Good morning! It’s Election Day and polls are open. Best of luck to candidates and campaign workers. Here’s my favorite Election Day West Wing Clip. And here’s your Daily News for Tuesday, June 5, 2018. 

1. Final push. 

• Candidates for governor made their final appeals to voters as they travelled around the state trying to get that last little bit of airtime on TV and radio.
• Kay Ivey hopped from market to market with the wings of “Yella Fella” Jimmy Rane.
• Scott Dawson concluded his week-long bus tour, in which he made 45 appearances, with a final stop in Piedmont.
• Tommy Battle made several appearances on conservative talk radio, and finally gave Matt Murphy the rough treatment he deserves.
• Bill Hightower also made appearances on talk radio, including YellowHammer’s “Ford Faction” in Birmingham.
• Walt Maddox was busy in the Birmingham market, before a final stop in Tuscaloosa and some family phone banking.
• Sue Bell Cobb encouraged volunteers in Montgomery and caught the eye of some with an interesting email appeal.
• Read the election day primer from Kim Chandler HERE.
• Wondering where to vote? Find your location HERE.

2. Races to watch

Jay Reeves of the Associated Press has a look at the statewide races to watch. It’s what we’ve been talking about for weeks (AG, Lt. Governor, Supreme Court Chief Justice, School Board, Congress etc.)

There are some interesting legislative races you should also be watching tonight. Keep in mind, this is still the primary so no majorities are decided tonight or anything.

Congress, AL-3

• No, that’s not the wrong number. You should be watching for who wins the DEMOCRATIC nomination for Congress in AL-3. Last night, the Huffington Post broke a crazy story about how clinical psychologist Adia Winfrey might not actually be a clinical psychologist. The thing is, she has a chance to win over opponent Mallory Hagan. Winner faces Congressman Mike Rogers in November.

State Senate District 7 (Huntsville, Madison County)

• Mary Scott Hunter is facing off with Sam Givhan in one of the most-watched and most-heated GOP Primaries. It has included the late and somewhat unexpected entrance of AEA at the end.

State Senate District 10 (Cherokee, Etowah, DeKalb)

• State Rep. Mack Butler is facing Andrew Jones in the GOP primary, but perhaps the most interesting part is the winner will face State Rep. Craig Ford as an independent in the Fall.

State Senate District 25 (Montgomery, Elmore, Crenshaw)

• Montgomery County Commissioner Ronda Walker is facing attorney Will Barfoot. This race to replace retiring Sen. Dick Brewbaker got heated early and ugly late.

State Senate District 26 (Montgomery)

• David “Coach” Burkette has been a State Senator for about ten minutes and will once again face off in the Democratic primary with longtime State Rep. John Knight.

State Senate District 4 (Cullman)

• State Sen. Paul Bussman faces a rare serious incumbent challenge from Cullman City Councilman Garlan Gudger.

State Senate District 32 (Baldwin)

• The race is crowded for the seat of retiring Sen. Trip Pittman. It includes Baldwin County Commissioner Chris Elliott, Orange Beach City Councilman Jeff Boyd, former State Rep. Bill Roberts, and dentist David Northcutt.

House District 4 (Morgan, Limestone)

• Parker Moore defeated Tom Fredricks in the special election, but faces him again in this regular GOP primary.

House District 39 (Cherokee, Dekalb, Cleburne)

• Former ALGOP Executive Director TJ Maloney faces Ginny Shaver, wife of Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver.

House District 45 (Jefferson, Shelby)

• State Rep. Dickie Drake is facing a primary challenge from Tim Crockett, who is the guy who was famously speechless in a CNN interview during the big Senate election.

House District 88 (Autauga)

• Retiring State Rep. Paul Beckman is stepping down to run for Probate Judge. Current Probate Judge Al Booth was aged out of running for that spot again so he’s running for Beckman’s seat. He faces Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama director Jeremy Arthur and newcomer businessman Will Dismukes.

3. People to follow.

Election Day is always fun on Twitter.

(BTW, some free advice for campaign workers: your time is MUCH better spent waving signs on a street corner or calling through a list than staring at Twitter all day).

Let’s talk about a hashtag. I suggest #ALvotes so we can avoid the dumpster fire that #ALpolitics can be.

Here are a few must-follow accounts for election day coverage into the evening:

• Fox 10 Anchor Bob Grip . He always has information out quickly.
• Advertiser reporter Brian Lyman.
• Anniston Star / Lagniappe writer Lee Hedgepeth 
• The Young Alabama guys and gals because they’ll have something funny to say.
• AP Reporters Jay Reeves and Kim Chandler.
• YellowHammer & Lagniappe writer Jeff Poor.
• Radio hosts Dale Jackson, Matt Murphy and Sean Sullivan.
• AL.com political reporters Leada Gore, Mike Cason & John Sharp
• Fox 6 Reporters Jonathan Hardison & Alan Collins.
• Also, ME. Follow me and the Alabama Daily News twitter account for updates throughout the day.
• Sorry if I left anybody out. Happy tweeting!

4. Predictions?

I don’t love making predictions. Mostly because I’m not very good at them.

But, just to be a good sport and keep things interesting, I’ll make a few…

• Gov. Ivey wins without a runoff. I’ve seen no serious poll that suggests she experiences some slide in support, so I think she takes it.
• Walt Maddox wins without a runoff.
• For Lt. Governor, Twinkle Cavanaugh doesn’t quite get to 50 percent and is forced into a runoff with Will Ainsworth.
• For Attorney General, Troy King and Steve Marshall make it into the runoff. I think Marshall barely makes it in, though, because of impressive late surges from Alice Martin and Chess Bedsole. Honestly, I could see either of those two getting in, and I think we’ll be counting votes pretty late or into Wednesday in a 2010 Bentley-James type fashion.
• I think Tom Parker wins Chief Justice.
• Martha Roby doesn’t quite get to 50 percent and is forced into a runoff with Bobby Bright. There are just so many names on that ballot. I don’t think Roby has any problem with Bright in a runoff, btw.
• Finally, I predict that by the end of the day some politician will boldly propose outlawing campaigns texting directly to voters’ cell phones (see next).

5. Did you get a text?

• One relatively new campaign tactic being employed this year is texting directly to voters’ cell phones.
• Thankfully, I didn’t receive any yesterday, perhaps the one benefit to being stuck with a 202 number.
• But at least a dozen people reached out to ask about this new phenomenon.
• As if robo-calls weren’t annoying enough, right?
• It’s not actually that new, but it’s more widely-used now.
• Campaign texting has become an issue in the California primary, which is also today. Read reports from the Sacremento Bee and San Francisco’s ABC7 to learn a little more about it.
• The question is, does it work?

News Briefs

• Noted Alabama Statesman Clement Clay “Bo Torbert” has passed away at the age of 88. He served as a State Representative and State Senator from Opelika before being elected Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. The building is co-named in his honor. Condolences to the Torbert family.
• The ALGOP has decided to not count the votes for former Tuscaloosa City Council Member Lee Garrison, who is running for the ALGOP Executive Committee. They’re doing it because Garrison said nice things about Walt Maddox.
• It’s Snapper Season! New contributor Will Whatley has his first piece up at Alabama Daily News about the new, expanded season and how we can thank Sen. Shelby and Rep. Bradley Byrne for it.
• I messed up the link to Skip Tucker’s column yesterday. My bad. It’s worth a read, as always, and you can do that HERE.

Headlines.

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – It’s #SnapperSZN.

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Ivey, challengers make final push in race for governor.

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Voters make their picks in Alabama governor primaries.  

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – More Democrats on Alabama ballot this year; Plus, races to watch.

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – On the ballot: candidates for major office in Alabama’s June 5 primary.

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Skip Tucker: Campaigns get testy, desperate toward the end.

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Tigers draft Auburn right-hander Casey Mize with 1st draft pick.

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Clarence Fountain, founder of Blind Boys of Alabama, dies.

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Mueller’s team accuses Manafort of witness tampering.

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Trump calls of Eagles’ White House visit over anthem dispute.

MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER – 5 questions as Alabama voters cast primary ballots.

MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER – Ala. Secretary of State after Trump Twitter ruling: ‘I’m not unblocking anybody’.

MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER – Alabama treasurer: Three vie to replace state’s top banker.

MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER – Contributor Thomas Rains:  A crossroads for education in Alabama.

AL.COM – Why Hyundai’s Montgomery plant has a reason to be excited about expansion.

AL.COM – WIC program changes coming this year.

AL.COM – Deceased GOP gubernatorial candidate’s name on primary ballot.

AL.COM – More retired top military back Hinchman, Brooks points to Trump.

AL.COM – Nearly two-thirds of Americans say smoking marijuana is ‘morally acceptable’.

AL.COM – Billboard politics: Alabama joins national art project.

AL.COM – Young voters are registering in Alabama, but will they show up Tuesday?

AL.COM – Dr. Georg von Tiesenhausen, last of German rocket team, dies in Alabama.

AL.COM – Crossover voting ban in effect for June 5 primary: What that means for voters.

AL.COM – New report shows 1,728 Confederate symbols remain in U.S., 110 removed since 2015.

AL.COM – Cherokee County’s lone hospital will remain open.

AL.COM – Columnist John Archibald:  Happy birthday Jeff Davis? Let his own words defend it.

AL.COM – Former Huntsville Superintendent Casey Wardynski nominated for Assistant Secretary of Army.

DECATUR DAILY – Court blocks $5 million Daikin settlement on water pollution.

DECATUR DAILY – Crossover voting law at play in today primaries.

FLORENCE TIMES DAILY – New SROs hired, ready for training.

TUSCALOOSA NEWS – Ample reason to vote in Tuesday primaries

GADSDEN TIMES – Ivey, challengers make final push ahead of primary.

ANNISTON STAR – Jacksonville hospital reduces services prior to June 30 closing.

ANNISTON STAR – Counting all the Confederate monuments still standing in America.

WASHINGTON POST – Mueller accuses Paul Manafort of witness tampering.

WASHINGTON POST – Supreme Court rules in favor of baker who would not make wedding cake for gay couple.

WASHINGTON POST – Primary elections: What to watch in California, Alabama, Iowa and five other states.

NEW YORK TIMES – Gay Adoption Fight Looms After U.S. Supreme Court’s Cake Ruling

NEW YORK TIMES – Trump and His Lawyers Embrace a Vision of Vast Executive Power.

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