Alabama Democratic Party sat on cash as Election Day approached
Democrats’ defeats on Tuesday have renewed criticism of Alabama Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy Worley and Alabama Democratic Conference Chairman Joe Reed as a review of campaign finance records raises questions about the party’s efforts and money solicited by the ADC for get out the vote (GOTV) work.
According to an Advertiser review of campaign finance records:
— The Alabama Democratic Party had approximately $508,000 in a state account and $284,000 in a federal account in mid-October, but spent almost none of it on federal or state races as the state Republican Party was pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into its campaigns;
— An entity called the Fund to Advance Democracy, set up by the ADC, accepted at least $108,000 from three Democratic candidates in late May and early June, but did not legally exist at the time;
— In at least one instance, a federal PAC run by the Alabama Democratic Conference did not report a $5,000 check from a Democratic congressional candidate, a sum negotiated down from $15,000.
Reed and Worley have been prominent and polarizing figures in the state Democratic Party, with many members accusing them of preventing the party from getting back on its feet after nearly a decade of electoral frustration. While improving margins in cities and suburban counties on Tuesday, Democrats lost every statewide race, every congressional race and saw five House seats flip to the Republicans. Following the dismal showing, several candidates, including Chief Justice nominee Bob Vance and Democratic congressional candidate Mallory Hagan, called for new leadership.
“If you are mad, and you are angry we didn’t win, don’t be mad at the Republican Party,” Hagan said in her concession speech Tuesday. “Be mad at our own, and don’t stop fighting for our state, because we deserve leadership that cares about us.”
https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/11/09/alabama-democratic-party-sat-cash-election-day-approached-democratic-party-criticism-reed-worley/1942847002/
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