The small cohort of Democrats left in the Alabama Senate has elected a new minority leader.
The eight members of the Democratic caucus elected Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, to serve as the Senate minority leader. Singleton, who was elected to the Senate in 2005, will replace outgoing minority leader, Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton.
Beasley will stay in leadership as the deputy Senate minority leader. Beasley was elected to the Senate in 2010.
The Democrats’ new leadership will serve through 2022.
“I just want to thank my colleagues for having the confidence in me to be able to lead them for the next four years,” Singleton said in a statement. “As the minority leader we will be looking at a robust agenda; not just for the Democrats, but for the State of Alabama. Hopefully, we can work across the aisle with the majority. I look forward to working with Senate Majority Leader Sen. Greg Reed and Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh.”
Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham, will serve as minority caucus chair, and first-term lawmaker Sen. Malika Sanders Fortier, D-Selma, will serve as vice chair.
“I look forward to working with fellow senators and my Democratic colleagues as we establish goals and set priorities to represent our constituency and the state,” Coleman-Madison said. “As chair, one of my goals, in collaboration with Democratic Senators, is to start legislative outreach to not only hear from citizens, but to educate and inform them on issues facing the state. We have a strong caucus; each member brings unique talents to the legislative body, and I am honored to serve.”
As Democrats head into the next four years, they’ll face an empowered Republican majority with a slightly expanded majority. Republicans gained one seat and now control 27 of the 35 seats in the upper chamber. Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, is expected to remain in his post, and Sen. Greg Reed, R-Jasper, will remain as majority leader.
Marsh presided over the Senate last year in the absence of a lieutenant governor, but Lt. Gov.-elect Will Ainsworth will now take on that role.
The Senate pro tem congratulated Singleton on his election, saying the two have a good working relationship.
“There are many tough issues facing the Alabama Senate in the year to come and I look forward to working with Senator Singleton as we develop legislation that improves the lives of all Alabamians,” Marsh said in a statement.
Downstairs in the lower chamber, Republicans control 77 of 105 House seats, gaining 5 seats in the November general election. House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, is all but assured to retain his job after Republicans unanimously nominated him for another term.
The Legislative Black Caucus elected Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, as their chair. The caucus includes both House members and senators, and Figures will serve in that position until 2020, when a House member will take over the alternating role.
“I am very humbled and honored to have been elected to serve as Chair of the Alabama Legislative Black Caucus by my colleagues,” Figures said. “I am very excited to work with all members to develop an agenda with goals and objectives to move Alabama forward. Together, we will explore all opportunities as we strive to raise all boats so that we can be the best that we can be.”
