By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Tuesday, March 1, every member of Alabama’s congressional delegation handily won their party primary battles. Congressman Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville), Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) and Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-Selma) did not even have any primary opposition and Alabama elected congressional incumbents have not lost a primary in the last several cycles. US Senator Richard Shelby (R) beat four opponents in the GOP Primary. US Representatives Bradley Byrne (R-Montrose), Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville), Martha Roby (R-Montgomery), and Mike Rogers (R-Saks) all defeated their primary opponents with more than 60 percent of the votes cast. The Alabama electorate also voted to re-elect Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh to the Alabama Public Service Commission and Tom Parker to the Alabama Supreme Court.
Congressman Bradley Byrne faced the strongest opposition in a rematch with 2013 opponent Dean Young. Byrne said, “I am so honored by the trust the people of Southwest Alabama have put in me. Tonight’s results show that our positive, issue-based campaign worked and that voters did not fall for a campaign based on misinformation and negativity. This is an exciting time for our area, and I promise to continue working every day to make life better for families in Southwest Alabama. Now, let’s take the positive momentum from this election and spread it around the country as we work for big Republican victories in November.”
Bradley Byrne does not have an opponent in the November general election. He is currently serving in his first full term after being elected in a 2013 special election Byrne had 60.12 percent of the vote to Dean Young’s 39.88 percent.
Congresswoman Martha Roby defeated two challengers. The three term incumbent won 66.77 percent of the votes. Wetumpka Tea Party President Becky Gerritson had 27.36 percent of the vote and Robert “Bob” Rogers had 5.87 percent.
Representative Roby said, “Make no mistake, this was an important race and an important win – and I don’t mean just for me. This win matters because it sends a message about who we are going to be as a party in Alabama and what being a conservative means here today.”
Roby continued, “You see, I’m a conservative who wants to solve problems, not someone who wants to cause problems for conservatives. And, despite gridlock in Washington, we have solved some problems and make progress. We kept the 908th at Maxwell Air Force Base and we even gained an aircraft. We delivered a new, more conservative Farm Bill that saves taxpayer money and helps Alabama farmers. We fought military sequestration cuts and worked hard to keep the worst of those cuts from affecting Maxwell and Fort Rucker. And, in case you haven’t heard, we made it against the law for the federal Department of Education to coerce states into adopting their pet policies. Why? Because Alabamians know what’s best for our children – not Washington bureaucrats.”
Congresswoman Roby said, “Let me tell you about something else we did that means a lot to me personally. We worked with whistleblowers to expose corruption at the VA – corruption that would never have been known had they not had the courage tell me the truth. Ladies and Gentlemen, one of those whistleblowers is with us tonight, please help me recognize Sheila Muese. We’re not finished with the VA. We are working to build a public-private network can be a model for the rest of the country. I know you stand with me in demanding our veterans have the care they deserve, and I won’t stop until we take our VA from being the worst in the country to a point of pride that every other state aspires to have. We have worked to solve problems, and in this campaign, we let that work speak for itself. I have always believed that if you listen to the people, work hard, and keep your priorities straight, politics takes care of itself. And, in Congress, my priority is this: Alabama always comes first. When it comes to the issues that matter most, Alabamians know I have their back.”
Congressman Mike Rogers coasted to victory over Larry DiChiara 75.59 percent to just 24.41 percent.
Congressman Robert Aderholt defeated Phil Norris 81.43 percent to 18.57 percent.
US Senator Richard Shelby (R) had 65 percent of the Republican Primary vote. Four challengers combined for 35 percent.
Public Service Commission (PSC) President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh defeated former PSC Commissioner Terry Dunn 62.85 percent to 37.15 percent.
Alabama Supreme Court Justice Tom Parker had 72.41 percent of the votes. Donna Beaulieu had 27.59 percent.
In the Democratic Presidential Race former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton got 77.12 percent of the vote. US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) received just 19.72 percent of the votes from Alabama Democrats.
In the Republican Presidential Primary Donald Trump had 42.8 percent of the votes. US Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) came in second with 21.2 percent. US Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) finished third with 18.5 percent of the vote (at press time). Dr. Ben Carson got just 10.7 percent of the vote. Ohio Governor John Kasich had 4.39 percent of the votes cast.
