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Alabama
Governor
| ALABAMA |
Nov. 8,
2022 Governor |
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Plurality: 533,971 votes (37.73 percentage points) AL Secretary of State
Notes: Gov. Kay Ivey (R) comfortably won a second full term, garnering more than two-thirds of the vote to defeat Yolanda Flowers (D), a former rehabilitation counselor and teacher from Birmingham, and Dr. James "Jimmy" Blake (L), who served two terms on the Birmingham City Council. There were several active write-in candidates as well. Dean Odle, who obtained 1.8% in the Republican primary, billed himself as "the only true Republican still in the race." Jared Budlong of Daphne, who has worked as a project manager for a marketing agency, and sought to focus attention on "the prison-slavery system." Ivey, who turned 78 in Oct. 2022, has an extensive career in government, starting with a position in the Cabinet of Gov. Fob James in 1979 and including two terms as Treasurer, from 2003 to 2011, and more than six years as lieutenant governor until she became governor in 2017 upon the resignation of Gov. Robert Bentley. In the May 24 primary, Ivey faced eight challengers. Six candidates, not including Ivey, debated on April 26 in Huntsville hosted by Focus on America (>). In the primary Ivey obtained 54.5% of the vote, thereby avoiding a runoff (>). Her closest challengers were Lindy Blanchard (+), who served as ambassador to Slovenia during the Trump Administration, at 19.3%, Tim James, son of former Gov. Fob James, at 16.2% and Lew Burdette at 6.6%. Six candidates competed in the May 24 Democratic primary resulting in a June 21 runoff between Flowers and state Sen. Malika Sanders-Fortier from Selma. Flowers defeated Sanders-Fortier by 55.1% to 44.9%. After the intensity of the primaries, the general election was a very quiet affair. Ivey declined to debate. Flowers and Blake were scheduled to debate at the AFFC Community Reinvestment Multimedia Conference and Economic Empowerment Forum in Huntsville on Sept. 25; Flowers withdrew shortly before the event, leaving Blake to debate with write-in candidate Odle. Campaign Manager: Kay Ivey: William Califf (Oct. 2021) Legislative liaison and deputy communications director in the Alabama Office of the Attorney General, Nov. 2020-Oct. 2021. Communications director for the Alabama Senate President Pro Tem, Nov. 2014-Nov. 2020. Campaign manager on Marsh for Senate, Jan.-Nov. 2014. Political director for Connecticut Republicans, May 2013-Jan. 2014. Deputy Victory director and AB/EV director for Colorado Republicans, June-Nov. 2012. Virginia organizational director on Romney for President, Aug. 2011-Jan. 2012. Legislative liaison for Gov. Robert Bentley, Feb--July 2011. Field director for the Alabama Republican Party, Apr.-Nov. 2010. Studied political science at the University of Alabama. Yolanda Flowers: former Roshanique Taylor Candidate for Birmingham City Council District 5 in 2021. Experience includes contract benefits specialist for Aflac, security guard, behavioral heath technician, assistant store manager, sales associate, caregiver, receptionist and secretary. A.S. in adult health nurse/nursing from Jefferson State Community College, 2018; studied biology, general at Virginia College of Birmingham. See also: Erica Thomas. "Libertarian Party nominee Jimmy Blake to step down from Jefferson County GOP post to focus on gubernatorial bid." 1819 News, July 29, 2022. Jay Reeves. "Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey avoids runoff in Republican primar." AP, May 24, 2022. Brian Lawson. "Huge undecided bloc in Democratic race for governor, leading candidate facing disclosure questions." WHNT News 19, May 19, 2022. |
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