November 2012 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House
After recent elections, in Alabama at least, Republicans rule:
GOP Takes Control of All Statewide Offices. The defeat of Democrat incumbent Lucy Baxley by Republican Twinkle Cavanaugh in the race for president of the Alabama Public Service Commission removes the last Democrat to hold statewide office in Alabama. This means the governor and lieutenant governor are Republicans, as are the attorney general, secretary of state and the treasurer. The speaker of the House of Representatives and leader of the state Senate are Republicans, and they hold super majorities in the Legislature. All nine members of the state Supreme Court and all criminal and civil courts of appeal are Republicans. Cavanaugh will join two remaining Republicans on the Public Services Commission.
Incumbents Win All Alabama Congressional Races. All six of the state’s congressional members won re-election by wide margins with at least 58 percent of the vote. Republican Martha Roby of Montgomery won a second term, and Republican Mike Rogers of Saks in east Alabama won his sixth term. Republican Robert Aderholt of Haleyville, north of Birmingham, won a ninth term, and Republican Mo Brooks of Huntsville won his second term. Representative Spencer Bachus of Vestavia Hills, a Birmingham suburb claimed his eleventh term, and Republican Jo Bonner of Mobile, who was not opposed, claimed his sixth term in office. The state’s lone Democrat and African American, Terri Sewell of Birmingham, won a second term.
Roy Moore Elected New Alabama Chief Justice. Republican Roy Moore won the race for Supreme Court Chief Justice with 52 percent of the vote. Moore has served in the court system in several positions since 1977. He was elected as the Chief Justice in 2000 and drew national attention for refusing a federal order to remove a granite monument depicting the Ten Commandments from the Alabama Judicial Building. He was removed from office in November 2003. The Chairman of the state Republican Party congratulated Moore and proclaimed there is no question he was the candidate who best represented conservative Alabama values. Moore defeated Birmingham circuit judge Robert Vance, who is better known for his father’s untimely death as a federal Judge. Robert Vance Sr. was killed by a mail bomb at his home.
