Robert and Dianne Bentley on Election Day.

The mandate from Alabama’s voters on Election Day could not be more clear: Turn everything, and I mean everything, over to the Republicans for at least the next 2 years.

Let them screw things up for awhile.

The Democrats have screwed up plenty in the previous 136 years, and really, could the GOP do much worse? Alabama continues to trail in health, per capita income, transportation, education, crime, your category here. If this red state becomes any redder, you’d hope it would be from embarrassment rather than another shift to the right.

Not that conservatives haven’t been in control since the days of the Gipper. Essentially, most state races came down to the conservative Democrat or Republican since Ronald Reagan entered the White House. Which flavor of conservative suits you best?

• • •

Winners and losers from Tuesday
around Alabama and metro Birmingham.

• • •

So while the brand names may change, what can we really expect from the Republicans in power?

The new crew, including Gov.-elect Robert Bentley, has promised ethics reform out of the gate. We shall see, though my cynical side expects only token changes. Politicians are politicians after all, and you can hardly expect Republicans to clean up the cesspool in Montgomery if it also hides their fattened pockets.

Look back a mere month, and relive that infamous day when the FBI arrested four state senators (two Democrats, one Republican, one independent) in connection with selling votes on a gambling bill. Alas, the bingo bots and the mafia will have to try again in 2 to 4 years.

The mandate must include more jobs and a better economy. Like the president, the governor will likely receive an undue share of the credit or blame, though one leader has little say in global economic dynamics. Still, continuing to attract industry must remain a priority.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

• • •

With an all-Republican government, are we headed for sideshows popular in Texas and Arizona, from illegal immigration to revising school textbooks to repealing national health care? Let’s hope not, with more pressing issues such as constitutional reform and education funding.

Er, scratch that. Forget constitutional reform for at least another 4 years (sigh) and don’t hold your breath for an education miracle, though Gov.-elect Bentley has vowed to switch to a budget that determined by the previous year’s numbers (holds breath anyway). He took money from the Alabama Education Association and later lied about it. Such petty sins aren’t enough to keep you out of the governor’s mansion; likely, they are the only path to it.

Just imagine if it had been the learned Bradley Byrne had led the Republican charge instead.

Rural voters swept the new legislators into power and didn’t much care for the citified Byrne. City folk aren’t well represented in the new Republican regime. As a member of the city folk, I cast a wary eye at my country cousins calling the shots, probably no less menacingly then they’ve eyed us with suspicion.

They found a kindred spirit in Bentley, the dermatologist from Tuscaloosa. As he leads a unified party and state government, let’s pray feverishly that it marks the start of 136 years of progress and prosperity.

Otherwise, red state Alabama could end up dead state Alabama.

Wade Kwon is publisher of Wade on Birmingham.

• • •

More post-election thoughts:

• Second Front: “The GOP Agenda: ethics reform, redistricting”
• Flashpoint: “Alabama Beat Down”
• Doc’s Political Parlor: “Who Had a Good Election Night? A Bad Night?”
• Left in Alabama: “Election Day Winners & Losers – Alabama Edition”
• The World Around You: “Can the Alabama Democratic Party Return to its Promise?”
• Birmingham News: “OUR VIEW: This time around, Democrats took it on the chin for control of the Alabama Legislature; now, Republicans must govern”
• Opelika-Auburn News: “Jennifer Foster: Newly-elected Republicans need to ‘proceed with caution’”

• • •

What can we expect from the Republicans in charge? Tell us in the comments.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

More election coverage in our Vote 2010 special report.

(Updating throughout the evening.)

(Contested races only)

• D = Democrat | I = incumbent | R = Republican
  
• Winner in red

How did we do on our Facebook election predictions? Out of 13 races, nine predicted correctly for a 69.2 percent rate of accuracy.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

Q: Where do I vote?

A: Call Jefferson County: (205) 325-5550, Jefferson County (Bessemer only): (205) 481-4105, Shelby County: (205) 669-3913.

Or use this handy widget by typing in your home address.

Wade on Birmingham:
Join us for complete election coverage tonight!

Remember, if you have problems at your polling place:

• Notify a poll worker immediately.
• Call the state attorney general at 1-800-831-8814 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Wednesday or fill out this online form.
• Call the secretary of state at 1-800-274-VOTE (8683) or visit her site, StopVoterFraudNow.com.
• And tell the probate court for Jefferson County (205-325-5203) or Shelby County (205-669-3713).
• E-mail us at Vote2010[at]wadeonbirmingham.com.

Q: What can I expect to see on the ballots?

A: Check out these sample ballots for each county.

You’re voting for governor, U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, state and county officials, plus several state constitutional amendments.

Q: Who should I vote for?

A: You still have time to check out the candidates and a slew of endorsements.

Going to vote? Tell us who you want to win and who will win in the comments.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

The long march to Election Day 2010 ends Tuesday with some of us going to the polls, and many of us staying far away. Come on, people, is it really that difficult to vote once every couple of years?

Decision time is here, but if you’re like us, maybe you’re a little behind on your homework. Who’s still running? What’s in Amendments 1 through π?

Fret not. We have your cheat sheets.

First stop, the Vote 2010 special reports page:

• See the list of races.
• Determine your polling place with our shiny new widget.
• Read back through this year’s coverage.

Second, take a look at your sample ballots for Jefferson and Shelby Counties. (John Archibald of the Birmingham News says the 164 variations of the Jefferson County ballot reflects the fractured nature of local government.)

Third, see if Facebook can predict the results of state races.

Fourth, our list of resources for the discriminating voter …

Bhamwiki

• List of candidates in the general election.

Doc’s Political Parlor

• Full list of races for Alabama Senate and House.
• Full list of races for state offices and Congress.

The World Around You

• Candidates and their endorsements by newspapers and organizations.

The Birmingham News

• Full list of endorsements
• Guide to election stories

Bama Fact Check

• Journalists offer Truth Ratings on statements made by elected officials and candidates.

Alabama Right to Know

• A website that tracks money from political action committees to candidates, along with completion of campaign promises. The tool is from the Alabama Policy Institute, a Birmingham-based nonprofit, non-partisan research organization that advocates free markets, families and limited government.

Endorsements and predictions from partisan bloggers …

• The Attack Machine: Parts one, two and three
• Flashpoint
• Note: None of the Democrat/liberal blogs we know of made endorsements or predictions. Let us know if we missed one.

Update: Jennifer Foster of the Opelika-Auburn News makes her case for write-ins instead of Robert Bentley or Ron Sparks for governor.

• • •

Are you ready to vote on Tuesday? Discuss in the comments.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

Video: Karen Hughes talks about social media
in modern campaigns

Facebook is the king of social media outlets, but can it predict elections?

Karen Hughes serves as Global Vice Chair of Burson-Marsteller, a public relations firm, but before that, she was an undersecretary in the State Department and campaign manager for George W. Bush’s Texas gubernatorial run. At BlogWorld 2010, her keynote mentioned an interesting study.

Looking at 10 Senate and 10 House races, the number of Facebook Likes on the candidates’ pages correlated with the primary results. Many candidates with more Likes than their opponents won their races.

Using that assumption, we looked at the races for Congress, for state office and for Jefferson County, tallying Facebook Likes for candidates to predict winners. (In several instances, a candidate used his profile page, making it an apples-to-oranges comparison of Likes vs. Friends.)

We’ll see how accurate these predictions are next week.

Election Day is Tuesday.

• • •

Update Nov. 2: ABC 33/40 interviewed me for Monday’s 6 p.m. newscast.

• • •

Update Nov. 9: With nine of 13 races predicted correctly, the Facebook election predictor debuted with a 69.2 percent rate of accuracy.

• • •

Key:

• D = Democrat | I = Incumbent | R = Republican
• * – Facebook profile page | ** – Facebook group page
• If a candidate had both a Facebook campaign page and profile page, the Likes from the former were used.
• red = leading in Facebook Likes

Check out the actual election results.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

(The Jefferson County sample ballot includes 164 versions, one for every combination of districts.)

Ballots can be printed, downloaded or viewed in full-screen mode.

Look for more coverage throughout, including all the results after polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

• • •

Sample ballots for all 67 counties.

• • •

Jefferson County ballot

Shelby County ballot

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

The Alabama gubernatorial candidates will clash at 7 at Athens State University. It’s airing in Huntsville on WHNT channel 19.2, and will live-stream on AL.com.

Check out clips from the Oct. 19 debate at Auburn University. (See the entire debate.)

Video: Campaign and ethics reform

Video: Jobs

Video: Public school funding

• • •

Who will win the debate, Bentley or Sparks? And who will win next Tuesday? Tell us in the comments below.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

NBC 13′s Andrea Lindenberg will serve as moderator. Questions will include those submitted ahead of time by citizens and vetted by the League of Women Voters.

The debate will be carried on Alabama Public Television and on WBHM (90.3 FM). A live video stream will also be available on the Alabama Public Television website, while WBHM will have an audio stream. AL.com will also have a live video stream and moderated chat.

Republican nominee Bentley has been on the defense this week after admitting he sought and received contributions from the Alabama Education Association. Whether this will aid Democratic nominee Sparks remains to be seen.

Video: The previous Bentley-Sparks debate at
Birmingham-Southern College. (Note: Video will play,
after it loads completely.)

Election Day is Nov. 2.

Also:

• The World Around You looks at the fallout from Bentley’s AEA admission and whether it will help Sparks at all.
• Video: First debate at the University of Alabama

• • •

Have you decided which candidate gets your vote? Tell us in the comments below.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

Both nominees have discussed gambling during previous debates and campaign stops.

Tonight’s debate will focus on economic development and business. The hourlong event, sponsored by the Birmingham Business Alliance, starts at 6 p.m. at Hill Recital Hall on the Birmingham-Southern College campus. Admission is free and open to the public.

The debate will be carried live on Fox 6 and on the station’s website.

Election Day is Nov. 2.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

The focus will be on business issues.

The 90-minute event starts at 6:30 p.m. at Wright Center. No word on whether the debate will be carried live. Tickets are free for Samford students and faculty, but the $15 general admission tickets are sold out.

Update: The debate will be broadcast live on WERC (105.5 FM), including streaming, and on the Fox 6 website.

Bentley and Sparks traded soundbites and jabs Thursday at the University of Alabama in their first debate. (See clips below.) The next debate is scheduled for Oct. 19 at Auburn University.

In case you missed Thursday’s debate, we have a couple of video clips.

Video: Sparks and Bentley make opening remarks Thursday.

Video: Bentley and Sparks share their closing statements.

Watch the hourlong debate in its entirety, or see more clips by topic.

Election Day is Nov. 2.

• • •

Which business issues do the candidates need to address? Share your thoughts in the comments.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

Election Day will arrive in less than 7 weeks. Can you tell your candidates for governor apart?

Republican nominee Robert Bentley, left, and Democratic nominee Ron Sparks are set to debate in the first of two debates on college campuses. Tonight’s debate will take place in the Frank Moody Music Building at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The rematch will be Oct. 19 at Auburn University.

Debbie Elliott, Alabama graduate and NPR national correspondent, will serve as moderator.

The free event is open only to students. The hourlong debate will be broadcast live at 7 tonight on Alabama Public Television and on WBHM (90.3 FM). A live stream will also be available on the Alabama Public Television website.

Voters can still submit questions for the Oct. 19 debate online, by e-mailing 2010gubernatorialdebate@gmail.com or mailing them to Box 1326, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403-1326. Deadline is Oct. 16.

• • •

Will you be watching tonight? What would you ask the candidates? Tell us in the comments.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

It’s not clear which candidates will attend, or whether Sandra Little Brown and David Carrington will participate, as both are running unopposed on Nov. 2.

The forum runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at WorkPlay, 500 23rd St. S., Lakeview [map].

[Map of Jefferson County Commission districts]

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

In the absence of a designated successor, we often find ourselves heading toward chaos.

George W. Bush anointed no one as a possible Republican successor to the presidency. The mad scramble left an opening for the Democrats to exploit.

Gov. Riley had no preferred candidate in the GOP to follow in his footsteps. Well, at least not until Saturday, when he finally tossed a late endorsement to Bradley Byrne.

It has been chaos in the Republican camp in Alabama leading up to Tuesday’s runoff election. The two biggest names running for governor were Tim James, the son of a former two-term governor, and Roy Moore, former chief justice of the state supreme court — and they finished in third and fourth place.

The runoff featured front-runner Byrne, former chancellor of the state’s 2-year college system and scourge of the Alabama Education Association. It also had a dark horse, Robert Bentley, a doctor and state representative.

Tuesday night, Bentley, shown at right, pulled off the upset by soundly defeating Byrne 56 percent to 44 percent in unofficial results. He had trailed Byrne just 6 weeks ago in the primary election 25 percent to 28 percent.

City folk may have liked Byrne, but it was country folk who supported Bentley. Rural counties overwhelmingly went for the doctor over the lawyer.

• • •

Runoff winners and losers from Tuesday
around Alabama and metro Birmingham.

• • •

Bentley faces Democratic challenger Ron Sparks, shown at left, who pulled off an upset of his own in knocking out Artur Davis, the 7th district congressman.

As many of you may not know, Sparks has served two terms as the state’s agricultural commissioner. And even if you did know that, your Sparks knowledge probably ends there.

The two unknowns, Bentley and Sparks, are left to battle for the state’s top office. Who’da thunk it 2 months ago?

Headed toward chaos? No, just the orderly progression of moneyed interests.

In this year’s election, those two interests are the AEA and the gambling lobby.

The AEA and Byrne have been at odds over merit pay and tenure law for years. Naturally, the AEA bankrolled millions of dollars in anti-Byrne ads during the runoff campaign.

It has also be a big contributor to … Sparks. Both sides covered.

Note to AEA head Paul Hubbert: Next time, it’ll probably be cheaper just to run for the governor’s office yourself in 2014.

Make no mistake: A teacher’s union isn’t the same as an educational reform group. One is there to maintain benefits and protection for teachers, even as the state remains in the Bottom 2 in education decade after decade.

As for bingo, Sparks wants to legalize it and tax it, following a public referendum. His campaign has been funded in part by gambling political action committees.

No such funding appears to have come into Bentley’s largely self-funded campaign. While personally against it, Bentley says he’s OK with a state referendum on bingo, which, if approved, should be taxed.

Are Alabamians screaming for bingo, or for other forms of gambling from dog racing to lotteries to casinos? We may soon have our say at the ballot box.

The same ballot box where we’ll still be scratching our heads on Nov. 2 over the curious race between Robert Bentley and Ron Sparks.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

• • •

• U.S. House: On the Democratic side, Terri Sewell beat Shelia Smoot in the District 7 race to replace Artur Davis. On the Republican side, Don Chamberlain beat Chris Salter for the nomination.

The heavily gerrymandered district favors Democrats. Should Sewell win in November, she would be the first black female Representative in state history.

• Attorney general: James Anderson clinched the Democratic nomination, defeating Giles Perkins. Anderson faces GOP nominee Luther Strange.

• Jefferson County Commission: The members will be all new in the fall after the last standing incumbent went down Tuesday.

In District 1, George Bowman beat Johnathan Austin in the Democratic runoff. If this sounds familiar, he beat Austin a few weeks ago in the special election to fill the seat immediately. Bowman faces Republican Greg Stanley in the fall.

In District 2, Democrat Sandra Little Brown beat Gary Richardson, winning the seat with no Republican opposition.

In District 3, Jimmie Stephens defeated incumbent Bobby Humphryes Jr. on the Republican ticket. He’ll face Vivian Ford, who defeated fellow Democrat Ron Yarbrough.

In District 4, Republican Joe Knight beat Ronnie Dixon. Knight will face Democratic challenger Roy Wood.

• Jefferson County Sheriff: Willie Hill defeated Ron Blankenship to win the Democratic nomination. Hill battles Republican incumbent Mike Hale.

Election Day is Nov. 2.

• • •

Also:

• ABC 33/40: Election analysis from Second Front writer Kyle Whitmire
• Clarion Caller: Jenn Foster on Bentley’s victory
• Flashpoint: Post-runoff thoughts
• Doc’s Political Parlor: Who had a good night last night? A bad night?
• The World Around You: Hello Governor Sparks – The Upside Down World of Alabama Politics

• • •

Who will win the governor’s race in November, Bentley or Sparks? Who should win? Tell us in the comments.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

More election coverage in our Vote 2010 special report.

(Updating throughout the evening.)

The general election takes place Nov. 2.

Runoff results

Winner in red

Turnout in Jefferson, Madison, Mobile and Montgomery Counties was 19.8 percent. In just Jefferson County, it was 20.1 percent.

More live coverage:

• Second Front
• The World Around You
• The Birmingham News
• Test of new vote tallying system showing Jefferson, Madison, Mobile and Montgomery Counties

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

Tuesday, some voters head back to the polls for the statewide runoffs. The June 1 primary election had about a 33 percent turnout across Alabama, but under 25 percent in Jefferson County.

The big showdown on the Republican ticket is for governor: state representative Robert Bentley vs. former two-year college chancellor Bradley Byrne. Bentley edged out third-place finisher Tim James by just 270 votes in the recount.

Meet the two remaining GOP gubernatorial candidates.

Republicans Don Chamberlain and Chris Salter are competing in U.S. House District 7. And in two runoff races for Jefferson County Commission, incumbent Bobby Humphryes Jr. faces Jimmie Stephens in District 3, and Ronnie Dixon faces Joe Knight in District 4.

On the Democratic ticket, Terri Sewell and Shelia Smoot are battling for U.S. House District 7 in a top race; either one could become the first black female representative in state history.

James Anderson takes on Giles Perkins for state attorney general.

For Jefferson County Commission, three runoff races will be settled. In District 1, Johnathan Austin and George Bowman face off for the fourth and final time. Bowman recently won a special runoff election to fill the seat immediately (vacated when William Bell became Birmingham’s mayor in January). Tuesday’s re-rematch will be for the next full term. In District 2, Sandra Little Brown faces Gary Richardson; in District 3, Vivian Ford faces Ron Yarbrough.

And either Ron Blankenship or Willie Hill will win the Democratic ballot for Jefferson County sheriff.

• • •

Results from the June 1 primary election.

Determine your polling place and districts (state and county).

• • •

A roundup of other resources for Tuesday’s runoffs …

Bhamwiki

• List of candidates in primary and runoff elections.

Doc’s Political Parlor

• Full list of races for Alabama Senate and House.
• Full list of races for state offices and Congress.

The World Around You

• Candidates and their endorsements by newspapers and organizations.

• • •

Sample ballots are included for Jefferson and Shelby Counties below. (The Jefferson County ballots include versions for every district.)

For easier viewing, you can print, download or zoom to full screen with each ballot.

Sample ballots for all 67 counties.

• • •

Jefferson County: Democratic ballot

Jefferson County: Republican ballot

Shelby County

Democratic ballot, left; Republican ballot

The general election is Nov. 2.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

Vickii Howell originally posted this commentary on Birmingham View, republished here with permission.

Artur Davis lost his bid to become Alabama’s first black governor when state agriculture commissioner Ron Sparks beat him handily in Tuesday’s Democratic primary election.

Rep. Davis lost because he is black. But his loss didn’t come because white Alabamians couldn’t bring themselves to vote for a black candidate. He lost because black voters lost their love for Davis. Or rather, they expressed their “love” by sending him home.

Davis’ congressional vote against health care reform laws earlier this year was the deal-breaker for many black voters, and white Democrats, too. His vote, in their eyes, was a betrayal of trust. While black voters have always been willing to forgive — they even helped the soften segregationist George Wallace to a fourth term as governor — this time, they were unwilling to forget.

The 7th Congressional District is one of the poorest areas in the state, even in the country. It ranks low in so many areas: income, educational attainment, economic development and, most important, health care, including high mortality rates. Such abysmal statistics led the Birmingham News to declare it “Alabama’s Third World.”

After initially losing to incumbent Earl Hilliard in 2000, Davis campaigned to alleviate the poverty and suffering that reporters cataloged with depressing detail in the News’ 2002 series.

So Davis took what amounted to a calculated risk in his gubernatorial campaign. He was the only black congressman to vote against health care reform. It was the kind of reform that could literally save the lives of people in his district, many who are too poor to afford health insurance, or can’t get it because of pre-existing medical conditions.

• • •

Results from Tuesday’s primaries, state and metro Birmingham.

• • •

His vote was an obvious political move to shore up general election votes in November from white conservatives who hated “Obamacare.” It also publicly distanced him from fellow Harvard graduate, President Obama. Before, Davis was among the very first elected officials to actively support Obama’s runs for both the U.S. Senate and the presidency.

It may have been working, judging from comments on a local news site. Readers wrote that Artur took “a principled stand.” He refused to drink the black man’s Kool-Aid about racism, discrimination, social welfare, poverty, blah, blah — you know — the typical whiny “black agenda” promoted by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and black Democratic organizations whose support Davis spurned. This (black) man, some commenters said, was someone for whom they could vote.

But this was not a black man for whom black voters could vote. Selma’s controversial power couple Hank and Rose Sanders helped funnel this deep voter dissatisfaction into an organized movement against Davis, the “Love Campaign.” They said that Davis had lost his way, forgetting the needs of the people who put him in office. Those people needed to lovingly correct him, the campaign said, by denying him their vote in the primary. [Davis picks up less than 30 percent of vote in predominantly black counties.]

So, in his pursuit of conservative voters that he would need to win the general election, Davis lost the faith of his base. And they rejected him in the primary, even if it meant denying him the chance to become the first black governor.

Davis seemed stunned by his loss, saying, “This is not the speech I planned to make tonight.”

Video: Artur Davis concedes to Ron Sparks Tuesday night.

Indeed, when I talked to him by phone a few weeks ago, he said he felt confident of victory because various polls showed him with as much as a 13-point lead over Sparks. Was he concerned about backlash over his health care vote? He said people who never intended to vote him were just using that as an excuse.

I wasn’t surprised at all by Davis’ stunning loss. In fact, what I saw and heard in the community, from both voters black and white, was anger, disgust, resentment and a resolve to withhold support because of his health care vote.

I’m sure Davis feels a little differently today. He’s probably feeling the love right now.

Perhaps he’s thinking that he should have stayed in Congress, using his seniority, especially on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, to bring much needed resources to the people of the 7th district. That he could have done more to help them out of the grinding poverty that has gripped their lives for generations. That maybe then, his constituents and others who liked what he accomplished would then help me become governor one day, so he could then work for the good of the entire state.

I hope this tough love will help Davis in the future.

Vickii Howell is editor in chief of Birmingham View, an online community and lifestyle magazine founded in 2003. She also hosts the TV version, which airs at 6:30 a.m. Wednesdays on My68.

• • •

Also:

• Davis says he won’t run for office again.
• Wade on Birmingham: The three or four white guys still running for governor of Alabama
• Birmingham News columnist John Archibald: “Davis was perhaps the smartest, most able man in the race, but he forgot who he was.”
• Doc’s Political Parlor: Hard to fault Davis for his strategy.
• Flashpoint: “Nominating Ron Sparks is like a gift to the GOP.”
• King Cockfight: Alabama voters don’t like change.
• Left in Alabama: Davis vs. the Alabama Democratic Conference
• Talking Points Memo: His major error? Seeking to distance himself from Democrats.
• The World Around You: Davis done in by a combination of factors: polling, health care vote, weak ground game in rural areas.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

A semi-soggy Primary Election Day in Alabama brought some surprising results amid light voter turnout.

• Governor: Rep. Artur Davis, long touted as the frontrunner in the Democratic race, fell to opponent state agriculture commissioner Ron Sparks (pictured below left) in a landslide.

Davis picked up less than 38 percent in his attempt to become the first major black candidate for governor of Alabama. It appears not so much that Sparks won as much as Davis lost, and the reasons are many. Davis failed to win the endorsement of key black Democratic groups; he voted against his party on health care reform; he could still be the wrong color for a conservative Southern state.

Byrne, left, will face either Bentley,
center, or James in a runoff.

Meanwhile, a very tight three-way race among Republicans kept watchers guessing until late Tuesday night. State senator Bradley Byrne eventually pulled far enough ahead with 28 percent to secure one runoff spot. With 99 percent of precincts counted, Robert Bentley had a tiny 140-vote lead over Tim James, 25.15 percent to 25.12 percent.

It’s likely the close vote will trigger an automatic recount, which will set the stage for the July 13 runoff. The winner faces Sparks on Nov. 2.

• • •

Results from Tuesday’s primaries, state and metro Birmingham.

• • •

• U.S. Senate: Incumbent Richard Shelby handily won the GOP nomination, facing and probably trouncing Democratic attorney William G. Barnes in the fall.

• U.S. House: In District 6, Republican Spencer Bachus won 76 percent of the vote to secure re-election to his 10th term.

In District 7, the seat being vacated by Artur Davis, Don Chamberlain and Chris Salter are headed for the GOP runoff, while Terri Sewell and Shelia Smoot will compete in the Democratic runoff. Keep in mind: Only three times in history has a non-Democratic candidate filled the seat.

• Lieutenant governor: Democratic incumbent Jim Folsom Jr., who ran unopposed, will battle state treasurer Kay Ivey, who knocked out two opponents in the Republican primary.

• Attorney general: James Anderson came up just a hair short to win the Democratic nomination outright, facing a runoff with Giles Perkins. But the real tale is in Luther Strange‘s trouncing of incumbent Troy King, who not only faced opposition in a primary but also from GOP leaders after an extended battle with Gov. Riley over bingo and gambling. Strange day, indeed.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

• • •

• Jefferson County Commission: We’re still not sure why anyone wants this job, given that previous members have sent the county into billions of dollars in debt and have gone to prison. Certainly not most of the incumbents, since only one ran for re-election.

In District 1, a seat that came open when William Bell became mayor of Birmingham, Democrats Johnathan Austin (Birmingham city council member) and George Bowman (former county commissioner) are headed to two runoffs. One runoff to immediately fill the position, the other for the regular 4-year term.

In District 2, former Birmingham city council member Sandra Little Brown and radio station owner Gary Richardson will compete in the Democratic runoff.

In District 3, Vivian Ford, a minister and a Realtor, will be in the Democratic runoff against Ron Yarbrough, who served recently as assistant tax assessor in the Bessemer cutoff. Incumbent Bobby Humphryes Jr. will face businessman Jimmie Stephens in the GOP runoff.

In District 4, Democrat Roy Wood, ran unopposed, will face the winner of the GOP runoff, businessman Ronnie Dixon or attorney Joe Knight.

And in District 5, Republican business owner David Carrington won the seat outright by defeating two opponents.

• Sheriff: In Jefferson County, incumbent Mike Hale handily defeated Republican challenger and convicted felon Jim Woodward. He’ll face the winner of the Democratic runoff, Ron Blankenship or Willie Hill.

In Shelby County, incumbent Chris Curry easily won re-election in the Republican race.

• Voter turnout: Secretary of State Beth Chapman had predicted 35 percent to 38 percent turnout among registered voters Tuesday. In 2006′s primary, turnout was 38.4 percent, while in 2002′s primary, it was 35 percent.

But in Jefferson County, voter turnout was under 25 percent Tuesday. That was about the same turnout for Madison County and Huntsville.

With such low figures in the major cities, it’s likely the statewide turnout will be low, too, maybe even below 30 percent.

Update June 3: Birmingham News estimates statewide turnout to be about 33 percent.

• • •

How did your candidates do on Tuesday? Are you planning to vote in the runoffs? Leave us a comment with your thoughts on the primaries.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

More election coverage in our Vote 2010 special report.

(Updating throughout the evening.)

The runoff takes place July 13.

Democrats

(Contested races only)

Winner in red | Runoff candidates in blue

Republicans

(Contested races only)

Winner in red | Runoff candidates in blue

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

Q: Where do I vote?

A: Call Jefferson County: 325-5550, Jefferson County (Bessemer only): 481-4105, Shelby County: 669-3913.

Or Search Your Polling Place on AlabamaVotes.gov.

Wade on Birmingham:
primary election results tonight

Remember, if you have problems at your polling place:

• Notify a poll worker immediately.
• Call the state attorney general at 1-800-831-8814 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Wednesday or fill out this online form.
• Call the secretary of state at 1-800-274-VOTE (8683) or visit her site, StopVoterFraudNow.com.
• And tell the probate court for Jefferson County (325-5203) or Shelby County (669-3713).
• E-mail us at Vote2010[at]wadeonbirmingham.com.

Q: What can I expect to see on the ballots?

A: Check out these sample ballots for each county.

You’re voting for governor, U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, state and county officials, plus a state constitutional amendment.

Q: Who should I vote for?

A: Before you hit the voting booth, check out our guide to the primaries.

Let us know where and when you voted, and how many votes were cast before yours.

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More Vote 2010 coverage.

It just means your choices carry more weight. But first, you’ll need to figure out who’s running and who deserves your vote.

In the 5 years we’ve covered elections, the online resources have blossomed, from a variety of political bloggers across the state, partisan and nonpartisan. Their tireless research can help you figure out your picks in the remaining hours before polls open Tuesday morning across Alabama.

Plus, we’ve updated the Vote 2010 guide with the Jefferson and Shelby County races.

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Determine your polling place and districts (state and county).

Sample ballots for each county.

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Bhamwiki

• List of candidates in primary elections.

Doc’s Political Parlor

• Full list of races for Alabama Senate and House.
• Full list of races for state offices and Congress.
• Odds for each of the major state and congressional races in the Alabama Line.

The World Around You

• Candidates and their endorsements by newspapers and organizations.
• Predictions on the major races in Alabama.

And finally, endorsements and predictions from partisan bloggers …

• Flashpoint
• From a Buick
• Left in Alabama
• The Progressive Electorate

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More Vote 2010 coverage.