We haven’t even finished election night and already Santa Claus is moving behind the podium, stealing the evening from a night full of winners and losers.
Interesting elections here. The people voted for a Republican for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. The new secretary of state, treasurer, state auditor and commissioner of agriculture and industries are all Republicans. Voters gave the courts to the GOP and made a little more history, to boot.
For the first time since Reconstruction the state legislature is majority Republican. Democrats fell in many districts that were engineered to ensure Democratic wins. The state Senate adjourned with 20 Democrats and 15 Republicans. When they meet in Montgomery next time there will be 22 Republicans and 13 Democrats. Democrats had held 60 of the 105 seats. Now Republicans will sit in 62 seats.
Just two statewide offices are now held by Democrats. They weren’t on the ballot. Only two Democrats were elected above the county level. It was a rout in every respect. Celebrate or be upset as you find the need.
This was the first win for a woman in a contested race in the state. In fact, Alabama will send two Congresswomen to Washington D.C. One of them, Terri Sewell, became the first black woman elected to Congress from Alabama. She’s also the lone Democrat in the state’s D.C. delegation.
Things may change, but Santa is still on every shelf.
