A new poll shows Tom Parker and Kay Ivey well ahead of their Democratic opponents four months ahead of the November 5 general election.
According to a new poll by Atlantic Media & Research Republican Chief Justice nominee Tom Parker holds a 16 point lead (40 to 24) over Democratic nominee Robert Vance Jr. Parker’s lead expands to 41 to 24 with definite voters according to the new polling released on July 2.
Atlantic Media & Research completed 440 surveys of Alabama voters on the nights of June 12-14 and June 18-21. Voters were selected from those who had participated in the 2017 Special Election for U.S. Senate. The theoretical margin of error is plus or minus 4.4 percent.
Tom Parker is a sitting Associate Justice on the Supreme Court. Parker served on the Court since 2004. He is a former assistant Alabama attorney general. He also served as the deputy administrative director of courts, advising trial court judges, and as the director of the Alabama Judicial College, providing training for new judges and continuing legal education for all the trial judges in Alabama. Parker recently defeated appointed Chief Justice Lyn Stuart (R) in the Republican primary.
Judge Robert “Bob” Vance is a sitting judge in Jefferson County. He was the Democratic nominee for Chief Justice in 2012 general election, ultimately losing to former Chief Justice Roy Moore (R). Vance’s father, Robert Vance Sr. was a federal judge who was assassinated with a bomb. His wife is former U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance.
Democrats have been talking about a building “blue wave” ever since Donald J. Trump (R) defeated Hillary R. Clinton in the 2016 general election. Doug Jones’ shocking defeat of Chief Justice Moore in the December 12 special election for U.S. Senate further motivated Alabama Democrats. Jones’ win was the first Democratic victory in a statewide race in Alabama since 2008. Democrats however had remarkably poor turnout in the June 5 primary.
According to the Atlantic Media & Research poll, in the Governor’s race, Republican incumbent Kay Ivey led Democrat Walt Maddox 53 to 28. Ivey leads 53 to 30 among definite voters. Ivey was elevated to Governor from Lieutenant Governor when Governor Robert Bentley (R) resigned after pleading guilty to campaign finance laws. Maddox is the Mayor of Tuscaloosa.
According to the pollster, those who are undecided in the Chief Justice race are backing Gov. Ivey by 41 to 18 (40 to 19 with definite voters).
Democrats are only contesting two of the statewide appellate races: chief justice and supreme court justice place four.
President Donald J. Trump (R) remains extremely popular in Alabama, the state where he has his highest approval. Unemployment in Alabama is at an all-time low and the state’s work force has recovered to pre-Great Recession levels. Republicans are hopeful that the President’s popularity combined with the surging economy will lead to election victories in the November general election.
