ALFA and BCA dominated Alabama’s biggest primary races on election night Tuesday, toppling incumbents, advancing hand-picked candidates, and proving once again that the state’s two most powerful political organizations can make or break a Republican primary.
FarmPAC, ALFA’s political arm, said its endorsed candidates prevailed or advanced to runoffs in 21 of 25 Republican primary matchups. Four sitting Republican lawmakers lost their seats to FarmPAC-backed challengers in a single night.
FarmPAC takes out Albritton
FarmPAC scored its biggest scalp of the night in State Senate District 22, where farmer and veteran Terry Waters knocked off longtime incumbent Greg Albritton (R-Range) 52.11% to 47.89%. Albritton, the General Fund budget chair who held the seat since 2014, lost by 735 votes.
FarmPAC topples Pettus, Barnes, and Simpson
FarmPAC’s sweep of Republican incumbents extended beyond the Senate. Maurice McCaney crushed Rep. Phillip Pettus (R-Killen) in House District 1, winning 59.24% to 40.76%.
Mike Elliott took out Rep. Greg Barnes (R-Decatur) in House District 13, winning 57.67% to 42.33%.
And in the closest race of the night, Danielle Duggar edged Rep. Matt Simpson (R-Daphne) in House District 96, winning 51.37% to 48.63%, a margin of just 157 votes.
ALFA’s Glover beats BCA’s Harwell
In Senate District 34, ALFA-backed Rusty Glover defeated BCA-backed Doug Harwell 54.55% to 45.45%, handing BCA one of its few losses on the night.
Ag Commissioner: Hill advances to runoff
FarmPAC’s endorsed candidate Corey Hill led a tight three-way race for Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries with 35.4% of the vote, advancing to a June 16 runoff against Christina Woerner McInnis at 34.8%. Jack Williams was eliminated with 29.8%. Just 2,352 votes separated first from second.
Attorney General: Robertson finishes first
FarmPAC-endorsed Katherine Robertson led the attorney general’s race with 40.5%, advancing to a June 16 runoff against Jay Mitchell at 34.4%. Pamela Casey was eliminated with 25.1%.
FarmPAC’s lone stumble: Jones survives
FarmPAC’s most heavily invested race did not go its way. State Sen. Andrew Jones (R-Centre) held off challenger Amy Dozier Minton 53.83% to 46.17% in Senate District 10. The margin was just 1,181 votes, but Jones lived to fight another term.
BCA crosses the aisle in HD60
BCA’s reach extended beyond the Republican ballot Tuesday. In House District 60, BCA and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin backed Alicia Escott Lumpkin in the Democratic primary. Lumpkin won outright with 52.26%, defeating incumbent Juandalynn Givan at 33.55% and Nina Taylor at 14.19%.
BCA and ALFA crush Mo Brooks
BCA and ALFA teamed up to back State Rep. James Lomax (R-Huntsville) in House District 20, and the result was decisive. Lomax demolished former Congressman Mo Brooks 60.67% to 39.33%, ending Brooks’ attempted political comeback by 21 points.
BCA topples Dan Roberts
In one of the night’s fiercest proxy battles, BCA targeted State Sen. Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook) in Senate District 15, going up against ALFA, the Alabama Forestry Association, and the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, who all backed Roberts. BCA won. Scott Ortis unseated Roberts 52.06% to 47.94%, a margin of just 657 votes.
When they invest, incumbents fall. Across six of the night’s most closely watched races, the two groups went a combined 5-for-6, reinforcing what candidates and consultants across the state already know: winning an Alabama Republican primary without ALFA or BCA in your corner is an uphill climb.
Sawyer Knowles is a capitol reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].
