Alabama Democrat Party Chairman and State Sen. Bobby Singleton told Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal” on Friday that Rudolph Drake, his party’s nominee for Alabama State Senate District 2, “can pull that one off” in the November general election.
What Singleton didn’t mention in his analysis of the race is resurfaced reports that Drake is the subject of a Florida court order finding he stalked a woman who says he threatened to put a bullet in her head.
In fact, Singleton (D-Greensboro) and State Rep. Marilyn Lands (D-Huntsville) did not respond to requests from Yellowhammer News asking what party leadership knew about the case before Drake’s candidacy, whether the Alabama Democratic Party is still backing his campaign financially or organizationally, and whether it will ask him to withdraw.
Singleton chairs the state party and would be positioned to speak to its vetting process and its financial support for Drake’s campaign.
Lands, who pulled off a Democrat victory in Alabama House District 10, which overlaps significantly with Senate District 2, was asked about any coordinated campaign activity — fundraisers, town halls, joint messaging — with Drake.
YHN issued the requests last Wednesday. At time of post, neither had responded.
A Duval County, Florida judge entered a final injunction for protection against stalking against Drake on May 24, 2022, ruling that Runettia Ulanda Guess was the victim of stalking.
Guess filed two sworn petitions, in November 2021 and again in May 2022, accusing Drake of grabbing her, trespassing at her home, forcing his way inside, following her in public and to South Carolina, photographing her without permission, sending nude images of her, repositioning her security cameras and calling her at 1 a.m.
She said Drake threatened to distribute her private health information, sent explicit messages to her mother, aunts and sister, and threatened to report false military justice violations against her.
Guess’s petition states Drake told her she “deserved a bullet in my head if he didn’t have anything to lose.” The injunction ordered Drake to stay at least 500 feet from her home, workplace and school, and 100 feet from her vehicle, with no contact except through a court-approved third party. It ran through May 24, 2023.
John Roberts, the Republican nominee running against Drake for the open Senate District 2 seat, called the findings “deeply concerning” after the injunction surfaced publicly.
“These are serious allegations, and it is deeply concerning that a court found Mr. Drake stalked a woman,” Roberts said, adding that voters “deserve an explanation from Mr. Drake.”
Thus far, only Yellowhammer News and 1819 News have reported on Drake’s legal concerns.
