AL-05

Griffith On Party Switch: 'Politically, It May Have Been A Mistake' (VIDEO)

Ben Frumin | June 3, 2010, 12:13PM

Parker Griffith (R-AL)

Rep. Parker Griffith (R-AL), who switched from the Democratic to Republican Party in December only to get crushed in his new party's primary on Tuesday, said yesterday that he's at peace with his party switch -- even though it might have been a political mistake.

"I do not regret changing parties," he said at a news conference. "I think it may have been, politically, it may have been a mistake. On principle, it was the right thing to do and I'm happy about it."

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AL-05

Dem-Turned-GOPer Parker Griffith Loses Republican Primary

Eric Kleefeld | June 2, 2010, 12:21AM

Rep. Parker Griffith (R-AL)

Rep. Parker Griffith (R-AL), who switched from the Democratic Party in December 2009, has been defeated in his Republican primary by Madison County Commissioner Mo Brooks. Griffith is now the second party-switcher to lose his new party's primary this year, following Pennsylvania's Republican-turned-Democratic Senator Arlen Specter.

Griffith has conceded the race. With 99% of precincts reporting, Brooks has 51% of the vote -- just above the 50% needed to win without a runoff -- with Griffith at 33% and businessman Les Phillip with 16%. Griffith was elected to a Democratic-held open seat in 2008, winning a 51%-49% race in a district that John McCain carried 61%-38%. He switched parties in 2009, citing the health care bill and Democratic spending as major reasons for his decision, after having already voted against such big-ticket Democratic items as the stimulus, cap-and-trade and health care.

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2010 elections

Voters Headed To Polls Tuesday In Three State Primaries

Eric Kleefeld | May 31, 2010, 3:29PM

Tomorrow will be a busy primary day in three states, with races that could provide some more hints into the extent of any establishment vs. grassroots party feuding, especially on the Republican side.

The races will occur in three states: Alabama, Mississippi and New Mexico. It should be noted that Alabama and Mississippi use runoff elections if no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote in a primary. And since many of these races are wide-open contests with three candidates or more, there could be quite a few runoffs to come.

So let's take a look at some of the key contested races for tomorrow.

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AL-05

Dem-Turned-GOPer Parker Griffith In Spirited Primary Fight Tuesday

Eric Kleefeld | May 31, 2010, 9:01AM

Rep. Parker Griffith (R-AL)

Rep. Parker Griffith (R-AL), who was elected as a Democrat in 2008 and switched to the Republicans in December 2009, could be facing a tough challenge in his primary this Tuesday.

Under Alabama law, a candidate must receive over 50% of the vote in the primary, or else he would have to compete in a runoff election in July. A Republican source in Alabama told TPMDC that Griffith's two challengers, Madison County Commissioner Mo Brooks and businessman Les Phillip, are competing for the same voters against Griffith. "I'd give him probably a 60% chance of getting to 50 plus one," the source said, explaining that Griffith is favored to win but also that a runoff could be tricker for him.

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Parker Griffith

Dem Prospect Ron Sparks Not Running Against Parker Griffith

Eric Kleefeld | December 29, 2009, 10:16AM

Rep. Parker Griffith (R-AL)

The Democrats just missed out on recruiting a top-tier candidate to run against party-switching Rep. Parker Griffith (R-AL), with Alabama's Democratic Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks set to announce today that he won't be running.

Sparks is currently running for governor, but had been urged by national Dems to switch to the House race after Griffith switched from being a Democrat to the Republicans.

As of right now, Griffith's greatest danger is in the Republican primary, where he'll face plenty of criticism for his past Democratic allegiances, donations to Democrats like Howard Dean and Harry Reid, and the accusations of his detractors that his switch was motivated by political necessity instead of principle.

Parker Griffith

Alabama GOP Chair Forgives Ex-Dem Griffith's 'Sins' -- But Others Aren't So Magnanimous

Eric Kleefeld | December 28, 2009, 5:58PM

Rep. Parker Griffith (R-AL)

Rep. Parker Griffith (R-AL) has been getting a mixed reception from his state's GOP officials, since he switched from the Democratic Party last week. Some of his new Alabama co-partisans are glad to have him in the party, while some are against it -- and others even want to go so far as to ban him from the Republican primary.

State GOP chairman Mike Hubbard is welcoming Griffith despite the party's past attacks on him, and Griffith's own jousting with the state GOP when he was a state legislator. "It's almost like coming to your church and asking forgiveness for past sins," Hubbard told the Montgomery Advertiser. "You don't turn them away. We'll forgive him for his sins."

On the other hand, state Treasurer Kay Ivey, a candidate for governor, hasn't been so hospitable: "Political self-preservation isn't a virtue. In fact, political expediency is an insult to every grassroots activist who commits untold hours in devotion to getting candidates elected."

In addition there is Hugh McInnish, a Fifth Congressional District Republican committee member, who is proposing a drastic push-back against Griffith: Banning him from receiving the GOP nomination altogether. However, McInnish admitted to me that this idea was not likely to succeed at this juncture.

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Parker Griffith

Alabama Republican Pol Slams Parker Griffith's Switch From Dems To GOP

Eric Kleefeld | December 24, 2009, 2:06PM

Rep. Parker Griffith (R-AL)

Rep. Parker Griffith, the Alabama Congressman who switched from the Democrats to the Republicans this week, is now being denounced by none other than a statewide Republican elected official in his home state.

The Huntsville Times reports that State Treasurer Kay Ivey, who is also a candidate for governor, is openly doubting Griffith's sincerity: "Political self-preservation isn't a virtue. In fact, political expediency is an insult to every grassroots activist who commits untold hours in devotion to getting candidates elected."

Griffith is already facing challengers in the Republican primary,
and some big-name conservative activists are calling for his defeat. In previous years of his political career, Griffith had declared that he was for "health care for all of the citizens," and he'd also donated to Howard Dean and Harry Reid. So some people aren't taking seriously his protest that the "far-left" Democratic Party wasn't welcoming him.

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AL-05

Taking Stock Of Parker Griffith: From The D To The R In The AL-05

Christina Bellantoni | December 22, 2009, 6:47PM

Rep. Parker Griffith (R-AL)

In what should have been a sleepy recess week for the House of Representatives, Rep. Parker Griffith dropped a bombshell - he was leaving the Democratic party to join the Republicans.

The GOP was thrilled to add to their ranks and ready to use it as proof, they say, that Democrats could lose control of the House in 2010.

The Democrats were sad to lose a member but not really missing his vote since Griffith (AL) wasn't with them on health care or other broad party agenda items and was a frequent Obama critic.

The facts on the ground suggest it's certainly not going to be smooth sailing to reelection from a new party.

National Republicans were elated but the conservative, anti-establishment movement within the party cast a skeptical eye toward Griffith.

The two Republican candidates who were vying to challenge him as an incumbent now plan to primary him faster than you can say Dede Scozzafava.

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