Campaign 2014: Three things to Watch For

by WAKA Action 8 News

Tomorrow Alabamians will head to the polls to vote in the primary election.
There are many hot topic issues bringing voters out this year, but what three things can we watch for?

Political Analyst Steve Flowers says this year’s primary election will bring a historically low turnout. Not because voters are lazy, but because there aren’t many races voters are passionate about.

“The governor is basically unopposed,” he says. “Four of the five constitutional officers are unopposed. We have no state wide races to follow. People who are on the cusp, who vote sometimes, sometimes don’t, you’ve got to push to get them to the polls tomorrow.”

And Flowers says that low turnout may help candidates supported by special interest groups. Which brings us to the second thing to watch for in the 2014 primary. How will tea party candidates fare?

“I suggest it may help tea party candidates who are less funded,” he says.

Six republicans are vying for Alabama’s 6th Congressional District seat. Scott Beason, who introduced Alabama’s controversial immigration bill and sponsored a bill that would allow people to carry guns in their cars without without concealed carry permits has only spent 35 thousand dollars campaigning and is supported by the Tea Party.

“We’re going to see how he does. If he makes the runoff, the tea party has succeeded in Jefferson County. “

And Flowers says the last thing to watch for is the race for public service commission, where Terry Dunn, who’s on the panel now, faces three opponents. Flowers says Dunn is anti-coal and challenged the rates charged by Alabama Power. Flowers says miners will be coming to the polls to vote against him.

“Alabama is one of 15 states that’s a pro coal state,” he explains. “We’re a coal producing state. “This candidate has been a proponent against the coal industry.”