A Good Day for Democrats

On Patricia Todd being named the Democrats’ nominee for House District 54…

The system worked. Order was restored. No death wish in evidence.

The attempt to unseat Patricia Todd as the Democrats’ nominee for House District 54 was more about self-serving factionalism than anything else. Granted, there were sensationalizing factors: Todd could be the first openly gay legislator elected in Alabama’s history, a white woman may have been elected in a district of majority blacks, power broker Joe Reed flexed his muscle.

But at its core, from beginning to end, the story was simple and familiar: a political faction was trying to preserve or expand its power. Joe Reed said as much:

“I don’t apologize in regard to trying to preserve a black seat,” Reed said. “That’s why I drew the (district) lines. This is a setback, a little bit, for that. But we’ll live with it.”

Thursday’s hearing clearly revealed the election challenge as a naked attempt to preserve power. Gone were the accusations of illegal votes. The vote totals were not challenged. No longer pushing the point of the late filing of the financial disclosure; it was filed before the election and there was no precedent for disqualification. No, no… they ditched all of these original arguments in favor of one they added late, at the 13th hour even. Their best argument was that Todd had not followed an archaic party rule from 1974. One that her challenger Hendricks had not followed. One that Lucy Baxley and Jim Folsom had not followed. One that no one had followed since 1988.

The moment you realize that this was their best argument, this is the moment you see it for what it is. This is about power preserving power by any means possible.

We know these stories of political factionalism and eat them up. Roy Moore and the Gang of Four against more moderate Republicans. Democrats Barron and Preuitt wrestling for control of the state Senate. Ultraconservative Republican Scott Beason ousting more moderate Republican Jack Biddle from the state Senate.

On this one, the Democratic Party has caught more than its share of abuse – as if the wishes of one faction represented the desires of the whole party. Instead, most of what I outlined here on Friday played out as Todd’s victory was upheld.

In the end there are two remarkable outcomes. Patricia Todd is poised to become the first openly gay legislator in state history. And Joe Reed has met the limits of his influence.