By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Thursday, the campaign for lieutenant governor became heated when Public Service Commission President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh took a shot at opponent state Rep. Will Ainsworth, R-Guntersville, for his association with U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida.
“On Thursday night, apparently the Representative running for Lieutenant Governor will be holding a high-dollar, closed-door event with his great friend, Washington Insider Marco Rubio,” Cavanaugh said. “This is the same Marco Rubio that is tight with Mitch McConnell and the DC Swamp; the same Marco Rubio that was a member of the Gang of Eight with the likes of John McCain and Jeff Flake working for amnesty for illegal immigrants; the same Marco Rubio that admitted he disagreed with Jeff Sessions on immigration policy.”
“So does the Representative support amnesty and the liberal immigration policies of the Gang of Eight?” asked Cavanaugh. “Is he in league with the Washington insiders? Does he stand with The Swamp? Does he believe that Senator Rubio represents Alabama values?”
“I’m going to guess that he’d want to answer ‘No’ to most of the above. So my last two questions are: 1) Why serve as Marco Rubio’s state co-chair against Donald Trump and Ted Cruz if you do not agree with him? 2) why kick off your campaign with somebody you don’t agree with? I think the answer to both questions is simple: to raise money to get elected. Isn’t that the problem with Washington and Montgomery?” Twinkle continued.
The Ainsworth reception with Rubio was held in Birmingham tonight at the BJCC.
Cavanaugh won a seat on the PSC in 2010 and was elected PSC President in 2012. She is a former chairman of the Alabama Republican Party – the first woman to hold that post. Prior to that, Twinkle was Alabama Gov. Bob Riley’s co-chief of staff and held a position with the Republican National Committee.
Ainsworth is a state representative in North Alabama. He is the owner of Dream Ranch – one of the top hunting and fishing lodges in Alabama. He also owns a cattle farming operation.
State Sen. Rusty Glover, R-Semmes, is also running for lieutenant governor in the Republican primary. No Democratic candidate has announced for the office.
The position is presently vacant, as former Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey has stepped up to governor following the resignation of Gov. Robert Bentley. Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, assumed the lieutenant governor’s responsibilities as president of the Senate.
The major party primaries will be on June 5, 2018.
