Primary Runoffs Preview: Lt. Governor
Alabama's party primary runoff elections are this coming Tuesday. This is part 2 of the preview of Tuesday's runoff elections.
Today's Preview: Lt. Governor
The Lt. Governor used to be as powerful, if not moreso, than the governor. But that changed when the Alabama Senate unanimously passed rule changes that significantly reduced those powers, shifting that authority to the Senate President Pro Tempore.
The powershift includes:
- Allowing the President Pro Tempore to preside over the Senate if the Lieutenant Governor is not seated within five minutes of a meeting's start time.
- Removing the Lieutenant Governor from the committee that assigns chairs. This gave the Lt. Gov. tremendous power and control.
- Stripping the Lieutenant Governor's power to appoint members to conference committees. This also gave the Lt. Gov. tremendous power and control.
- Gaing the President Pro Tempore the authority to recommit bills and manage legislation that was carried over to the call of the chair.
Those that backed the change said claimed it was made because the senators wanted to make the chamber more like the House of Representatives.
Despite the reduction in power and control, interest in running for the office has not been reduced, mostly because it is often a stepping stone to the Governor's Mansion.
The Republican Runoff
John Wahl, former Alabama Republican Party Chair, and Secretary of State Wes Allen advanced to next Tuesday's runoff for the party nomination for lieutenant governor. There were seven candidates running in the primary for the office with little power. Wahl got the most votes at 192,432, about 40.6%, and Allen got 180,292, about 38%, according to the returns.
Like the U.S. Senate race, the spectre of President Trump looms over the race. He endoresed Wahl and the butterfly breader from Athens has used that backing to the hilt in his campaign advertising.
Asside from the 'atta boy' from Trump, Wahl has campaigned on returning power to the people. He says he believes government can do better in improving things for the people of Alabama.
His runoff foe, as Secretary of State has a higher profile but Wes Allen is struggling to overcome Wahl's support from the White House and claims he has not be supporting of the president.
The son of Cottondale Republican State Senator gerald Allen says the election is about, "conservative record versus rhetoric for this race," Allen says it attempting to set him apart from Wahl. The former Pike County Probate Judge and legislator says he is better prepared than Wahl because of the relationships he has built around the state. Allen claims his time in the legislature has given him better experience and knowledge than Wahl who was Alabama Republican Party Chair.
Allen initially led the field of candidates at the start of the primary election campaigning but Wahl's hard hitting, Trump backed, campaign adds took a toll on Allen, dropping him to second place but close eneough to force a runoff after the May 19th primary.
With Wahl getting Trumps' support, Allen had to take a different campaign approach. During the runoff, as in the May primary, Allen emphasized his conservative credentials in campaign ads.
A poll conducted among likely GOP voter by Montgomery-based Strategy Management, found Allen has recovered ground and now leads with 39.23% to Wahl's 34.15%, with 26.62% undecided. The margin of error is 2.7%.
The Democrat
The winner of the GOP primary will face Democratic nominee Rep. Phillip Ensler of Montgomery in November.
Ensler won the Democratic primary over Darryl Perryman with 57.6% of votes. In an acceptance speech, Ensler vowed unity if he is elected to the office. “People are tired of the divisiveness, they’re tired of backwards policies, they’re tired of Alabama ranking last in so many categories,” Ensler said.
Ensler, like other Democrats on the General Election ballot are depending on Alabama's controversial redistricting plan to motivate Democrats to come to the polls and Republicans concerned about their party's actions to crossover in November.
Thursday: The Attorney General Runoff
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