Who Are You Sending to Montgomery to Represent You? VOTE Today

Yeah, it’s June. Yeah, you’re probably not really thinking about who you will send to Montgomery to the State House for the 2015 Legislative Session.

But in 32 of the 62 state legislative primary races (27 House and 5 Senate) across Alabama, the winner of the primary will be the one heading to Montgomery because he or she faces no opposition in November’s general election.

Independent candidates could still qualify to run in the general election, if they do so by Tuesday, June 3, at 5:00 p.m. Runoffs, if needed, will be held on July 15.

With the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) having become somewhat of a sorting hat for candidates, particularly for Republicans, I thought some maps might be helpful. So here are a couple of maps of where the state legislative primaries are being held today (Tuesday, June 3): one for the House and one for the Senate.

There are three colors on each map (no, I still haven’t figured out how to place a text-based legend on the map):

• The darkest color represents where a primary race decides the seat’s winner and where at least one candidate has indicated opposition to the CCSS. Check this out for more information about those indicators.
• The next darkest color represents where a primary race decides the seat’s winner and no candidates that have indicated opposition to the CCSS.
• The lightest color represents a primary where the winner will be decided in the general election. Click on the district to learn whether there is a candidate in the primary that has indicated opposition to the CCSS.

Alabama’s House Primary Races – June 3, 2014

Alabama’s Senate Primary Races – June 3, 2014

There is certainly more to a candidate than whether he or she has shown opposition to the CCSS. But given all that the CCSS has come to represent, a position one way or another likely serves as a major indicator of a candidate’s philosophy about public education in Alabama and sheds light on a candidate’s likely course of action, particularly if legislation is introduced to repeal the CCSS in Alabama.

Don’t miss out on voting today, as there are important state races in addition to state legislators on the ballot today. Depending upon in which party’s primary you vote, races for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State are among those included on the ballot.

Three of the eight members of the State Board of Education will be seated after tomorrow’s primary election.

Many local races will be decided in primaries, including elected county Board of Education positions and elected Superintendent races.

All of those candidates need to hear from you—through your VOTE—today.

Find sample ballots here. Find which districts in which you have a voice. Find your polling place here.