MOMTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama political parties on Friday closed out qualifying for the 2018 elections, with several notable last-minute entries in the primaries.
On the Democratic side, Joseph Siegelman, the son of former Gov. Don Siegelman, filed paperwork to run for attorney general as a Democrat. Jefferson County Circuit Judge Bob Vance announced a run for chief justice. Vance ran in 2012 but lost the post to Republican Roy Moore.
Democrats, who had all but been eliminated from the state political stage, are seeking to build on the December upset victory of Sen. Doug Jones in the special election for U.S. Senate.
“I think it’s an incredible number of people who are running - young people, women,” Alabama Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy Worley said Friday.
On the Republican side, the already crowded GOP field for governor grew by one more: State Sen. Slade Blackwell of Mountain Brook made a last-minute entry.
“We have a deep bench of motivated conservative candidates that our voters will choose in our June 5 primary and on Nov. 6 in the general election,” Alabama Republican Party Chairwoman Terry Lathan said.
Statewide offices, including governor, attorney general, lieutenant governor and chief justice, as well as legislative and congressional seats, are among the offices up for grabs this year. The full list of Republican and Democratic candidates can be viewed on the party sites.
Here’s a look at some of the major statewide races:
GOVERNOR
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, who became governor last year after the sudden resignation of then-Gov. Robert Bentley, will face multiple rivals in the GOP primary. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, state Sen. Bill Hightower of Mobile, state Sen. Slade Blackwell of Mountain Brook, evangelical preacher Scott Dawson, and Michael McAllister are challenging Ivey in the GOP primary.
On the Democratic side, the candidates include former chief justice Sue Bell Cobb, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, former state legislator James Fields, Christopher A. Countryman and Anthony White.
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ATTORNEY GENERAL
In the Republican primary, Attorney General Steve Marshall, who was appointed to the post last year by Bentley, faces former U.S. Attorney Alice Martin, former Attorney General Troy King and Republican lawyer and former judge Chess Bedsole.
On the Democratic side, Joseph Siegelman will face lawyer Chris Christie in the June primary.
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CHIEF JUSTICE
Chief Justice Lyn Stuart rose to the position after Roy Moore was suspended by a state ethics panel. In the Republican primary, she will face a challenge from a colleague and longtime Moore ally, Associate Justice Tom Parker.
On the Democratic side, Jefferson County Circuit Judge Bob Vance announced Friday that he is seeking the post for a second time.
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