It’s like 2010 all over again.
Rep. Martha Roby won the Republican runoff for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional district on Tuesday, knocking off Bobby Bright, a former Congressman and Montgomery mayor. Bright held the seat as a Democrat in 2010 when Roby pulled off a surprising upset.
On Tuesday, she was the incumbent, but the results were the same, if more lopsided.
Watched nationally as a possible referendum on President Trump and his influence in red state elections — Roby had stated publicly that she would not vote for Trump following the release of the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape prior to the 2016 presidential election — that angle was largely moot following an endorsement by Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
Not to mention, Bright, the longtime Democrat, wasn’t exactly a more conservative option who might attract voters swayed by criticism of Trump.
Roby won easily, pulling in 68 percent of the vote.
“I’m deeply humbled by the confidence the people of the 2nd district have shown in me,” Roby said following her win, at times holding back tears. “It means so much to me.”
Roby also repeatedly thanked Trump and Mike Pence for their endorsements in recent weeks and said she was looking forward to continuing to work with the White House on several issues.
“The (2016) campaign is over and we’re governing,” Roby said of her criticism of the now-president. “Of course I want (Trump) to be successful. When he’s successful, we’re all successful. I look forward to continuing to work with them. We have a shared conservative agenda with the White House.”
For his part, Bright said during a TV interview with WSFA that the endorsements and special interest money were the deciding factors.
“It’s awfully hard to fight the president and vice president and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and all the other special interests out there,” Bright said. “We did our best. It wasn’t enough.”
Roby will now face Democratic challenger Tabitha Isner in the general election in November.
