November 2022 Group Watch: GOP Candidates Dominate Statewide and Legislative Elections
The recent election proved that the Republican Party has maintained its strong hold on Alabama politics.
- Governor Kay Ivey bested her Democratic and Libertarian challengers receiving more than 67 percent of the vote.
- Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth overwhelmed his Libertarian challenger receiving 84 percent of the vote.
- Attorney General Steve Marshall defeated his Democratic challengers by receiving almost 68 percent of the vote.
- Treasurer Young Boozer defeated a Libertarian challenger receiving more than 84 percent of the vote
- Secretary of State-Elect Wes Allen defeated a Democratic opponent receiving almost 66 percent of the vote.
- State Auditor-Elect Andrew Sorrell defeated a Libertarian challenger receiving 85 percent of the vote.
- Supreme Court Justice-Elect Greg Cook defeated a Democratic challenger with more than 67 percent of the vote for Place 5.
- Supreme Court Justice Kelli Wise won without a challenge for Place 6.
- Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate defeated a Libertarian challenger receiving almost 85 percent of the vote.
In legislative races, the Alabama Senate will contain 27 Republicans and 8 Democrats and the House will contain 76 Republicans and 28 Democrats. With this outcome, Republicans will continue to have filibuster-proof supermajorities in both legislative chambers. House Republicans met just days after the election to nominate their leadership. At the post-election caucus meeting, the Republican House Caucus chose Nathaniel Ledbetter as the nominee for Speaker, Chris Pringle as Speaker Pro Tem, Scott Stadthagen as House Majority Leader, Wes Kitchens as Caucus Vice Chair and Debbie Wood as Caucus secretary/treasurer. These nominations are tantamount to election since the Republicans have a supermajority and took a loyalty pledge to vote for the caucus nominee. The legislative organizational session will be held in January 2023.
