Greg Albritton withstood a lopsided loss in his opponent’s home county and rolled to a comfortable victory Tuesday in the Republican runoff for the Alabama Senate District 22 nomination, setting up a fall matchup with a Democratic challenger from Atmore.
A Lopsided Win Outside Baldwin County
With complete but unofficial returns counted, Albritton captured 58 percent of the vote to Harry D’Olive’s 42 percent. Albritton will now face Democrat Susan Smith, a member of the Atmore City Council, in the November general election.
“I’m happy. We’ve worked hard. People here have worked very hard,” Albritton said following the results. “It’s always better winning than losing. I’ve done both.”
Albritton and D’Olive advanced to the runoff after finishing first and second in a five-candidate primary field back on June 3. That earlier contest established a pattern that repeated itself Tuesday: D’Olive dominated in Baldwin County, winning roughly 70 percent of the vote there, but could not overcome Albritton’s strength across the rest of the sprawling district, which stretches through Escambia County and portions of Clarke, Choctaw, Conecuh, Washington, Monroe and Mobile counties in addition to Baldwin. Albritton countered with an 85 percent showing in Escambia County alone. Official county-by-county returns showed Albritton finishing with 3,980 votes to D’Olive’s 2,914 out of 6,894 ballots cast across the eight-county district.
Two Small-Town Lawyers, Similar Backgrounds
Despite their rivalry, Albritton and D’Olive share strikingly similar résumés. Both are solo-practice lawyers in their home communities, D’Olive in Bay Minette and Albritton in Conecuh County. Both have weathered previous political setbacks: Albritton served one term in the Alabama House of Representatives from 2002 to 2006 before losing a Republican primary re-election bid. D’Olive briefly served as Baldwin County probate judge after his father stepped down from the post in 1999, but lost a bid for a full term in 2000 and again lost the Republican nomination for the office in 2012. He also served briefly as mayor of Silverhill before leaving to attend law school.
Shared Positions, Sharp Attacks
On policy, the two candidates found more common ground than daylight, with both opposing Alabama’s adoption of the Common Core State Standards and both supporting a right for motorists to carry loaded firearms without a concealed-carry permit. Albritton nonetheless attacked D’Olive over comments suggesting he was open to considering an Internet sales tax to help address the state budget; D’Olive later said he had simply been describing an option floated by others, not endorsing it.
D’Olive had campaigned on economic development, promising to push hard for manufacturers to locate at a large industrial site the Baldwin County Commission purchased north of Bay Minette. Albritton instead emphasized trimming state government, including eliminating boards and commissions he argued make it needlessly difficult for Alabamians to start businesses or enter licensed professions.
Albritton significantly outraised and outspent D’Olive during the runoff campaign, drawing heavy support from political action committees tied to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and the Alabama Farmers Federation. D’Olive had raised questions about whether that Farmers Federation backing, tied to Alfa Insurance, could complicate Albritton’s ability to weigh in on future homeowners insurance reform, an argument Albritton dismissed by saying the endorsement reflected his support for farmers rather than insurers.
Redrawn following the 2010 census, Senate District 22 now leans more heavily Republican, making Albritton a clear favorite heading into November against Smith, who entered the race after longtime Democratic incumbent Marc Keahey of Grove Hill withdrew once the primary qualifying period had closed.