After Alabama Democrat Flips House Seat Amid IVF Controversy, Democrats Wonder If They Can Make A Comeback In The Reddest Of States

Last week, Democrat Marilyn Lands defeated Republican Teddy Powell in a special election for a state House seat in north Alabama.

Lands flipped the seat from red to blue, winning 62% to 38%. The election drew national attention amid controversy over the Alabama State Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos are considered children under state law.

Lands made the ruling a focus of her campaign.

“We need to continue to protect at this point where we are at with the right to contraception,” she told the Huntsville Times Lede.

“Today, Alabama women and families sent a clear message that will be heard in Montgomery and across the nation,” she said following her win. “Our legislature must repeal Alabama’s no-exceptions abortion ban, fully restore access to IVF, and protect the rights to contraception.”

Powell thanked his supporters in his conceding statement.

“We are proud of the campaign we ran,” he said. “We ran a tough and respectful race and that is something we are incredibly proud of. Our state has so much to offer and I believe if we can come together, we can accomplish great things.”

Democrats are now looking at the victory and wondering if they can capitalize on the momentum to make inroads in the GOP super-majority legislature.