Former State Sen. Dick Brewbaker (R-Montgomery) believes Democrats could potentially sway Alabama's upcoming CD-2 Republican primary by crossing over and voting in favor of lesser conservative candidates.
During Wednesday's episode of Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5's "The Jeff Poor Show," Brewbaker argued such a scenario could be avoided had the Alabama Legislature passed a closed primary bill last session.
"In this one, you got winner take all, so there's not going to be a runoff," Brewbaker explained. "School is starting that week for a whole lot of people in CD-2, so I'm predicting a turnout of maybe less than six. You know the Republicans had a chance in the last session to close their primaries, and for whatever reason chose not to do it. This is what we get for the Alabama Republican Party refusing to wake up and smell the coffee."
He continued, "One thousand Democrats voting in CD-2, in an election where you have less than 7% turnout, will probably decide who wins it."
The former lawmaker is not optimistic about Republican voter enthusiasm heading into the primary, tying the issue to the state legislature and endorsements from President Donald Trump.
"I'm going to tell you something: the problem with having a legislature that has apparently decided they don't care about ordinary working Alabamians is that they're just going to vote for corporate Alabama, whether it's Blue Cross. the power company, Veterans Affairs or the gas tax," said Brewbaker. "Another thing is that with Trump's endorsees just winning every election, it makes people feel like their vote is not very important. Trump endorsed that guy; he's going to win, so I might as well go fishing."
"Republican voter energy is so low right now, you can feel it in the air, and the Democrats have an opportunity to have a very strong effect on who is the CD-2 nominee for the Republicans, if Republicans allow it to happen," he added.
The Alabama CD-2 Republican primary is scheduled for August 11.
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