State Rep. Chris England (D-Tuscaloosa) announced on Thursday that he would not seek another term as chair of the Alabama Democratic Party.
Democrats will elect a new party chair during their organizational meeting on August 13 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC), according to Alabama Media Group.
England was elected as the minority party’s chair in 2019 after a tense power struggle commenced between the lawmaker and then-Alabama Democratic Party chair Nancy Worley.
Democrats have not seen major electoral success since 2017 when former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones (D-Mountain Brook) defeated past Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore in a controversial senatorial special election.
Since then, Democrats have seen voter participation in its primaries drastically decrease.
The party’s voter turnout has tanked 40% from 2018 to 2022. Republicans outvoted Democrats nearly 4:1 in their parties’ respected gubernatorial primary elections this past cycle.
Even as Republicans control all statewide constitutional offices and hold a supermajority in the Alabama Legislature, the party is actively seeking to cut into traditionally Democrat voting blocs.
Last year, the Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) launched its statewide minority outreach coalition.
The effort spearheaded by ALGOP chairman John Wahl looks to bolster Republicans’ standing among minorities, which have long been reliable Democrat voters.
State Rep. Kenneth Paschal (R-Pelham), who made history in 2021 by becoming the first black Republican since Reconstruction to be elected to the legislature, serves as director of the coalition.
However, one left-wing operative looks to put an end to Democrats’ in-state electoral struggles.
Josh Coleman, who serves as the LGBTQ+ liaison for the City of Birmingham and Mayor Randall Woodfin, announced his candidacy for the party’s top position on Thursday.
Democrats in Alabama need a champion. I’m running for Chair of the Alabama Democratic Party to be that champion. It’s time we empower our local organizations, and show up from the Shoals to the shores to restore people’s trust in the Democratic Party.https://t.co/nJlErlLglT pic.twitter.com/BWdRj4kisg
— Josh Coleman (@joshcolemanal) July 15, 2022
Coleman, who is the deputy director of Birmingham City’s Division of Social Justice and Racial Equity, serves as president of Central Alabama Pride.
The progressive operative has earned his stripes as a Democratic Party loyalist, as he has held numerous official party and campaign-related leadership positions in recent years.
Coleman has served in multiple capacities for the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Young Democrats for America, State Democratic executive committee, Jefferson County Democratic Party executive committee, and the Greater Birmingham Democrats.
In 2016, he served as Alabama volunteer director for the failed campaign of former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Coleman is a current aide to convicted felon and former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman (D).
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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