[alancarp]

Alabama Republicans had owned 87 of the 140 total legislative seats in the state before last night. Now it looks like something around 98+. A LOT of money poured into the campaign from the AEA (Teacher's Union) has won nothing for the Democrats - after their entire stated goal was to 'break the super-majority'.

Instead, Alabama voters went in the opposite direction: completely away from the Dems.

That race referred to in the last two paragraphs is of particular note. It was redrawn - by the GOP - to be a relative safe Democrat seat as they carved up the districts after the 2010 census. As of this morning, it looks like the Democrats have lost even THAT seat.

Crazy/absurd radio ads from the (losing) Bedford campaign over the last weekend seemed to suggest that they suddenly knew they were in trouble - and it looks like they have indeed lost, notwithstanding the recount.

Alabama may now be the reddest state in the nation with 2/3rd+ majorities in both state houses and all major statewide offices.

[pepsionice]

Being from the state, I can offer this insight.

Most people from the state are not pure-Republicans or pure-Democrats. Generally, big-talk from DC doesn’t score. Obama-Care didn’t deliver lower rates or fix what was broken. Most people don’t want unions in the middle of delivering jobs. The guy who shows up to say it’s the government’s job to inspect/audit ditches....will be laughed at. The minute you threaten hunting and fishing in any fashion...you will be asked to leave. A big hocus-pocus tax refund created by a RINO that equals a whopping $135....is mostly laughed over.

[BobL]

“However, Democrats argued the lines packed black voters into majority-minority districts making it difficult for Democrats, particularly white Democrats, to win outside those minority districts.”

Can’t help snickering here - the Democrats DEMANDED that blacks be packed into their own districts, so that black democrats could be elected to office at state and federal levels...and Republicans were glad to comply.

So at the federal level you wind up with something like this (random numbers, but they make the point):

With packing: 240 Reps, 195 Dems (including 30 black Dems)

Without packing: 220 Reps, 215 Dems (including 5 black Dems)

So the blacks definitely get to send more people to DC, but their party is virtually powerless because of that. Additionally, as mentioned in the article, white Dems in the South are simply out of luck - there is no room for them when blacks are packed-in.

Love it!

[blam]

"Alabama may now be the reddest state in the nation with 2/3rd+ majorities in both state houses and all major statewide offices. "

Baldwin County, on the east bay of Mobile, kicked out every Democrat from elected positions in the county during the last elections.

There are zero Democrats in (elected) government positions in Baldwin county.

[Impy]

Nice.