With the exception of Opelika pastor Dean Odle, Gov. Kay Ivey remains unopposed in her reelection bid for governor.
However, there are rumblings the field could get crowded in the coming months.
Among those include State Auditor Jim Zeigler, who has launched an exploratory campaign, former U.S. ambassador to Slovenia Lynda Blanchard, who has not ruled out the possibility of dropping out of the U.S. Senate race to run for governor, and Greenville businessman Tim James, son of former Gov. Fob James and a frontrunner in the 2010 race for the GOP nod for governor.
During an appearance on Mobile talk radio’s FM Talk 106.5, Zeigler said it was his hope Blanchard and James would compete for the Republican nod for governor.
“Yes, it does,” he replied. “You mentioned Rev. Dean Odle. He will reach some people that I won’t reach. He will raise some issues against the mighty, and I understand he already has. I understand he makes a very excellent speech. So this simply helps keep Ivey below 50% and sets up that runoff.”
“It’s my strategy to be in that runoff,” Zeigler added. “I hope Tim James enters the race. He’ll reach some people I won’t. I hope Lynda Blanchard and her millions of self-funded dollars enters the race. I hope all of this will be aimed at informing the taxpayers about what a bad deal they’ve been getting from the Ivey administration. They’re just setting up that runoff situation, Ivey versus Zeigler. That’s my strategy.”
@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.