Democrat FLIPS Alabama House seat blue after focusing on IVF and abortion rights in positive sign for the Biden administration

•  Marilyn Lands won the House district 10 special election in a landslide
•  The seat was previously held by a Republican who resigned last August
•  Democrats celebrated the Alabama victory as a sign of things to come

Democrat Marilyn Lands won a special election in Alabama on Tuesday, flipping a seat in the state 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 House 10 district around Huntsville in a landslide after campaigning on a platform that centered around abortion rights in a state that has an abortion ban in place.

She received more than 62 percent of the vote while her Republican opponent Teddy Powell received 37.5 percent in Tuesday’s election.

Her victory is a good sign for Democrats who have been leaning in on the issues in races across the country.

Alabama House District 10 voted for Donald Trump in 2020.

Lands focused on abortion rights and IVF in her campaign in Alabama which has an abortion ban in place since Roe v Wade fell

Lands campaigning for the Alabama House District 10 seat

‘Alabama women and families sent a clear message that will be heard in Montgomery and across the nation. Our legislature must repeal Alabama’s no-exceptions abortion ban, fully restore access to IVF, and protect the right to contraception,’ Lands said in a statement after her win.

The Democratic campaign arm focused on state legislative races celebrated the victory calling the special election a ‘harbinger of things to come.’

‘Republicans across the country have been put on notice that there are consequences to attacks on IVF – from the bluest blue state to the reddest red, voters are choosing to fight for their fundamental freedoms by electing Democrats across the country,’ said Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.

The race was the latest in a series of competitive elections where Democrats have gone on offense over abortion rights and won.

During her campaign, Lands shared her own story of getting an abortion twenty years ago after learning the fetus would not live. She slammed the state’s ban saying women now face less freedoms than they did twenty years ago.

She also raised concerns over the state’s Supreme Court ruling in February that embryos are children which put IVF in Alabama in jeopardy.

Fertility clinics paused IVF services for weeks amid 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 licensed counselor and previously worked in banking.

Republican Teddy Powell focused on the economy and inflation in his campaign but lost by double digits

Her opponent Powell is a Madison City Council member, and budget analyst for the Department of Defense. He ran a campaign focused on the economy and fighting inflation.

Ahead of the election both candidates were out knocking on doors and trying to win over supporters.

Former Democratic Senator Doug Jones also hit the campaign trail for Lands.

The District 10 seat was last held by Republican David Cole. He resigned in August after being charged with voter fraud. He pleaded guilty in the case.

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