The contest to determine who will replace outgoing State Sen. Del Marsh (R-Anniston), who formerly served as the upper chamber’s president pro tem, has garnered attention from some of the heaviest hitters in Alabama Republican politics.
The Senate District 12 GOP primary runoff features Anniston businessman Keith Kelley and attorney Wendy Ghee Draper.
Draper and Kelley secured spots in the runoff after receiving 39.31% and 35.42% of the vote in the May 24 primary election, respectively. Weaver Mayor Wayne Willis came in third place with 25.27%.
Early in the race, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks), the lead Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, came out in support of Kelley. In the latter stages of the primary, Kelley’s bid was supported by a fundraiser held by former Gov. Bob Riley.
Additionally, Kelley recently received the endorsement of State Rep. K.L. Brown (R-Jacksonville).
While it is rare for a sitting congressman and former governor to intervene in an open State Senate primary, perhaps it is not entirely unexpected given the race’s dynamic.
Draper is married to Anniston Mayor Jack Draper, who in 2008 donated to Democrat Joshua Segall, who was challenging Rogers’ reelection bid for Alabama’s third congressional district.
In one of Rogers’ closest elections of his political career, the congressman would go on to defeat his Democratic opponent by just over 8% of the vote.
Draper’s bid to appear on the Republican primary ballot as a candidate for Senate District 12 was challenged shortly after the qualifying period ended. Among the issues cited in her ballot challenge was her history of financially supporting the campaigns of Democrats.
According to the National Institute for Money in Politics, Draper donated a combined $2,800 to the candidacies of four Democrats and one independent from 2002-2006.
Draper in 2002 donated to state treasurer hopeful Stephen Black, former State Rep. Craig Ford (I-Gadsden), then-lieutenant governor hopeful Lucy Baxley and the unsuccessful reelection campaign of former Gov. Don Siegelman. In 2006, she contributed to then-lieutenant governor candidate Jim Folsom, Jr.
According to the most recent Alabama Secretary of State campaign finance filings, more than $236,000 has been expended in the hotly contested race between the two candidates. Records show that Draper has spent $170,004 compared to Kelley’s $66,442.
Draper holds the fundraising edge over Kelley as she has garnered $116,160 in contributions to Kelley’s overall total of $37,063. However, as of the filing period ending May 31, Kelley currently holds $47,464 cash-on-hand while Draper’s ending cash balance sits at $6,401.
The candidate who notches the Republican Party bid in the June 21 runoff election will face no Democratic opposition in the November 8 general election.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
