- Marilyn Lands won the House district 10 special election by a landslide
- The seat was previously held by a Republican who resigned last August
- Democrats celebrated the victory in Alabama as a sign of things to come
Democrat Marilyn Lands won a special election in Alabama on Tuesday, flipping a seat in the House of Representatives from red to blue in what was the first competitive election there since the Alabama Supreme Court’s controversial IVF ruling.
Lands won the race for the House 10 district around Huntsville in a landslide after campaigning on a platform that focused on abortion rights in a state that has an abortion ban.
She received more than 62 percent of the vote, while her Republican opponent Teddy Powell received 37.5 percent in Tuesday’s elections.
Her victory is a good sign for Democrats who have focused on the issues in races across the country.
Alabama House District 10 voted for Donald Trump in 2020.
Democrat Marilyn Lands won a special election in Alabama, turning the vacant House District 10 seat blue in a race against Republican Teddy Powell
Lands focused on abortion rights and IVF in her campaign in Alabama, which has had an abortion ban since the fall of Roe v Wade
Lands is campaigning for the 10th seat in the Alabama House District
“Alabama women and families have sent a clear message that will be heard in Montgomery and across the country. Our legislature must repeal Alabama’s no-exempt abortion ban, fully restore access to IVF, and protect the right to contraception,” Lands said in a statement after her victory.
The Democratic campaign arm, which focused on the interstate legislative races, celebrated the victory, calling the special election a “harbinger of things to come.”
“Republicans across the country have been made aware that there are consequences for attacks on IVF – from the bluest blue state to the reddest red, voters are choosing to fight for their basic freedoms by electing Democrats across the country,” Heather said Williams, chairman of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.
The race was the latest in a series of competitive elections in which Democrats infringed on abortion rights and won.
During her campaign, Lands shared her own story about having an abortion 20 years ago after learning the fetus would not live. She criticized the state’s ban, saying women now have fewer freedoms than they did 20 years ago.
She also raised concerns about the state Supreme Court ruling in February that embryos are children endangering IVF in Alabama.
Fertility clinics suspended IVF services for weeks due to legal concerns and confusion over the ruling, until the state passed a law protecting IVF patients and providers.
After the race was called Tuesday, Lands posted on X “Alabama women have spoken.”
Lands is a qualified consultant and previously worked in banking.
Republican Teddy Powell focused his campaign on the economy and inflation, but lost by double digits
Her opponent Powell is a member of the Madison City Council and a budget analyst for the Department of Defense. He ran a campaign focused on the economy and the fight against inflation.
Before the election, both candidates knocked on doors and tried to win over their supporters.
Former Democratic Sen. Doug Jones also campaigned for Lands.
The District 10 seat was last held by Republican David Cole. He resigned in August after being accused of voter fraud. He pleaded guilty in the case.