By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Congressmen Mo Brooks, Spencer Bachus, and Jo Bonner all easily won Primary Contests Tuesday as Alabama Republican voters sent a message that they were happy with the direction that Alabama’s legislative delegation were attempting to lead the nation. Both Congressmen Bonner and Bachus were targeted by the anti-incumbent Super-PAC Campaign for Primary Accountability that attempted to sway voters by filling the airwaves with negative ads.
“We succeeded today in making these two primaries more competitive,” said The Super-PAC’s spokesman Curtis Ellis, Mr. Bachus and Mr. Bonner could not take their re-election for granted as they did in years past. In 2010, both representatives won their primary with 75% of the vote. Today, neither candidate was able to win more than 60% of the vote.”
In the fifth district, incumbent Congressman Mo Brooks (R) from Mobile defeated former Congressman Parker Griffith by a margin of 71 to 29%. In 2008, Dr. Griffith was elected as a Democrat. In 2010, he changed to the Republican Party and was defeated in the 2010 Republican Party Primary by County Commissioner Brooks. Rep. Brooks will face Democratic opponent assistant preacher Charlie Hollie on the November 6th ballot.
In the Sixth Congressional District incumbent Representative Spencer Bachus successfully defended his seat against three Republican Challengers: Shelby County resident and tea party activist Al Mickle, Alabama State Senator Scott Beason from Gardendale and Blount County Probate Judge David Standridge. Rep. Bachus spent over a $million in the race but ultimately got the 59% of the vote necessary to win the seat. Sen. Beason had 27% of the vote, Mickle had 3%, and Standridge received 11% of the vote.
Rep. Bachus will have to face Alabama Democratic Party opponent: retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Penny Huggins Bailey from Leeds on November 6th. She defeated Pinson attorney William “Bill” Barnes in Tuesday’s Democratic Party Primary 61 to 39%. Rep. Bachus told the press, “It’s the most gratifying win of any election I’ve ever been in.” Rep. Bachus is seeking an eleventh term in the United States Congress.
In Alabama’s 1st Congressional District, incumbent Congressman Jo Bonner (R) from Mobile easily thwarted challenges from Dean Young from Orange Beach, realtor Pete Riehm from Mobile, and realtor Pete Gounares from Orange Beach. With 97% of the results in, Rep. Bonner had 57% of the vote. Young had 24%, Riehm had 15%, and Gounares had 4%. This will be the Gulf Coast Congressman’s sixth term in the United States House of Representatives. Rep. Bonner has no Democratic opposition in the fall.
In the 7th District Republican Primary Don Chamberlain from Selma defeated Phillip Norris from Hoover 66 to 34%. Chamberlain will face Rep. Terri Sewell (D) in the November 6th General Election.
In Alabama’s fourth Congressional District Republican incumbent Robert Aderholt will face a November 6th challenge from State Representative Daniel Bowman. Rep. Bowman narrowly defeated Neighbors 54 to 46% in the Alabama Democratic Party Primary.
