Democrats in the Yellowhammer State are celebrating a landslide special election victory in a district won twice by Donald Trump, despite Republicans still having a supermajority in the Alabama House of Representatives.
Marilyn Lands’ victory in Alabama’s House District 10 on Tuesday follows Republican David Cole’s resignation after being indicted on a voter fraud charge (a class C felony).
Cole defeated Lands in 2022 by a 7-point margin. Running in the vacant seat against Republican Teddy Powell, Lands campaigned heavily on access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) after the state supreme court’s ruling that frozen embryos were people and, consequently, fertility clinics could be held liable under the state’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act. (RELATED: Trump Urges Alabama To Protect Access To IVF After State Supreme Court Ruling)
She also campaigned against Alabama’s abortion law, which does not allow for exceptions in cases of rape or incest. In August 2023, Attorney General Steve Marshall submitted a court filing stating that his office had the right to prosecute Alabamans who help a pregnant woman get an out-of-state abortion.
Lands’ message resonated with voters. In the end, the final result wasn’t even close.
The Democrat prevailed with 62.4% of the vote, compared to Powell’s 37.6%. The Huntsville area district has a higher median household income and double the rate of college graduates compared to the rest of Alabama.
Newsweek further reports:
This is the first election in Alabama since the state Supreme Court‘s ruling in February that threatened access to IVF and a major win for Democrats in a deep red state.
“Today, Alabama women and families sent a clear message that will be heard in Montgomery and across the nation,” Lands said in a statement.
“Our legislature must repeal Alabama’s no-exceptions abortion ban, fully restore access to IVF, and protect the right to contraception. To my campaign team and volunteers, both in this run and in my last one, I want you to know how much your support means to me,” the statement went on.
“I could not have done this alone and have been so incredibly blessed by the people around me. I look forward to representing everyone in District 10 and building a brighter future for Alabama. The campaign might have ended, but our work is just beginning,” Lands said.
Powell conceded the race last night, wishing Lands “the absolute best as she goes on to serve the people of District 10 in the House of Representatives.”
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