West Alabama Wednesday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama! It is Wednesday, November 6, 2024.
Wednesday Morning Observations:
It is the morning after, and Alabama and the entire country has a gigantic political hangover. The General Election is over but now comes the analysis, assessments, recriminations, challenges and the legal process of certifying yesterday's results.
Counties will certify their elections and send those results to Montgomery for certification.
On the presidential side of the vote, because electoral law differs from state to state on when exactly each jurisdiction must complete certification, it could be until December 11th before election results become official.
Even though you cast your ballot for president it is not that vote that directly elected Donald Trump. You were technically voting for the Electoral College Electors.
On December 17, those electors meet in Montgomery and other state capitals to officially record their votes for president and vice president.
Those vote certificates must be received by the US Senate president no later than the fourth Wednesday of December – which this year happens to fall on Christmas Day.
The next congress will be sworn-in on January 3, the date that vote certificates also have to be transferred to Congress.
Then comes the final step, a process and date that has become infamous - Congressional certification on January 6th. Yep, that is the date and process that rioters were attempting to derail in Washington four years ago.
Oddly enough, the person who must oversee Congressional certification is Vice President Kamala Harris in her role as Senate President.
Then on January 20th Donald Trump and J.D. Vance officially take the oath of office to begin the new administration.
All during this process the election will be replayed over-and-over with media, political scientists and the political parties dissecting the political process. There also may be a few court challenges to suffer through as well.
But we can't dwell long on the 2024 General Elections, 2025 is a municipal election year in Alabama.
Weather:
Hurricane Rafael is expected to cross Western Cuba as a Category 2 or possibly even a 3 Hurricane before moving into the Gulf of Mexico by the end of the week. That is when the tropical system is expected to encounter unfavorable conditions and begin to deteriorate. It should have little or no direct impact on Alabama.
There are small rain chances today, tonight and Thursday and into the weekend.
Read More: Alabama Continues to Monitor Strengthening Hurricane Rafael
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The Forecast:
Yesterday’s General Election produced no real surprises in Alabama. President-Elect Donald Trump took the state. Democrat Shomari Figures won the re-drawn 2nd Congressional District race giving Alabama a second black member of the state’s congressional delegation, 7th District Democrat Congresswoman Terri Sewell easily won re-election…6th District GOP Congressman Gary Palmer will head back to Washington.
Republican Sara Stewart took the State Supreme Court Chief Justice seat
Incumbent Republican Tuscaloosa County Circuit Clerk Magaria Hamner-Bobo easily turned away a challenge from former Tuscaloosa City Council member, Democrat Sonya McKinstry.
Local Amendment #1 picked up 77% of the yes votes to remove a 1940 school tax district from the City of Tuscaloosa.
Read More: Bobo and Sewell Re-Elected, Local Amendment Passes in General Election
In races across West Alabama, In Bibb County, Republican Craig Cargile cruised to an easy win over Independent Darold Alan Mathews for Bibb County District Court.
EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this publication labeled Darold Mathews as a Democrat. This has been edited to reflect Mr. Mathews's affiliation.
In Fayette County, Incumbent Democrat District 6 County Commission Big John Underwood lost to Republican Challenger Valarie Branyon 592 votes to 470. Also in Fayette County, Democrat Portia L. Stowe narrowly edged Republican Bill McCollum by 50 votes
In Marengo County Democrat Tonya Smith Chestnutt edged Republican David W. Perry nine votes in the State Board District 5 race. And the 5-mill school tax referendum is in a dead heat.
Perry County gave Democrat Tonya Smith Chestnutt 72% of the vote over Republican David Perry in the District 5 State Board race. And Democrat Carlton “Carl��� Lewis, with 81% of the vote, won the Perry County District 5 County Commission race over two other challengers.
In Pickens County, Republican Shawn McDaniel won over Democrat Melinda Little Robinson with 64% of the vote for county school superintendent.
In Sumter County Democrat Tonya Smith Chestnutt garnered 71% of the vote over Republican David Perry in the District 5 State Board Race. Meanwhile, Dem Jeanette Brassfield Payne defeated Independent Glenda Dubose with 53% of the vote in a tight County Board, District 4 race.
There were no contested local races in Greene, Lamar and Walker Counties.
Click on the Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen's website for complete in-depth returns.
Turnout was heavy in spots for yesterday's General Election. Some polling places across West Alabama report 1 1/2 hour waits in line.
The presidential race was the big draw since many local elections were uncontested. Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen says the high voter turnout reflects the importance of the election from top to bottom races
There are 3,868,043 registered voters in Alabama, an all-time high. 2,256,402 cast ballots yesterday meaning it was a 58% voter turnout statewide. In Tuscaloosa County 55% of registered voters turned out. Bibb register 51%, Fayette 55%, Greene 61%, Hale 59%, Lamar 62%, Marengo 61%, Perry 58%, Pickens 63%, Sumter 55% and Walker 60%.
Some exit polling asked Alabama voters why they voted for Donald Trump. They gave five top reasons:
- The economy
- Concern over Democrats using the judicial system for political purposes
- Far left control of the Democratic Party
- VP Harris' inability to separate herself from the policies of her boss, President Joe Biden
- Harris' past record
Veteran's Day is not until next week but a number of activities to honor those who have served will take place beginning today through next week.
Read More: Many Events & Deals to Honor Veterans in Tuscaloosa County This Month
Topping Sports News:
The Alabama Football Team moved up one spot to 11th in the first College Football Playoff Bracket issued last night. That puts the Tide within the 12-team championship play off structure. If the playoffs were held now, the Tide would have to travel to Texas for its first-round playoff game.
Bama can stay in the race and improve its seeding by winning the remainder of their games, including LSU in Baton Rouge Saturday night.
Read More: Initial 12-Team College Football Playoff Rankings Revealed
Tide Coach Kalen DeBoer conducted his weekly Monday news conference with praise for Saturday night's opponent, LSU. The first year Bama head man also discussed the win-or-your-out situation involving the playoffs.
Read More: Kalen DeBoer: Monday’s Press Conference Ahead of LSU
The Minnesota Vikings have placed former Alabama record-breaking kicker Will Reichard on the Injured Reserve List. Reichard was a perfect 34-for-34 this season but missed two fgs Sunday and suffered a quad injury, sidelining the special teamer for at least four weeks.
Read More: Vikings Place Reichard on Injured Reserve
Click TuscaloosaThread.com for the latest West Alabama news, sports and weather. Better yet, download the app.
Have a Wonderful Wednesday and Beat LSU!! ROLL TIDE!
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