Alabama Bill 541: GOP's Gamble on Party Primaries

0:00From the Daily News Now Network, this is Birmingham News today. Alabama lawmakers just passed House Bill 541 in the House by a vote of 63 to 35. The bill would require voters to register with a political party before joining partisan primaries. During the debate, House pro-Tim Chris Pringle warned it could hand the six congressional district to a Democrat, putting Representative Gary, Palmer's seat at risk. Palmer, a Republican from Hoover, crushed his Democratic opponent by 40 points last election, winning every county in the district by at least 28 points. Still, Pringle argued the change would push away independent voters who currently bolster Republican wins. Pringle voiced strong concerns on the floor, saying the party has thrived with an open primary system that welcomes diverse voices. The predicted backlash in purple districts, potentially flipping more seats to Democrats and hurting GOP control. The bill's sponsor, Representative Ernie Yarbrough, defended it amid the heated exchange,

1:01but Pringle voted yes despite his warnings. Party leaders worry this could repeat past mistakes when Republicans ignored grassroots efforts. Now the measure heads to the Senate, where its fate could reshape voter access and shake up Alabama's congressional map for years to come.