EDITORIAL: Maddox could be spark Democratic Party needs

Most people watching Alabama’s political landscape were not surprised last week when Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox announced he has his sights set on the governor’s office. Fewer still were surprised when he said that if and when he officially announces his campaign he will run as a Democrat.

Maddox has an impressive record as mayor, but let’s be honest, if he manages to pull it all off and get elected it will be a surprise to many. That’s not because he’s not qualified for the office. He is. It is not because he won’t have enough financial backing. He will. It is because, while his Republican opponents will sprint from the starting line, Maddox will have to start the race with his shoelaces tied together.

It’s not just that Maddox will be running as a Democrat in a decidedly Republican state. It’s that his party’s infrastructure has been decimated since the Republican takeover. The Democratic Party in Alabama is in shambles, with little leadership.

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