Anytime a Democrat wins a Republican district by a large margin, that is certainly cause for concern. However, some important context is needed. First, this was a very-low-turnout election. In fact, nearly 60 percent fewer votes were cast in this special election than in the 2022 general election for the same state house seat. It seems fair to say that the Republican candidate failed to effectively mobilize Republican and conservative voters.

Second, Lands outraised her Republican opponent by approximately $80,000. It is unusual for a Democratic candidate to significantly outraise her Republican counterpart for a legislative race in a GOP district. It is safe to say that Democratic candidates will be unable to duplicate this strategy by outspending Republicans in every legislative race.

Third, the Republican candidate was Teddy Powell, who served on the city council of Madison, Ala., and worked a budget analyst for the Department of Defense. Powell’s platform focused on economic development, infrastructure, and education. Media accounts indicate that he spent little time discussing sanctity-of-life issues. Pro-life political analysts know that is a poor strategy, as it allows candidates who support legal abortion to control the narrative.