Over 100 Democrats voted in the Republican primary election in Dale County in hopes of affecting the outcome in favor of a less-objectionable candidate.
Alabama concluded its primary election for both parties on March 5. While eyes were on high-profile races on both the state and national stage, several counties across Alabama also held elections for various local bodies.
In Dale County, three Republican candidates vied for the position of county commission chairman. The two frontrunners, Commission Chairman Steve McKinnon and District 3 Commissioner Adam Enfinger, are headed to a runoff election on April 16. The other candidate, Pinckard Mayor Bobby Borland, secured just 18% of the vote in the race.
Records obtained by 1819 News show that at least 110 Democratic voters participated in the Republican primary.
Several residents, whose names were on the list of swapped voters, posted on social media, encouraging the public to vote against Enfinger because of his stance opposing inappropriate children's books in the Ozark library.
Related: Ozark Dale County Library Board makes changes in response to juvenile book controversy
"Adam Enfinger is running ads on television bragging on his anti library and anti free book stance," said Jubal Mathis, who voted in the Republican primary. "He points to activity in getting books reviewed at the library. Let's all make sure we get out and vote against him. Between that and his intention of making non government entities explain exactly where and how they spend money, it's obvious he is running an active campaign against our library system. Let's all get out and show him we vote and we value our library system."
She continued, "Anyone can vote in the Republican primary, there is no such thing as a registered Democrat or Republican in Alabama. As there is no real reason to vote in the Democrat primary if you're a Democrat, please don't stay home. Get out and vote in the Republican primary regardless of which affiliation you normally vote, and vote against the man who wants to defund the library."
Another resident featured in the Republican voting rolls, Gene Lynn, operates in a group called Concern Citizens of Ozark, which sources in the area told 1819 News is a heavily liberal group. Lynn made posts advocating for Borland, calling traditionally Democratic voters to vote in the Republican Primary.
Alabama has open primaries, meaning one does not have to be registered with any political party to vote in that party's primary election. A closed primary would require a person to declare with a party before being allowed to cast their vote in a primary.
Alabama Republicans began pushing for closed primary elections after the 2022 State Senate District 27 primary outcome that resulted in incumbent then-State Sen. Tom Whatley's (R-Auburn) defeat by one vote out of 16,745 votes cast to then-Auburn City Councilman Jay Hovey, with some Democrat crossover voters claiming credit for swaying the election. Shortly after Whatley's defeat, the Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) passed a resolution calling on the legislature to pass legislation demanding closed primaries, which would be required to affect that change.
ALGOP Chairman John Wahl said that the situation in Dale County again shows the need for close primaries in the state.
"The information that has come forward about the Dale County Commission race is very concerning," Wahl said. "It is extremely inappropriate for Democrats to have an organized effort to affect the results of a Republican primary. To me, the bottom line is that Democrats should vote in the Democrat primary, and Republicans should vote in the Republican primary. And if we have Democrats purposefully coming across and voting in our primary to affect our elections, something needs to be done about it."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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