Fundraising, ethics upfront in lieutenant governor’s primary

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Three million dollars have poured into the Alabama lieutenant governor’s race as four candidates vie for a statewide position with limited responsibilities other than succeeding the governor.

In the Republican primary, Alabama Public Service Commission president Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh is running against two state legislators: Rep. Will Ainsworth from Guntersville and Sen. Rusty Glover from Mobile.

The lieutenant governor presides over the state Senate, but only casts a vote in the event of a tie. He or she serves on two dozen committees and appoints more than 400 state positions. The primary responsibility is succeeding the governor if he or she dies, resigns or is impeached. A failed Senate bill this year attempted to strip the lieutenant governor’s powers and criticized the role as simply a political stepping stone to the governor’s office.

The lieutenant governor position has been vacant since April 2017 when Kay Ivey succeeded Robert Bentley as governor. Bentley quit while embroiled in a sex scandal. If Ivey wins election in November, she will be Alabama’s oldest governor at 74.

Analyst and former University of Alabama politics professor William Stewart said Ivey would be unlikely to run for a second term.

“The lieutenant governor race is more significant this year,” Stewart said. “More money has gravitated toward the race because it seems to be a foregone conclusion that whoever is elected as lieutenant governor this year, that person will almost automatically become the favorite for the governorship four years from now.”

Stewart said Cavanaugh has name recognition advantage as an already elected statewide official.

The Republican nominee will face Democrat Will Boyd, a minister who lost the U.S. Senate special election primary against Doug Jones last year.

The four candidates are vying for funds ahead of the June 5 primary. As of April 19, Ainsworth and Cavanaugh have both raised just shy of $900,000. Cavanaugh started the campaign with more than $500,000 and Ainsworth loaned himself the same amount to match her. The most recent filings show Cavanaugh outstripped her opponents by raising more than $70,000 in March, although Ainsworth still boasts more than $1 million currently in hand.

Glover trails significantly, having raised just around $125,000. Boyd has raised less than $4,400.

Beyond fundraising, ethics is a top issue in the race as the Legislature looks to review the state’s ethics law next year and lawmakers currently face corruption charges. GOP contenders are trumpeting their integrity and staunch conservatism.

Cavanaugh, a seasoned politician, touts her six-year record as the Alabama Public Service Commission president. She said she has regulated ethics and cut costs, never taking a state car. She hands out her personal cellphone number because she believes elected officials should be approachable.