ONLY ON 8: Political Analyst Steve Flowers talks about Trump endorsement in Lt. Gov. race
ONLY ON 8: Action 8 Political Analyst Steve Flowers reveals whether he believes President Trump’s endorsement in the lieutenant governor’s race could shake up the field.
President Trump endorsed the head of the Alabama Republican Party, John Wahl, for lieutenant governor before Wahl had even entered the race. Wahl announced his candidacy on the last day of qualifying last month, joining a crowded field of Republican candidates.
Flowers told Action 8’s Glenn Halbrooks that historically, Alabama voters have resented being told who to vote for, noting that people endorsed by four-term Gov. George Wallace would often be defeated for that reason. He says a Trump endorsement is unique. However, he says that Wahl will have to raise money in order to tell voters that Trump chose him, because otherwise, voters won’t get the message.
As for other issues, there is a move in the legislature to change the way members of Alabama’s Public Service Commission are chosen. Voters currently decide on the three-member board, but some in the legislature want the positions to be appointed instead. Flowers says Alabama voters usually reject any attempt to take power away from them.
There is also talk in the Alabama Legislature about putting gambling on the ballot. Flowers says that while the people support it, the issue remains controversial at the Alabama State House. He says it will take a coordinated effort starting with the governor to get any gambling bill through the legislature to allow the people to decide. He thinks it will be next year before that could potentially happen. Alabama voters defeated a lottery proposal in 1999 and haven’t had the chance to vote on any form of gambling since.
Watch the video above to see more of Steve Flowers’ insights.
