Opinion | The most important election ever
June 22, 2018
Gubernatorial candidate Walt Maddox reports solid June fundraising, Gov. Kay Ivey still has money edge
July 6, 2018

Alabama Democrats optimistic Walt Maddox can beat Kay Ivey

Alabama Democrats – for years obliterated from all statewide offices in the Deep South and deeply red state – go into the fall election season with high optimism, but fighting tough math and historical trends, as they seek to build off last year’s victory of U.S. Sen. Doug Jones.

Buoyed by Jones’ victory as the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from the state in a quarter century, Democrats have newfound energy heading into the November election. Walt Maddox, the mayor of Tuscaloosa turned Democratic nominee for governor, leads what many Democrats say is their strongest ticket in decades, as he mounts a challenge against incumbent Republican Gov. Kay Ivey.

The governor’s race is “probably the most competitive race that we’ve seen in a couple of decades,” Jones said.

“Democrats really need to focus on the issues that people care about every day,” Jones said. “That’s their health care, their jobs, their wages, education for their children,” Jones said.

While the hope is high, the math remains daunting for Democrats.

Republicans held all statewide offices until Jones’ December win over Republican Roy Moore in the special election to fill Jeff Sessions’ Senate seat. Alabama has not elected a Democrat as governor since 1998 when Gov. Don Siegelman ran on a platform — like Maddox is today — of establishing a state lottery to fund education.

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