There is a key special election to fill a state House seat in Alabama tommorrow or today depending on when this is read. The seat was held by a Democrat who was forced to step down because of ethics issues. Democrats hold a 62-43 majority in the chamber and Republicans are looking to finally take over control in 2010 and they believe that taking Alabama's 6th state House district is their first step in doing so. The Republican candidate is Phil Williams(http://www.leftinalabama.com/diary/4254/house-district-6-phil-williams-falsely-accuses-jenn
y-askins), who has been plastering the district with yard signs and even has rented some billboards for the campaign.
The Democratic candidate is Jenny Askins(http://www.jennyaskins.com/) who is running a strong door to door campaign. The sixth district includes parts of Huntsville(including the famous Space Center, which I just visited yesterday for the first time) and some suburbs. The district seems to lean Republican, as Gov. Bob Riley carried the district 63%-36% over Lucy Baxley in 2006, but has been won by Democrats in local races.
A few weeks ago, Democrats lost a state Senate district that covers this area and more because Republicans were able to run a far superior turnout operation and possibly because Democrats ran a liberal African American candidate. If Republicans win this race, it will give them a net gain of four state legislative seats so far in state legislative special elections. If you live in Huntsville, Toney and Hazel Green or the communities of Monrovia, Harvest, Cross Roads, Ardmore, Bobo, Elkwood and Sherwood Park, please vote for Jenny Askins tommorrow. Here is a map of the district (http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/contemporarymaps/alabama/politics/house_dist.jpg).