Democratic candidate Marilyn Lands on Tuesday won a special election for a state House seat in Alabama after she made in vitro fertilization and abortion central to her campaign.
Lands, a licensed professional counselor, defeated Madison City Council member Teddy Powell, a Republican who once worked as a Defense Department budget analyst. A Republican had held the Huntsville-area seat in the state’s 10th District.
“Today, Alabama women and families sent a clear message that will be heard in Montgomery and across the nation. Our legislature must repeal Alabama’s no-exceptions abortion ban, fully restore access to IVF, and protect the right to contraception,” Lands said in a statement shared by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which supported her candidacy.
Lands had 63% of the vote to Powell’s 37% with all precincts reporting.
“The voters have spoken and I’m honored to have been considered for this office,” Powell said in a statement to Alabama Daily News. “I wish Mrs. Lands the absolute best as she goes on to serve the people of District 10 in the House of Representatives.”
While campaigning, Lands focused on IVF and access to abortions, telling voters that she supports repealing the state’s near-total ban on abortions, which went into effect after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in 2022.
Her campaign website notes endorsements from groups such as Planned Parenthood, the Alabama AFL-CIO and the gun control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.
Republican Gov. Kay Ivey signed a GOP-backed bill to protect IVF after widespread backlash to a ruling by the state Supreme Court in February that threatened the procedure. Tuesday’s contest was seen as an early test for Democrats campaigning on IVF after the high court’s ruling.
The special election was called after David Cole, a Republican who defeated Lands in 2022 by 7 percentage points, pleaded guilty to a voter fraud charge last year and resigned.
Republicans hold a 75-27 advantage over Democrats in the state House.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2022, abortion has repeatedly appeared on the ballot and consistently delivered blows to pro-life activists. It’s expected to remain a key issue in November, but it’s unclear whether it will be as potent as it was in the midterm elections.
I must say that for a state to ban abortions with no exceptions is a dumb move; one must consider the health of the mother, and weather the female has been a victim of a crime, rape/incest ; this will lose in November, no matter what else is falling apart in our country, this will take a demon to the WH!!! Planned parenthood is a evil organization; business ,they don’t advise females who walk in and say I need a abortion, abd that’s what is done, in some instances they will tell you to make appointment ,think it over, no alternative offered ,like infieming them about adoption, and the help that is available to them while they are pregnant, nope none of that ,just fire over the $$and be done with it, women don’t want to be told what they can and can’t do period ,that’s what it boils down to; imo I belive in special circumstances, and I believe that state should consider 15 weeks ,enough time for nany of these very uneducated demon to realize that they are pregnant, guidance should be offered to them which like I said is not, I do belive that a ban should be in place for 3rd term abortions, mist logical people male and females would agree to that ,especially if they see a film of what that looks like, planned parenthood puts up many clinics in poor areas, many within walking distance ,block by block, why because they want yo sell a product, to people who are easily influenced due to economic conditions, education ,etc. Its done on purpose, and if course they intern support with bigc$$$$ those who promote abortions, the demons ; so the Republicans need like yesterday to make a plan and stick to it, 15 weeks, special circumstances, and if a ban us is something mist people would get behind 3rd term ; run on that stuck to it, put commercials up all over the TV, billboards, social media use everything possible to get the word out ,because the demons are doing it and lying for the most part about no special circumstance s, that’s hiw they won and will again; this imo is a approach that could work, and although it on personal level goes against people’s beliefs , you know what to hold true to, but our country ,not being dramatic, our country is at stake here and if the Republicans like because of this issue , I ask you would you want to bring a child into a world such as we have now, only worse, the birthrate is down already ,think about that ; we all have to live with our choices, abd when we die we will be judged by God for those choices ,whatever they might be; however true that is ,right now we have a country to save ,hold true to yourself, but I think we need to be senseable about this very delicate subject and not demonize those who choose to get a abortion, that is not up to us, offer education, offer options ,offer help, nit judgement ; our country our freedoms our way of life unfortunately depends on how the Republicans stand on this issue, and banning is not going to win, unless it’s 3rd term which is reasonable for and to most people ,both males abd female’s; imo..
Another evil baby killer is elected.