Alabama Ranks Low in Contested Legislative Races

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama was among the states with the least contested legislative races in the general election.

A study by National Institute for Money in State Politics found that 43 percent of Alabama’s legislative seats were contested Nov. 4. That was the eighth lowest among the 46 states with legislative races on the general election ballot. Georgia was the lowest with 20 percent of its legislative seats contested.

The study says the national average was contests in 64 percent of the legislative races. Michigan led the states with 100 percent of its legislative races contested, but Michigan has term limits for legislators. Alabama does not.

Many of Alabama’s 140 legislative districts are designed to be heavily Republican or heavily Democratic, and they had election contests in the primary election June 3.