- Newly elected Alabama Congresswoman Terri Sewell picked a tough time to win a seat in the U.S. House. She'll be a freshman and a member of the Democratic minority...probably not the best combination for committee assignments. Then again, she made history, the first woman (along with Republican Martha Roby) elected to Congress from Alabama, and the first black woman too.
- The other Democratic win in the night of the GOP tidlewave was Joe Hubbard, who campaigned hard enough to unseat veteran GOP legislator David Grimes. He too can likely count on few choice statehouse committee assignments in Montgomery.
- And NY Times Regional Newspapers reporter Dana Beyerle has a great quote in his story from Demo Party Chair Joe Turnham:
“There were 1.5 million votes, and we lost anywhere from 200,000 to 300,000,” he said. “By the time they throw enough people out of the nursing homes, double the size of classrooms, find no new money, they will have several hundred thousand people turn on them.”
- Good luck to all of the candiates, winners and losers. 2011 promises to be a tough year to govern in the U.S. in general, and in Alabama in particular. Do your best!
Dana Beyerle with defeated Democratic candidate for Gov Ron Sparks
Fear not! Whatever committee Joe Hubbard is on, he'll be a voice to reckon with.
ReplyDeleteHe's about the only Democratic legislator who ousted a Republican incumbent, in R-leaning district. Therefore, he will have a lot of respect from his Democratic compatriots.