth, there were faults.

And and so really, toward the end of the campaign, they filed a lawsuit for a cease and desist, and they got it.

But it was this little light.

I mean, you know, it's, it's one thing once, once it's out there, sometimes it's hard to get people understand it wasn't true.

And my thing is that, I guess you know, if you got something, you can run against somebody and tell them about what they've done, what you're going to do.

I think it's more important what you're going to do and and run a campaign like out there, rather than just go ou and tell stuff.

It's not true.

I think we've seen some of that not only in mass district, we've seen some in Phillip Petersen's district too.

And that's unfortunate.

Well let me ask you about that because it's I mean certainly I heard about in the house but all ove you go up and down the ballot.

I keep hearing about dark money outside groups a lot of gambling influence, stuff like that.

And do you think after this election, because this has been around for a while and the fly by night kind of stuff that goes on, do you think you might see some kind of campaign finance reform or, or changes to do something about it, even if it's not restrictions, maybe just transparency of where money comes from?

Yeah, I absolutely do.

I mean, I we've already talked about this, and, you know, the thing about it is we wan Alabamians to elect Alabamians.

And, you know, when you got money coming from Wisconsin from different states as poured into our state I have never seen it like this.

This is the third cycle that I've been involved in the election.

I've never seen it like this.

It was on both sides, you know, some it was for the candidate, some of it was against the candidate.

So I do think there's there's got to be restrictions and we've got to be able to kind of monitor what's going on, where it's coming from.

Yeah.

And sometimes it's too easy t just go ahead and break the law, even if the law is, you know, adequate there.

Maybe sometimes I don't know the penalties or it's easier to just go ahead and break the law, get a slap on the wrist.

But you still win the campaign, right?

Yeah.

And we've seen that in the past.

I know you've seen it, Todd.

I mean, we've had, you know, issues in the past where you'd have a mailbox that's in Tennessee.

Nobody knows where it's at, whose it is or where it come from.

That's the address they're using to send ou these mail pieces and to years.

And so and going back and look at that.

None of it was legit.

But you know, some organization used it just to be able to send their message out.

So I do thin we've got to get a grip on that because it lists they got out of hand, this, this election cycle.

And I, I suspect we'll see it more in fall.

That old saying in politics that campaig money is like water on pavement.

It finds every crack.

Yeah.

That's, that's that's silly.

I don't know if I've heard that.

That's pretty good.

I it doesn't matter how you form it.

They're going to find.

That's right.

He's going to find it.

Well, big night for your friend.

Coach Tommy Tuberville, U.S.

senator now running for governor.

Obviously didn't have a problem in the primary.

I was listen, I was up in Birmingham, listening to part of his speech.

He talked, you know, he talked about not taking it for granted.

Obviously, he's got a general election.

Doug Jones, probably the best candidate.

I think the Democrats could probably field.

So he's not taking it for granted, wants to do that.

But he also started kind of talking about issues more than we've heard, really on the campaign trail so far.

So he's clearly looking ahead to, you know, not taking it for granted, but thinking about taking office.

Again, bad juju to take things for granted.

But he's if he does win, he's going to need some help from peopl that have been around the state for a little while in terms of building an administration, is that something that we're because you're his friend and he's you understands that government wher you think you can play a role.

Yeah.

I mean we talk role on a regular basis.

You know, we had a long conversation just yesterday about some things that we were saying, not only just about coming i and being the governor, but what we've seen across the state as far as the vote turnout and our versus d turnout.

So we talked some about that.

But I think, you know, he's got a really good staff he's going to put together.

And I think they will hit the ground running.

And he certainly is.

And listening and trying to get all the information you can for people like myself and others that has been here and has, has seen the good, the bad, the ugly.

So he understands that.

And we've had several conversations about all kind of different issues being in education, there being a tax reform warmer, some of those type things.

He's excited.

I mean, I can, you know, I ca tell the secret now, probably.

But when I worked with him on his Senate campaign, he told me back then his interest was running for governor.

Really?

And, I didn't know.

I thought once he'd gotten in D.C.

and once he had kind of gotten settled in, he'd probably stay up there.

But I think his interest has always been in Alabama.

You know, that's interestin because when he did, you know, when we were all hearing these rumors and he finally confirmed that, yeah, he's going to leave the Senate, run for governor.

You know, I guess ever a lot of politicos thought, what do you think?

And, you know, because the US Senate, that's like one of the best jobs in the world.

But look now at what what's happening in Washington.

Look at the gridlock.

It doesn't look like a lot of fun.

And so now, now kind o and there's it's not just him.

There's like 5 or 6 senators running for governor.

Yeah.

I think that's a and I think, you know, the other thing is, you know, he's been the head coach and he's not he' not had to stand on the sideline and watch a game.

And this gives him opportune play call plays.

And I think that to him is exciting.

And he's done a great job I mean I applaud him.

You know as a freshman senator, when he first went in I mean he he absorbed it like a sponge.

And he stood up for Alabama on the right.

And Alabamians rides strong and as strong as anybody we've ever had.

And I'm excited to see him come in.

You know, one of the things really believe is his strength.

And we've seen it not only just in politics, but when he was coaching his recruiting.

I mean, if we're able to give the incentives that we give in Alabama on what's going on and what we've done in the past with a recruiter like Tommy Tuberville, I think sky's the limit and I'm excited for that.

You know, we've had conversations about that.

He wants to he wants to get everything set up to bring people in the Alabama show and what we have to offer and give them off tend to be here.

And so I think that's going to be it's going to pay off huge dividends.

Yeah.

And the governor kind of is very proud of all this is kind of the recruiter in chief.

That's right.

You're trying to close the deal with a major Mazda Toyota or one of those big deals.

You need the governo in the room to really close it.

Yeah, I think prime example that's Eli Lilly.

I mean, you know, everybody had done their homework.

Certainly the mayor battl in Huntsville and Madison County had really done a great job at the end of the day, the governor picks up phone.

He calls him, you know, say, we want you in Alabama.

And so I think that's that's huge.

I mean, yes, it's a big thing.

And and people knows when it comes from the top that you're going to get a lot of support from the rest of the legislativ body in the rest of the state.

Only got a little bit of time left.

But I wanted to ask you, we're about two weeks removed from the special session.

I mean, what a crazy turn of events.

You had the Supreme Court decision gather calls, a special session, five days here.

Some crazy days, by the way.

No, I mean, yeah, we were all down here during the during the flood.

And yet, you know, so you do the plan where it's reverting bac to the map legislature passed, three years ago.

That's right.

So it's almost like you can't please anybody because obviously you had Democrats and voting right activists protesting that week.

They came and had a big protest over the weekend at the, you know, all people all over the country saying, hey, you're dilutin voting, power for black people.

But also on the right, you've got folks on the far right saying, no, no, no, you should have gone seven.

Oh, should have gon a completely new map to, to out to to draw out any kind o Democratic seats in the House.

So how do you how do you sit ther in that and respond to kind of attacks from both sides over what y'all y'all did?

Yeah, I mean, it's hard.

I mean, you know, the thing about it is people have short memories.

So we revert back to the ma that we had for the Democrats.

Cutest cohort.

Right.

And the 23 map is what we had put out in hopes that to clear the cohorts.

And it didn't, as you remember.

And so once it was cleared by the Supreme Court, we're able to go back to them and what most people don't understand.

And then, you know, it's you don't know what you don't know.

Right.

And I get that what most people don't understand, we're in a time crunch because the ballots have got to be printed, I think 51 days before they are sent overseas to the military personnel.

So you got to do that.

The what if you drew a new map?

It has to be out in the public for ten days.

Right?

So that puts on top of that.

So then you go into 61 days.

Not only that, you've got to g to ever congressional district and have a public hearing.

So then you know, who knows ho many weeks that puts on to it.

And then it could go to the courts.

Well, there you are again, hung up in the courts.

This this map has already been the courts has already done the public here and it's already done the congressional hearings.

It's been through every bit of that.

Not only if you drew a new map.

The other thing is, all it takes.

Just think about this with every attorney all across the country, not just across Alabama, it takes one, just one tro a temporary restraining orde against that map.

And it's over.

You lose it all.

Yeah I think coach terrible.

And I applaud him.

He made the statement right.

He said it's good to get what we can get because it's set up to take.

And then we can come back and get the other one.

And I'm for the seven.

Oh and I know Coach Terrell sorry.

And so we look forward to being able to to do that in the future.

And who knows what's going to happen now.

I mean, we don't know if thi map's going to make it or not.

So we don't know that till tomorrow.

So we got temporary restraining orders been file against the map that we passed.

So we'll know tomorro if that's going to be, be able to be used or not.

Right.

Well, never a dull moment.

Yeah.

Tell them about it for sure.

And we'll be waiting on that.

And, I mean, it just sets up this whole different election for August.

That's going to be fascinating to watch.

I'm curious to see, you know by the close of business today what candidates get in.

You know, some some might think, why not reach out and August.

Well, you know, I think that it's this prime setting for Marcus Hammond and Andrea Carl.

I mean, both of them have went through it.

And, you know, Marcus would go into the district.

The car would be opposite from in this new map.

So, the Wiregrass certainly would be well represented by Grant.

He doesn't he did a great job here in the House, an I think he'd been outstanding.

House of representative membe for for the federal government of the area.

Carl.

I got nothing against him.

I don't know him as well, of course, but, I think yeah, I think it's going to be interesting to see everything plays out.

I think he was the biggest winner in all of this because he gets he get to keep his sea when you might have not lost it.

Yeah.

And it's going you know the others like Todd and the people don't thin about this.

We talk about 700.

But it's going to be interesting what happens in seven districts.

Right.

Because it's up for grabs.

I mean it opened it back up.

So you know we'll see.

Tomorrow's the deadline.

So we'll kind of see if anybody gets in that one and off.

Right.

Plus it's a special election in August which is just a dead period.

Low turnout.

Well we'll see what happens.

Not only that, but the thing is, when we did this map, that was a 5050 district.

Not only that but the population has decreased probably 50 to 60,000 during that period of time.

So it's going to be interesting to see how it actually moved.

Interesting We're out of time, Mr.

speaker.

Thanks for your time.

We'll see you soon.

Thanks, Tom.

We'll be right back.

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Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Joining me next is Tabatha Eisner, vice chai of the Alabama Democratic Party.

Tabitha thanks for coming on the show.

Absolutely happy to be here.

Todd.

Well, big election night this week.

You're top of the ticket.

Doug Jones had a big night.

Also, Phillip Ensler, state representative, no running for lieutenant governor.

So at the end of the night, they kind of joined hands, and they're running as a ticket, so.

But it felt like some momentum, for Democrats.

Would you describe it that way?

Yes.

Definitely momentum.

Honestly, it was more than I had hoped for, out of Tuesday's results.

Well, I saw a stat where the total number of votes in the Democratic primary doubled in 2026 versus 2022, the last similar election.

That seems pretty significant.

It is pretty significant.

So yeah, we saw, it went from 168,000.

Excuse my rounding numbers, but about 168,000 Democrats who voted in the 2022 primary to, 340,000 who voted in the 2026 primary and or who took the Democratic ballot.

Right.

And, that's a pretty phenomenal, change.

More than we would have guessed.

But, particularly because people were confused about what this primary was going to involve, whether there was going to be a primary on Tuesday and whether all of the races would be on that primary.

So there was some concern that turnout would actually be lower because of the confusion.

And instead, what we see is that it's really motivated people to see that their vote is under threats, their ability to have representation is being questioned.

And that has really turned out a lot of Democrats.

I was going to ask you that, like because I had the same concern.

What's.

Yeah.

Well, the map is different.

There's a different election.

Is that going to confuse people?

And no, they don't show up.

But do you think people, that the changing of the maps, the special session, all of that, not just in Alabama, but nationally has motivated Democrats to really turn out more?

And do you attribut that increase to part of that?

Yeah, definitely.

You know, we did, some phon calls that we, as we always do the week before, the primary and talking to voters and asking like do you plan to go to the primary and vote in the primary on Tuesday?

And I was really surprised how often the answer was, oh, heck yeah.

You know, if they think they're going to take away my vote, they've got another thing coming.

Interesting.

Well, I've noticed over the past, really, ever since qualification in leading up to qualification, there has been a concerted effort by the Alabama Democratic Party and just the Democrats in genera to fill the ballot with serious qualified, electable, if you will, candidates.

That's as opposed to there have been some cycles in the pas where there just weren't.

Right.

There just weren't that that high caliber of candidates, just to be fair.

How did that go about?

I mean, you've got Doug Jones, which got to be the best candidate you could put forward for a statewide office like this.

Same thing with Phillip Ensler.

So how does that go about how talk about the effort behind the scenes to recruit those candidates and convince them to run for office in a state that it's tough to get elected as a Democrat?

Yes.

It was really an all hands on deck effort and a team effort.

So I know the Democratic Party in Alabama has a reputatio for not working well together.

But this, this last year or so, we've really seen a concerted effort from all parties involved, to get candidates recruited and to help candidates know what's realistic, to expect what it's like to run.

So we had a training last March.

So that was more than a year ahead of the primaries, almost a year before qualifying ended.

To talk to potential candidates about what's involved and how to get themselves ready to run.

And we had significant turnout at that event, and we've kept up with folks since then.

So folks at the state party have been recruiting, for a long time now.

And really, what we were finding as we talk to folks was that there was a lot of hesitation to get in because the worry was the party doesn't have any money to support us Democrat can't get elected in this state.

How are we going to have a major impact?

And so, we focused a lot on making sure that we could recruit big names at the top of the ticket.

And all of those efforts.

You know, we were we were struggling to figure out who could go first.

If there was going to be a full slate of candidates, then candidates feel more comfortable jumping in.

But we needed someone to lead the way.

And, Senator Jones did that.

He got when he got in.

He not only joined the race, but he also made calls to all of those candidates that we had been trying to recruit for months.

And he was able to push them over the line and say, yes, we're going to do this, an we're going to do it together.

And so I'm really grateful for the teamwork involved in gettin those candidates on the ballot.

Yeah.

We've had him on the show multiple times.

We'll have him again.

He does bring a different energy to that to that race.

Well what's it going to take for let's just say Doug Jones really any statewide race.

Because as I mentioned, conservative state history of electing Republicans Doug Jones was the last Democrat to get elected statewide.

But it was a special election.

Lots of different kind of, special circumstances about that.

What's it going to take now?

I'll note that you look nationally.

Donald Trump's numbers are really sinking.

A lot of voters, you know, not enthusiastic about that.

Not sure how that translates into Alabama, because we're kind of on the on the tail of that.

But what's it going to take for Democrats to not just compete this year statewide, but actually win at the top of the ticket?

I don't actually think it's all that different than it was in 2017, when Doug Jone was running against Roy Moore.

What we saw back then was that people were concerned about Roy Moore for good reason.

And felt like that was the wrong direction for our state to be going.

And I think the same is tru now that people are recognizing that things have gone too far in the Alabama GOP and in the national GOP and so they're feeling the need to pull back to right the ship to rebalance the scales.

And that's what I think Democrats in Alabama have to offer this year.

We we can offer that.

And that's what we are really focuse on, making sure our candidates are speaking directly to that question of rebalancing the scales and talking directly to what people nee and want right now in Alabama.

So, for example, the Alabama GOP this year, you know, passed, a law to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

That's not doing anything for the people of Alabama.

That is participating in a national, a national measuring contest of who can be most rude, most, disrespectful.

And I think people are tired of that.

They're saying, we need leaders who are going to be, who are going to be addressin our actual needs on the ground.

Groceries are expensive.

Gas is expensive.

Everything is expensive.

And we have we hav real problems in this country.

And so let's be addressing those instead of wasting our time on cultural issues that are not actually making anybody's life better.

So I think in that sense, it is very similar to the Roy Moore years.

And by keeping our Democratic message focused on what really matters to people in their in their homes, in their lives, and not being distracted by all of these other culture wars.

We can offer something different.

Offer a writing of the ship here in Alabama.

I saw where Governo Beshear came down from Kentucky, a red state Democratic governor, if you will.

Yeah.

Might we see more types like that come and support the Alabama Democratic candidates this time around?

Not necessarily the Aoki's in Gavin Newsom, you know, maybe more polarizing figures, but closer to home.

What might we see more of that?

I think that's possible.

The DNC has certainly said that they want to be focusing more on southern states, and that was true before even before the decision reall focused attention on the South.

So, you know, we've been getting more funding from the National Party than before, but there's also a recognition from the National Party that we aren't New York.

We aren't California.

We're going to have to do things here our own way.

And we have the freedom to do that.

Nobody is restricted.

None of our Democratic candidates are restricted by some national platform that they have to adhere to.

We ask that people tak reasonable positions that focus on the people of Alabama, and that's what we're doing.

And that's what Andy Beshear does.

He he talks a lot about values.

He talks about our desire to be kind.

Our desire to make sure that all of our children succeed, regardless of who they are, and that all of our voters feel respected and heard when they go to the polls.

He talks about those things, and he's able to lead a state that mostly identifies as conservative.

And that's a model that we can follow here in Alabama.

Well, I mentioned recruiting candidates and filling the ballot with quality candidates.

But you have put your mone where your mouth is so to speak, because you're a candidate yourself.

You're running for state Senate here in the Montgomery area.

Talk about what led you to do that.

What led you to say?

All right.

I'm not just recruiting for the party.

I'm going to step up and run myself.

What led you to that?

Yeah.

I have always believed deeply in communities having the candidates of their choice.

And so, you know, I didn't want to, to run in a district where I wasn't going to be the the right candidate for the people.

But when this district became when this district was created in November, it was created to be a toss up district, a district that can truly be won by either party.

Doug Jones won 54% of the vote in Senate District 26.

And, Donald Trump won 52% of the votes.

In Senate District 26 the same year.

No.

Doug Jones in 2020.

Okay.

And then, and then Trump more recently in 2024.

So we see that this district teeters back and forth between Democrat and Republican, depending on who's on the ballot.

And so I talked t a lot of people in the district.

A lot of our elected officials a lot of people on the ground.

And, we all agreed that I was the right person to run in this position.

And so I'm excited to be doing it and excited to be able to serve a community that I have been, attentive to and engaged in.

You know, I'm called home.

For the last ten years.

Well, we'll have you back.

This is not your candidate interview.

We'll have you back to talk about that.

You're going to see in more detail.

But I do think it was interesting that, again, you're not just recruitin who signed up to do it yourself.

Of course, you are waiting on a court ruling, right?

The 11th circuit.

Any word on that?

No.

No word yet.

Okay.

So but there's so much more that we can accomplish here in Alabama.

And I really appreciate the opportunity to talk about all of the things that are possible.

If we if we just imagine ourselves to think, to think about that.

I think too often we see Alabama as a place that is stuck.

That this is just the way things are in Alabama.

It's always going to be a conservative state.

It's always going to be a state that struggles with racism.

And, our past does not define our future.

More is possible here in Alabama, and I hope people are open to seeing that happen here in 2026.

Okay.

Well, look, I really appreciate your time and we'll see you soon.

Absolutely.

Thanks, dad.

We'll be right back.

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Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

And joining me next are my Capital Journal colleagues, Randy Scott and Jeff Sanders.

Gentlemen, long couple of weeks.

Special session.

Elections are finally over.

Glad to be glad to be don with this last couple of weeks.

Yeah, don't mentio flooding in the state, housing and the craziness around here.

It has been a really you know, we thought we think often we're going to have these quiet periods following the legislativ session.

Not the case this year.

This is the building of no dull moments where you think it's quiet, something's going on, and then when there's not quite a whole lot is going on.

Oh, by the way, bizarre floods.

Tornadoes.

Yeah.

Tornado warning.

Yeah.

Possible gas leaks.

You knows.

There you go.

Well, I wanted to talk about the election because, what's not going to be in this building but the but the new building legislature is going to come back.

It's going to be a brand new building.

It's also going to be a brand new legislature.

There were some, changes in based on this election.

Jeff, I want to start with you.

You cover the Senate.

There were some pretty big upsets.

Start down south with Greg Albritton, the general fund chair, getting knocked off in a primary.

That was something, you know, we knew he was going to have a bit of a challenge with some of the special interest coming after him, with his ties with gambling the last few years.

But I think a lot of us still woke up, Wednesday morning or went to bed Tuesday night and were like, wow, this is going to happen.

This is one of the most powerful, not just senators.

I would say he's probably on of the most powerful politicians in the entire state of Alabama.

And to go down in defeat after being in the Senate, 12 years or more it was a little bit of a shock.

Yeah, sure.

And then up north in Birmingham, Dan Roberts, also a two term senator, getting defeated in his primary as well.

So, I mean, those are two pretty prominent incumbents going down, not a general election but in their own party primary.

And they're conservatives.

They're all conservatives.

It's not like there was some, you know, liberal that came into the Republican Party.

There all had very strong conservative, bona fides, as they say.

Dan Roberts, very popular and strong in that mountain Brook area.

But it just goes to show that I think, as politicians sometimes are in office a couple of terms, sometimes that anti-incumbent sentiment can grow.

Randy in the house.

Same story.

Some some surprises to me.

I mean, I didn't I didn't I knew that Matt Simpson, Representative Matt Simpson down there in Baldwin County had a tough challenge, but he got defeated.

And he's a pretty prominent, representative, a committee chair, very well talked about, member of the Alabama House and something we were speaking about beforehand, a connection between him and also Greg, all Britain, in terms of their dealings with gambling and people who did not like that could have come after Mr.

Auburn as well as Mr.

Simpson.

Mr.

Simpson was definitely someone who people looked forward to, especially when it came to Judiciary Committee items, because he was a force to be reckoned with on that committee and at the same time, he was one as a couple other lawmakers were going to talk about who was look forward, who people looked at as being the next generation for the Conservative Party in the Alabama House of Representatives.

But again, as you say, you know, we went to bed and all of a sudden you wake up the next morning, what happened?

Simpson Strong, so many, anti-crime bills that he pushed through and was spearheaded even the last couple of sessions.

So, it is interesting, but you talk about kind of the gambling interest and the anti-gambling interest, especially with all Britain down around the Atmore area where the ports, Creek Indians, a lot of pushback on that.

Two other House Republicans go down, Jim Carnes up.

The long time lawmaker a long time.

I think a lot of people consider him the dean of the House, because he had been there for so long.

Yeah.

And then also Phillip Pettus up there in, northwest Alabama, also defeated in that primary on the Democratic side, two Democrats in Birmingham one wing given a very outspoken member down here.

Never a dull moment like he said with with Representative Gauvin also Kelvin Thatcher, both of those lost in primaries.

Miss Gauvin as she would say, she was the Democrat in the state of Alabama who won the most campaigns and most elections in her office.

She's undefeated.

And, we woke up Wednesday and she's been defeated.

Calvin Thatcher, was someone who had worked for the city of Birmingham at one time, near, Mayor Woodfin.

And this was also a surprise, too, because no one saw it coming.

But when it happens, it happens.

Yeah.

Well, that's interesting because obviously the mayor has had beef with one when given, and so I guess he was successful, he and his allies successful not going.

She ran against him.

Yes.

Right.

Right, right.

But but then he's a close ally of Calvin.

Better.

So, you know, maybe a trade off there.

Yeah.

She, ran against him for mayor.

She also ran for Congres as well, too, didn't you know?

Right.

So she I think I remember her saying, you know, some people are going to try to put Bullseyes on her, but she was ready for all challenges.

Albert ran for Congress.

Two people forgot that he lost two years ago.

That's right.

Well it will be a different, Senate.

It will be a different house without those members.

But you also had, som incumbents fend off challengers.

We thought that Jay Hovey over ther in Auburn was going to be a lot closer than it was, was it?

Yeah.

Not close at all.

Randy Price, next door, being challenge by former Senator Gerald Dodd, we thought that was going to be a real race.

Wasn't Andrew Jones up there in, northeast Alabama?

Yeah.

Talk about those senators.

Yeah, I guess that's a good night for Senator Gutte and their reelection campaign.

Yes.

And, you know, you look at people like, Andrew Jones, kind of one of the younger senators in the Senate and with governor kind of that younger generatio allies that he has a good night for them.

I think these are people that work very closely in kind of support, governor, as the, as the pro tem, you know, we look at Andrew Jones and there was really some talk and really some worry, I think, on his side that they were going to go down in defeat.

But as you said, it really didn't happen.

You look at Randy Pryce defeating, you know, former, Senator Gerald Dow, what is it, 62 to 38%?

And then Jay Hovey again I mean, the man won by one vote back in 2022 and, and had easy path to victory this time.

He, he kidded with me because I had it written up as, like a race to watch.

And so he texted and said, I guess I guess we were okay, you know, that's okay.

You were just fine.

I was just watching it.

That's all.

And also in the house, there were some races.

All right.

Let's start with James Lomax.

I mean, you got former Congressma Mo Brooks running against you.

I think everybody thought that was going to be one to watch.

But Lomax had it covered.

He had it covered.

He was confident.

Well, not only was he confident towards the end, but there were a lot of members of the House that spoke highly of him, including the speaker.

And when the news came out that Mo Brooks would be his challenger, you could see some people looking as if to say, why is this happening?

And why is this the the Marve multiverse of happening with Mr.

Lomax?

Because he is, again, as you were saying just a second ago, a lot of people look toward him a being the future of this party in the Alabama House speaker said so too, spoke highly of him, but he had to, face off the challenge from Mo Brooks.

And he did also Rick Ream down there and Henry County and Houston County.

Again, a lot of folks thought, gosh, he, you know, you got, you know, BCA against you and things like that.

But he fended off that challenge.

So good for him.

Pebble and Warren, she's going to a runoff.

So it's not over yet, but she's faced a significant primary challenge.

Has survived t to go to the playoffs, I guess.

Yet very, very well know in the Macon County Auburn area.

A lot of people have supported her over the years.

And as everyone else, every every now and then in the races, they'll fac someone who is a stiff challenge to give them a reason to have polls, if you will, for the race that they're going to run for.

I want to say this about Mr.

Ream.

I did some research on him.

I noticed that he was backed by John Wall at one time.

And I'm wondering, does the influence still work with helping him getting his name out?

Because John Wall is a force to be reckoned with in Alabama politics as well.

So Mr.

Ream is a strong competitor and he won his seat.

We'll see what happens next.

Lee, let me pipe in here about something to we talk about being conservative.

We're talking about the Republican side right now a little bit.

And office.

It's a very Republican state overall for the majority.

We have seen the Alabama Republican Party get even more conservative or at the base and at the party level, kind of a structure level.

Over the last a couple of years.

These are primaries.

When I look at people like Auburn and I look at Simpson, they look how they went after them for their, you know, the gambling interests and maybe some of these others.

But then people like Hovey, who, you know, maybe more of a moderate Republican in some sense, but people don't see it that way.

So I think it's curious to me how the base of this party is extremely conservative, very conservativ on very social issues as well.

And I wonder how some of that played also, how did does some of these candidates not say they took it for granted?

But how was that that that that get out game?

How was that door knocking game.

And you know, I, I think sometimes, you know, complacency can get you.

Yeah.

It's a reason why when they came back for that special session we we'd all hear about how I say we don't want to be here.

We want to we need to be back home campaigning and taking care.

Now.

Now we know, well, other than the citizens who were asking, why are y'all back for special session?

You're right.

There were a lot of them think, okay, we need to go home, campaign to do some work over it, and carrying one of the bills in the special session.

That's right, that's right Well, look, we're out of time.

Great analysis.

We're going to be thinking about this campaign for a long time, and it'll be a very different legislature when I come back.

But, gentlemen, thanks for your time.

Thanks, Don Thank you.

We'll be right back.

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That's our show for this week.

Thanks for watching.

We'll be back next week at the same time right here on Alabama Public Television for our Capital Journal team.

I'm Todd Stacy.

We'll see you next time.