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Alabama's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020 (March 3 Republican primary)
- Primary date: March 3
- Primary type: Open
- Registration deadline(s): Feb. 14 (hand-delivered); Feb. 15 (postmarked); Feb. 17 (online)
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: No
- Early voting starts: N/A
- Absentee/mail voting deadline(s): March 2 (postmarked); March 3 (received)
- Voter ID: Photo ID
- Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
2022 →
← 2018
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| Alabama's 2nd Congressional District |
|---|
 |
| Democratic primary Republican primary Republican primary runoff General election |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: November 8, 2019 |
| Primary: March 3, 2020 Primary runoff: July 14, 2020 General: November 3, 2020 Pre-election incumbent: Martha Roby (Republican) |
| How to vote |
| Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in Alabama |
| Race ratings |
Inside Elections: Solid Republican Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2020 |
| See also |
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th Alabama elections, 2020 U.S. Congress elections, 2020 U.S. Senate elections, 2020 U.S. House elections, 2020 |
Jeff Coleman and Barry Moore were the top two finishers from among the seven candidates in the Republican primary for Alabama's 2nd Congressional District on March 3, 2020. Since neither received 50% of the vote, they appeared in a runoff on July 14, 2020. Coleman received 38.1% of the vote to Moore's 20.4%. Two other candidates received 10% or more of the vote; Jessica Taylor with 19.9% and Troy King with 14.5%.
Incumbent Martha Roby (Republican) did not seek re-election. Media coverage focused on four candidates: Coleman, Troy King, Moore, and Taylor.[1][2][3]
The candidates campaigned on their backgrounds. Coleman said he was a businessman and an outsider like President Donald Trump (R) and that economic development was a central focus of his campaign. King, a former attorney general of Alabama, emphasized his roots in the district and said he stood up for gun owners and the unborn. Moore, a veteran and a member of the Alabama House of Representatives from 2010 to 2018, said his legislative record included supporting veterans and working to lower taxes and reduce government regulations. Taylor founded a grant consulting firm and worked as a project manager in the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.[4] She said she was the candidate to take on the Squad in Washington.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and FarmPAC—the Alabama Farmers Federation's PAC—were among Coleman's endorsers. The Alabama Republican Assembly backed King. Moore was endorsed by the Conservative Christians of Alabama. Taylor's endorsers included former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) and Susan B. Anthony List.
Coleman led in fundraising with $1.9 million raised as of February 12. Taylor was second with $307,000.[5]
Also running in the primary were Thomas Brown Jr., Terri Hasdorff, and Robert Rogers.
As of the primary election, ratings outlets rated the general election for the district Safe or Solid Republican, and Democrats held a 232-197 majority in the House. Click here to learn more about what's at stake in the general election.
Click on candidate names below to view their key messages:
 Coleman |
 King |
 Moore |
 Taylor |
This page focuses on Alabama's 2nd Congressional District Republican primary. For more in-depth information on the district's Democratic primary and the general election, see the following pages:
- Alabama's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020 (March 3 Democratic primary)
- Alabama's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Alabama modified its primary runoff election date as follows:
- Election postponements: The primary runoff election, originally scheduled for March 31, 2020, was postponed to July 14.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Candidates and election results
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Alabama District 2
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jeff Coleman  | 38.1 | 39,804 |
| ✔ |  | Barry Moore | 20.5 | 21,392 |
| Jessica Taylor | 19.9 | 20,789 | |
| Troy King | 14.5 | 15,171 | |
 | Terri Hasdorff | 5.0 | 5,216 | |
| Thomas W. Brown Jr. | 1.3 | 1,395 | ||
 | Robert Rogers | 0.8 | 826 | |
| Total votes: 104,593 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Will Dismukes (R)
Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[6] Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.
Do you have a photo that could go here? Click here to submit it for this profile!
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "Thomas is a young concerned Constitutional Conservative who believes that someone needs to stand up for his generation. One can learn more about Thomas at thomaswbrownjrforcongress.com, or you can email us at thomaswbrownjr.forcongress@gmail.com"
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Alabama District 2 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "Jeff Coleman was raised in Dothan, Alabama, where he graduated from Northview High School. He later graduated with a business degree from the University of Alabama and an MBA from Troy University in Dothan. A faith-filled businessman, Jeff serves as Chairman of Coleman Worldwide Moving, one of Alabama's 30 largest companies and employs thousands of people across the country. Jeff is also a graduate of the Air War College National Security Forum and was appointed to serve as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Alabama in June 2017. Like President Trump, Jeff is a conservative outsider and a businessman who cares more about doing what's right for Alabama families and the country than winning an election. In addition to backing pro-business policies and our military, Jeff supports common-sesnse immigration reform that includes a strong, secure border and policies that benefit Alabama's agriculture industry like free and fair trade."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Alabama District 2 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "Terri Hasdorff is a Results Driven, Christian Conservative candidate running to represent the 2nd Congressional District of Alabama in U.S. Congress. "
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Alabama District 2 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: Attorney General of Alabama (2004-2011)
Biography: King received a B.S. from Troy State University and a J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law. Before being elected attorney general of Alabama, King was a legal advisor to former Gov. Bob Riley (R). King also ran for state attorney general in 2018, advancing to the Republican primary runoff election.
Show sources
Sources: Troy King's 2020 campaign website, "About," accessed February 23, 2020, YouTube, "Troy King's Videos," accessed February 23, 2020, Troy Messenger, "TO THE RACES: Candidates for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District share platforms," January 22, 2020; Vote Smart, "Troy King's Biography," accessed February 23, 2020
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Alabama District 2 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office:
Alabama House of Representatives (2010-2018)
Biography: Moore received an associate degree from Enterprise State Junior College and a bachelor's degree from Auburn University. He served in the United States Army and in the Alabama National Guard and Reserves. As of the 2020 election, he was CEO of Barry Moore Industries, which he founded in 1998.
Show sources
Sources: Barry Moore's 2020 campaign website, "Home," accessed February 23, 2020, YouTube, "Barry Moore - Republican For Congress," accessed February 23, 2020, Troy Messenger, "TO THE RACES: Candidates for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District share platforms," January 22, 2020; Vote Smart, "Barry Moore's Biography," accessed February 13, 2020
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Alabama District 2 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "Conservative. Businesswoman. Wife and Mom. Running for Congress to drain the swamp and fight the socialist squad!"
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Alabama District 2 in 2020.
Noteworthy primary endorsements
This section includes noteworthy endorsements issued in the primary, added as we learn about them. Click here to read how we define noteworthy primary endorsements. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please email us.
| Republican primary endorsements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endorsement | Coleman | King | Moore | Taylor | ||
| Elected officials | ||||||
| State Rep./former AL-02 candidate Will Dismukes (R)[7] | ✔ | |||||
| Individuals | ||||||
| Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R)[8] | ✔ | |||||
| Organizations | ||||||
| U.S. Chamber of Commerce[9] | ✔ | |||||
| Susan B. Anthony List[8] | ✔ | |||||
| ViewPAC[8] | ✔ | |||||
| Winning for Women[8] | ✔ | |||||
Campaign themes
- See also: Campaign themes
The following themes were found on candidates' campaign websites.
Jeff Coleman
| “ |
Agriculture/Rural Communities Economy 2nd Amendment Immigration Pro-Life Supporting Trump
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” |
| —Jeff Coleman’s campaign website (2020)[11] | ||
Troy King
| “ |
American-Israel Relations I grew up in the small south Alabama town of Elba. I cannot claim any sort of cosmopolitan exposure to Israel or even Jewish people. Elba had no temple and, as far as I know, not even a Jewish resident. It was filled, however, with God-fearing preachers who taught of the importance of our support of and love for Israel from the pulpit most Sundays. I first was introduced to Israel as the ancestral home of Abraham, David, and Solomon in church and Sunday School. My understanding of Israel’s special place in history, geopolitics, and America’s past, present, and future deepened, ironically enough, in that Southern Baptist incubator where we were taught from the earliest age I can remember of Israel’s special status . . . not because some man or politician said so but because God, Himself, said so. As the only nation ordained by the same God Who we worshipped alongside our Jewish brothers and sisters, I have known my whole life of God’s age-old and ageless declaration that “I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3) This verse imposes a God-ordained duty on all nations to stand with, protect, and advance the legitimacy and prosperity of Israel or to suffer the consequences. Then, one day, I toured the Holy Land without ever leaving my Dad’s old record player. He brought home a Johnny Cash record called “Holy Land.” It is a travelogue, guided by another Southern Baptist who made the wonder of the land of Israel come vividly to life as he visited one holy site after another with a portable tape recorder on which he captured the sounds of the land of miracles. I imagined the people. I could feel the desert heat and smell the sweat. I was profoundly touched by this land, rich in history and prophecy and promise, this land where the stories of God’s might and power unfolded, this land promised by God to the chosen people He called His children. As I grew and became interested in politics, I came to know Israel as God’s most favorite nation and America’s staunchest ally. My study of history has likewise taught me that these are not dusty fables in scrolls from long ago. They are continuing promises. Israel’s more recent history as it was recreated in its ancestral land and has, against all odds, overcome being far outnumbered by those who hate them with a religious fervor and have dedicated themselves to Israel’s destruction. Time and again, Israel has defied every odd and God has faithfully kept His promise to grant them (and their allies) favor. America has always been a strong ally. She must always remain so. As a member of Congress, I will dedicate myself to ensuring she does. AMERICA’S BOND WITH THE LAND OF ISRAEL The United States of America and Israel have a bond that is forged and moored in a shared faith, values, beliefs, and friendship. Israel’s ability to survive and thrive in the midst of sworn, blood enemies dedicated to her destruction is a testament to the Providential creation of Israel as a nation. Israel stands as an example to the brutal dictatorships that surround her. As a beacon of hope amidst a sea of darkness, Israel points those who will look towards the path to peace through strength. Israel has been America’s best friend in the tumultuous Middle East and America has reciprocated by ensuring Israel has the means to protect and defend herself via unwavering financial, military, and diplomatic support. It is fitting that America recognized Jerusalem as the capitol of Israel. I applauded President Donald Trump for taking this bold stand. Far from being rhetorical, he also ordered the movement of America’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. America stood alone in its decision and, even when the United Nations criticized and condemned the decision, America vetoed action by the Security Council and proceeded with the implementation of this presidential directive. This kind of American leadership and friendship must continue to underpin American- Israeli relations. President Ronald Reagan said it best when he spoke eloquently of the special relationship between the United States and Israel on March 23, 1982, in an address to the National Conference of Christians and Jews when he said, “Since the rebirth of the State of Israel, there has been an ironclad bond between that democracy and this one . . . America has never flinched from its commitment to the State of Israel – a commitment which remains unshakable.” So it must always be. DEFENSE & PEACE Peace in the troubled Middle East has long required a strong presence by the United States. America’s ability to fill this void has been and remains dependent on our alliance with Israel. The United States’s national security demands that we arm and equip Israel with the necessary defenses to protect Israel’s resources, sovereignty, and, most importantly, lives of her citizens. This includes continuing to provide the $3.3 billion in security assistance and $500 million in cooperative missile defense funding that is currently provided via a Memorandum of Understanding. This security assistance must remain at a level that ensures that Israel always maintains a qualitative military edge in the Middle East. America’s interests are inextricably aligned with Israel’s and we should be constantly searching for more, better, and new ways to improve the cooperation between our nations. Peace in the Middle East will be achievable only as long as Israel remains strong. America’s support of Israel is instrumental in ensuring Israeli strength. IRAN & TERROR Unfortunately, these topics are inseparable. They are very nearly synonymous. Iran is a terrorist state, provides refuge to the world’s most bloody terrorists and training grounds and resources to protect and advance the worst terror organizations, and is the largest exporter of terror. Iran has publicly and repeatedly stated its intentions to destroy both Israel and “the Great American Satan.” Yet many in our government continue to excuse Iran’s reckless behavior. Israel must have wide latitude to defend itself and, as it does so, to defend the rest of the world from its bloodthirsty neighbors. It must have the support of America. Those neighbors must never doubt America’s commitment to Israel. It has long had my prayers and support as a private citizen and it will continue to have both when I am a Congressman. This includes support for any and every action to stop Iran in its quest for nuclear capabilities and the advancement of terrorist activities. Iran must be thwarted at every opportunity. I support the enhanced sanctions against Iran and President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the shackling “Iran Nuclear Deal” that only advanced and emboldened terrorist activities and actors and the interests of Iran at the expense of America and Israel. Iran has flaunted its willingness to defy the United Nations, which provides only tepid, timid, and toothless sanctions for Iran’s ongoing ballistic missile tests. In the face of an unyielding threat of Islamic terrorism abroad and at home, it is always in the national interests of the United States to support Israeli military, counter-insurgency, and counter-terrorism efforts. Not content to abuse its own citizens, Iran has also engaged in gross human rights violations with its insurgent efforts to support the murderous Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria where it has been directly responsible for gross human rights violations.
BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT & SANCTIONS MOVEMENT America must not only support Israel militarily, we must also support her economically. The efforts to hurt and cripple Israel economically must be opposed. These efforts are actually only thinly veiled attempts to delegitimize Israel. By targeting Israeli businesses and goods, those behind these efforts are damaging the global economy. I am proud to hail from a state where our people, through their Legislature, have made clear where we stand on the efforts to isolate and sanction Israel with the passage of legislation outlawing such measures in our state. Maybe that is no surprise for a state whose motto is “We dare defend our rights.” Further, I support the Israeli Anti-Boycott Resolution and the revival and passage of the Israeli Anti-Boycott Act and other anti-boycott, divestment, and sanctions legislation. The federal government should follow Alabama’s lead and stand against this effort and its anti-Semitic underpinnings. We know, from history, that when America does not stand with the Jewish people, it becomes complicit in the horrors that follow. American leadership must never again vacillate in its support of Israel and our Jewish friends. THE PEACE PROCESS Israel is a sovereign nation. Period. She should not be coerced or forced to allow outside influencers like the United Nations to impose its ideas about the terms of peace upon her. Instead, the United States must stand with Israel and support her position that she has the sole, sovereign right to make decisions about her own security and acceptable terms of peace in the region. America must use her veto power at the United Nations to block any and all efforts by that body to impose peace on Israel on terms that Israel does not believe to be in her best interests or to interfere with the right of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to negotiate a peace on terms they accept. As a member of Congress, I will use my voice and influence to publicly support these objectives. “THE SQUAD” The threats to Israel are as old as the Torah. Today, a new threat has emerged. It is arising from within the political system of Israel’s oldest and most reliable ally in the form of members of Congress who publicly spew their hatred of Israel and America’s unwavering commitment to Israel’s survival. They call themselves “the Squad” and their leaders are Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib. They do what “squads” have always done – they take hit jobs and cheap shots. They pose the same threat to America’s ties to Israel that cancer does to a body – they threaten to rot away those ties from within and they cannot be left to fester unchecked. Fortunately, America presently has a leader who is unwavering in his support of Israel and America’s support for and ties to Israel. America needs more, new, unreserved, and unapologetic voices to join the chorus of defending Israel, however. I can do no less than be one of them because I crave God’s favor and blessing but also because I fear that, if America ever withdraws her unequivocal support of Israel, the consequences of the curse she will incur will be devastating. I am unwilling to allow the land I love to turn her back on the land that the God I love has chosen and blessed. I am unwilling to allow those who seem to hate both of those lands to have a platform to poison public opinion without a counterbalance voice exposing them and their radical agenda and the threats they pose to America and her closest and most important ally. CONCLUSION America has many important and strategic alliances, but she has no other alliance that is as special or important as the one she shares with Israel. Our nations share common traditions and enjoy the only alliance that carries a promise and a curse from God. America’s support of Israel is vital to the success, security, and futures of each nation. American policy towards Israel must recognize these pillars:
Pro-Life On January 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court handed down Roe v. Wade and ignited a fierce debate that has divided this nation ever since. With that decision, the Supreme Court discovered a penumbra of rights that do not exist in the text of Constitution, but which the Court concluded includes the right to terminate a pregnancy. That would have surprised the founders who had concluded that all men are created, not born but created, equal and given inalienable rights by God, Himself, that include the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of liberty. The Court ushered in a new era of judicial activism and social engineering from the bench by unelected, unaccountable federal judges. That day, it abandoned its historical role as the institution that was insulated from politics and charged with applying the Constitution and the laws passed by Congress and, instead, began to make up new laws itself. Since that time, nearly 62,000,000 babies have been killed. Over 850,000 babies were killed by abortion in 2017. It is the American Holocaust. We must again recognize certain fundamental truths: Life begins at conception. It is not a fetus but a baby. All life is precious and must be protected. The most vulnerable among us, the unborn, deserve the greatest protection. You do not have to take my word for where I stand on the issue of abortion. I have a record. As Alabama’s Attorney General, I brought the first and only prosecution ever against an abortionist who broke Alabama law. When I took office, Alabama law did not afford protection to the unborn so that, if a baby was injured or killed during the commission of a violent crime against his or her mother, no prosecution could be pursued for the injuries to or death of the baby. I also wrote and passed legislation to fix that. Today, in Alabama, if you injure or a kill a baby, you may be charged with and convicted for not one crime but two – one for your crimes against the mother and the other for your crimes against her unborn baby. Now it is time to do for America what we have already done for Alabama. As a Congressman, I will: Ensure that the Department of Justice pursues and prosecutes those who commit illegal abortions; and Draft legislation to protect unborn babies from violence to the same extent as their born counterparts; and Oppose funding for Planned Parenthood or any other entity that uses its funding to perform abortions; and Expand funding for adoption agencies and organizations; and Work to help vet judges who reject an activist approach to their role as a federal judge; and Pray for God’s forgiveness for us a nation that has so disrespected His creation by callously and cavalierly destroying it under the color of law. Ronald Reagan once sagely observed of the hypocrisy of the abortionists that “I have noticed that all of those who support abortion rights were born.” Over 250 babies have been aborted somewhere in the world since you started reading this. It is time to stop the killing. The Second Amendment “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Clear. Unequivocal. Unqualified. Unreserved. Inviolate. The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on December 15, 1791. Like the other protections enshrined in the Bill of Rights, neither the founding fathers nor the states ratifying the Constitution anticipated a time when a right as basic and fundamental as the right to own a gun would be questioned. In their wisdom, however, they specifically protected this most basic of America right. As a proud member of both the NRA and BamaCarry, I have not just talked about the importance of protecting gun rights, but I have actually protected them. As Attorney General, I passed Alabama’s Stand Your Ground Law. With its passage, law abiding citizens in Alabama no longer had to try to run away before they could stand and defend themselves, their family, and their property. That is how it should be. Members of the fringe Left seem dedicated to disarming Americans. They have tried full scale frontal assault. They have used activist judges to try to limit the Second Amendment from the bench. They have an endless stream of new laws, the only point of which is to take your guns away. I will be a solid vote against these new laws and in favor of defending the Constitution and our most important civil liberties, including, particularly, those protected by the Second Amendment. The solution is simple: Trust the wisdom of our founding fathers who expressly enshrined this liberty in the fabric of the Constitution. Enforce the laws we have. Nominate and confirm judges who will restrict their rulings to applying the law and will not rewrite it. Stand vigilant and defeat the onslaught of new proposed laws, like the so called “red flag laws” that do nothing to solve the shootings they are a response to and, actually, are wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing attempts to erode the Second Amendment.[10] |
” |
| —Troy King’s campaign website (2020)[12] | ||
Barry Moore
| “ |
SOLID ON THE ISSUES During his tenure in the legislature, Barry distinguished himself as one of Alabama’s most ardent conservatives. Numerous organizations have recognized him as the state’s most conservative legislator. ✔ PROTECT THE RIGHT TO LIFE ✔ FIGHT FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ✔ REDUCE GOVERNMENT & CUT TAXES ✔ STAND UP FOR VETERANS & LAW ENFORCEMENT ✔ BUILD THE WALL! ✔ END COMMON CORE ✔ REPEAL OBAMA CARE ✔ STRENGTHEN THE MILITARY ✔ WORK WITH TRUMP & KEEP AMERICA GREAT![10] |
” |
| —Barry Moore's campaign website (2020)[13] | ||
Jessica Taylor
| “ |
Supporting the 2nd Amendment The Constitution says our right to bear arms “shall not be infringed” – period. Jessica will hold the line against radical gun grabbing politicians that want to destroy the rights of law-abiding gun owners. Protecting Life Every life is worth defending. Jessica is unapologetically pro-life and will always support legislation that protects unborn children and preserves the sanctity of life. Securing Our Border We do not have a country unless we have a strong, secure border. I will fight to build the wall and end illegal immigration. Supporting Our Veterans As the wife of a veteran, Jessica knows first hand the sacrifices our veterans make are vital to ensuring peace and freedom throughout the world. Jessica will make sure Washington never leaves a soldier or veteran behind. Limiting the Size of Government As government grows, individual liberty shrinks. I will fight to cut spending, reduce the size of government, and root out waste, fraud, and abuse. Term Limits We need to return to the true citizen legislator as our founding fathers intended. I support term limits for Congress to get rid of career politicians and help drain the swamp.[10] |
” |
| —Jessica Taylor's campaign website (2020)[14] | ||
Campaign advertisements
This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.
Jeff Coleman
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Troy King
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A sample ad from the candidate's Facebook page is embedded below. Click here to see the candidate's Facebook Video page.
Barry Moore
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A sample ad from the candidate's Facebook page is embedded below. Click here to see the candidate's Facebook Video page.
Jessica Taylor
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Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
| Alabama's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020: Republican primary polls | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Date |  Brown
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Coleman
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Hasdorff
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King
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Moore
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Rogers
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Taylor
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Undecided | Margin of error | Sample size | Sponsor | |
| We Ask America | Jan. 14-15, 2020 | 2% | 43% | <1% | 16% | 8% | 1% | 5% | 25% | +/-4.0 | 600 | N/A | |
Campaign finance
This section contains campaign finance figures from the Federal Election Commission covering all candidate fundraising and spending in this election.[15] It does not include information on fundraising before the current campaign cycle or on spending by satellite groups. The numbers in this section are updated as candidates file new campaign finance reports. Candidates for Congress are required to file financial reports on a quarterly basis, as well as two weeks before any primary, runoff, or general election in which they will be on the ballot and upon the termination of any campaign committees.[16] The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas W. Brown Jr. | Republican Party | $22,950 | $22,417 | $533 | As of March 31, 2020 |
| Jeff Coleman | Republican Party | $2,615,977 | $2,615,977 | $0 | As of December 31, 2020 |
| Terri Hasdorff | Republican Party | $82,156 | $82,156 | $0 | As of March 31, 2020 |
| Troy King | Republican Party | $286,728 | $283,699 | $3,028 | As of December 31, 2020 |
| Barry Moore | Republican Party | $837,716 | $836,277 | $6,367 | As of December 31, 2020 |
| Robert Rogers | Republican Party | $29,593 | $22,964 | $1,014 | As of December 31, 2020 |
| Jessica Taylor | Republican Party | $476,139 | $476,139 | $0 | As of September 9, 2020 |
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Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2020. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
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Satellite spending
- See also: Satellite spending
Satellite spending, commonly referred to as outside spending, describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[17][18][19]
This section lists satellite spending in this race reported by news outlets in alphabetical order. If you are aware of spending that should be included, please email us.
Primaries in Alabama
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Alabama uses an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[20][21][22]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Runoff elections in Alabama
In Alabama, a primary election candidate for congressional, state, or county office must receive a majority of the vote (more than 50%) to be declared the winner. If no candidate wins the requisite majority, a runoff election is held between the top two vote-getters.[23]
As of 2020, the Alabama Secretary of State office stated that "if you vote in a primary election and want to vote in a primary runoff election, you must vote in the primary runoff election of the same political party that you chose in the primary election. However, if you did not vote in a political party's primary election and would like to vote in the primary runoff election, you may choose which political party's primary runoff election you would like to vote in."[24]
What's at stake in the general election?
U.S. House elections were held on November 3, 2020, and coincided with the 2020 presidential election. All 435 House districts were up for election, and the results determined control of the U.S. House in the 117th Congress.
At the time of the election, Democrats had a 232-197 advantage over Republicans. There was one Libertarian member, and there were five vacancies. Republicans needed to gain a net 21 seats to win control of the House. Democrats needed to gain seats or lose fewer than 14 net seats to keep their majority.
In the 2018 midterm election, Democrats had a net gain of 40 seats, winning a 235-200 majority in the House. Heading into the 2018 election, Republicans had a 235-193 majority with seven vacancies.
In the 25 previous House elections that coincided with a presidential election, the president's party had gained House seats in 16 elections and lost seats in nine. In years where the president's party won districts, the average gain was 18. In years where the president's party lost districts, the average loss was 27. Click here for more information on presidential partisanship and down-ballot outcomes.
General election race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:
- Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
- Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
- Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[25]
- Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.
Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[26][27][28]
| Race ratings: Alabama's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
| November 3, 2020 | October 27, 2020 | October 20, 2020 | October 13, 2020 | ||||||
| The Cook Political Report | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | |||||
| Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | |||||
| Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | |||||
| Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every week throughout the election season. | |||||||||
District analysis
- See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
- See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores
The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+16, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 16 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Alabama's 2nd Congressional District the 73rd most Republican nationally.[29]
FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 0.97. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.97 points toward that party.[30]
District election history
2018
General election
General election for U.S. House Alabama District 2
Incumbent Martha Roby defeated Tabitha Isner in the general election for U.S. House Alabama District 2 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Martha Roby (R) | 61.4 | 138,879 |
 | Tabitha Isner (D) | 38.4 | 86,931 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 420 | ||
| Total votes: 226,230 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary runoff election
Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Alabama District 2
Incumbent Martha Roby defeated Bobby Bright in the Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Alabama District 2 on July 17, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Martha Roby | 68.0 | 48,277 |
 | Bobby Bright | 32.0 | 22,767 | |
| Total votes: 71,044 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Alabama District 2
Tabitha Isner defeated Audri Scott Williams in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Alabama District 2 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tabitha Isner | 60.4 | 20,351 |
 | Audri Scott Williams | 39.6 | 13,315 | |
| Total votes: 33,666 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Alabama District 2
Incumbent Martha Roby and Bobby Bright advanced to a runoff. They defeated Barry Moore, Rich Hobson, and Tommy Amason in the Republican primary for U.S. House Alabama District 2 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Martha Roby | 39.0 | 36,708 |
| ✔ | | Bobby Bright | 28.1 | 26,481 |
| Barry Moore | 19.3 | 18,177 | |
 | Rich Hobson | 7.5 | 7,052 | |
 | Tommy Amason | 6.1 | 5,763 | |
| Total votes: 94,181 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Martha Roby (R) defeated the only Democrat to file in the race, Nathan Mathis, in the general election. Roby defeated Becky Gerritson and Robert Rogers in the Republican primary on March 1, 2016.[31][32][33]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Martha Roby Incumbent |
48.8% | 134,886 | |
| Democratic | Nathan Mathis | 40.5% | 112,089 | |
| N/A | Write-in | 10.7% | 29,609 | |
| Total Votes | 276,584 | |||
| Source: Alabama Secretary of State | ||||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Martha Roby Incumbent |
66.4% | 78,689 | ||
| Becky Gerritson | 27.8% | 33,015 | ||
| Robert Rogers | 5.8% | 6,856 | ||
| Total Votes | 118,560 | |||
| Source: Alabama Secretary of State |
||||
2014
The 2nd Congressional District of Alabama held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Martha Roby (R) defeated Erick Wright (D) in the general election.
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Martha Roby Incumbent |
67.3% | 113,103 | |
| Democratic | Erick Wright | 32.6% | 54,692 | |
| N/A | Write-in | 0.1% | 157 | |
| Total Votes | 167,952 | |||
| Source: Alabama Secretary of State | ||||
See also
- Alabama's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020 (March 3 Democratic primary)
- Alabama's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020
- United States House elections in Alabama, 2020 (March 3 Democratic primaries)
- United States House elections in Alabama, 2020 (March 3 Republican primaries)
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2020
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2020
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2020
- U.S. House battlegrounds, 2020
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Montgomery Advertiser, "Jeff Coleman spends 10 times nearest competitor in congressional race," February 4, 2020
- ↑ Bama Politics, "Jeff Coleman Overwhelming Favorite To Win AL-02 In Latest Polling," January 17, 2020
- ↑ Dothan Eagle, "Open seat for the 2nd Congressional District will be decided in March," February 18, 2020
- ↑ Vote Smart, "Jessica Taylor's Biography," accessed February 24, 2020
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Alabama - House District 02," accessed February 24, 2020
- ↑ Candidate Connection surveys completed before September 26, 2019, were not used to generate candidate profiles. In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
- ↑ Alabama News Network, "Jessica Taylor Endorsed by State Representative Will Dismukes," November 13, 2019
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Jessica Taylor's 2020 campaign website, "News," accessed February 21, 2020
- ↑ Alabama Daily News, "U.S. Chamber of Commerce to endorse Jeff Coleman for Congress," February 12, 2020
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Jeff Coleman’s campaign website, "Issues," accessed February 21, 2020
- ↑ Troy King’s campaign website, "Issues," accessed February 21, 2020
- ↑ Barry Moore's 2020 campaign website, "On the Issues," accessed February 21, 2020
- ↑ Jessica Taylor's 2020 campaign website, "Issues," accessed February 21, 2020
- ↑ Fundraising by primary candidates can be found on the race's respective primary election page. Fundraising by general election candidates can be found on the race's general election page.
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "2022 Quarterly Reports," accessed March 2, 2022
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed September 22, 2015
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed September 22, 2015
- ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," November 6, 2015
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed July 22, 2024
- ↑ Justia, "Alabama Code § 17-13-1," accessed July 22, 2024
- ↑ Justia, "Alabama Code § 17-3-30," accessed July 22, 2024
- ↑ Code of Alabama, "Section 17-13-18," accessed July 10, 2020
- ↑ Alabama Secretary of State, "FAQs," accessed July 10, 2020
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
- ↑ The New York Times, "Alabama Primary Results," accessed March 1, 2016
- ↑ Alabama Republican Party, "2016 Qualified Alabama Republican Candidates," accessed November 10, 2015
- ↑ Alabama Democrats, "Qualified Democratic Candidates as of November 6, 2015," accessed November 10, 2015
