Alabama 2008 races

With the campaign season well under way, I'm going to make every effort to bring to races from across the country here to this blog, and we'll start in the state of Alabama.

Alabama features 1 senatorial contest and 7 congressional contests.

In the senate race, 2 term incumbent Republican Jefferson Sessions faces 3 term State Senator Vivian Davis Figures. Jefferson Sessions served 2 years as the assisstant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama and was nominated and appointed to the United States Sttorney's position in 1981 by Ronald Reagan. He served in the position for 12 years. During his tenure, President Reagan nominated Sessions to be a federal judge but he was denied nomination by a 10-8 committee vote. In 1994, Sessions was elected the Attorney General of the state of Alabama serving just 2 years before defeating Roger Bedford 52%-46% in the senate contest during the 1994 Republican wave election. In 2002, Sessions crushed then State Auditor Susan Parker for re-election. He is looking to serve his third term.

Session's opponent, State Senator Vivian Davis Figures, is serving her full third term is the Alabama State Senate. She was elected on January 28th 1997 to serve the reamining term of her late husband, Micheal Figures, who was the President Pro Tempore of the senate. Before being elected to the State Senate, Figures was a member ofthe Mobile City Council and was an at-large member of the Democratic National Committee. Figures is the President and CEO of the Figured Legacy Education Foundation and serves on the Board of Directors for the Mobile Area Education Foundation.

Looking at this race, Figures doesn't stand much of a chance without some serious help from up ballot or down ballot races. The Democratic Presidential nominee is unlikely to help Figures with any coattails in Alabama and will most likely be a drag on the ticket. Only Barack Obama may have the ability to galvanize the african-american vote in this state to pull out additional votes for Figures. Looking at the congressional races doesn't give much hope for Figures for some down ballot reverse coat-tails.

In the 1st Congressional District, United States Representative Jo Robbins Bonner looks pretty well set in her race. The only announced Democratic Charity Executive Benjamin Lodmell who has zero name recognition and very little money. A similar scene plays out in the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th congressional districts. United States Representative Robert Aderholt (R 4th) faces off against little known and underfunded Greg Warren. United States Representative Robert Cramer (D 5th) faces off against little known and underfunded Ray McKee. His last FEC report lists him as having just under 10,000 Cash on Hand, I'm sure Cramer isn't staying awake at night worrying about that. Neither of the other 2 districts have any competition as of yet.

The interesting districts here in Alabam are the 2nd and 3rd districts, held by United States Representatives R. Terry Everett and Mike Rogers (both R) repsectively. Rumors swirl about the entrance of Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright into one of these races, but no one seems to know which one he'll enter. The 3rd district is more favorably drawn, but already has a decently known Democratic candidate in Greg Pierce, who took 38.5% of the vote for the Democrats in 2006. Mark Layfield(I) is also running again after taking 2.1% of the vote in 2006. Which ever race Bright chooses to enter should be competetive, but it won't be enough to help the Democrats in this state.

currents predicitions

Senate: Safe Republican

1st District Safe Republican

2nd district safe Republican*

3rd District: Safe Republican *

4th district: safe Republican

5th District: safe Democrat

6th District: safe Republican

7th ditrict: safe Democrat

* potentially competetive if Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright enters the race.