Steve Flowers

Steve Flowers served 16 years in the state legislature. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. Steve may be reached at [email protected].

Inside the Statehouse: A look at our current congressional delegates

There are dramatic differences between our congressional delegation of the 1940’s-1960’s and our group on the Potomac today. Obviously, their partisan badges have changed, as have Alabamians. There is also a tremendous difference in power and seniority of that era versus today’s group. That bygone era of Alabama congressmen were very progressive New Deal Democrats; whereas, our … Continued

April 11, 2018

Inside the Statehouse: “Our Legislature is not only majority Republican, it is supermajority Republican.”

Republicans took control of federal offices and presidential races in 1964 in Alabama. It was referred to as the Goldwater Landslide. The Baxley-Graddick fiasco in 1986 was the game changer for governor. In the last 32 years there have been eight governor’s races. Republicans have won all of them, with one exception. Don Siegelman was an interloper in … Continued

April 4, 2018

Inside the Statehouse: It’ll be a fun election year

Every constitutional statewide office is up for election this year. Just like the governor’s office you can serve two consecutive four-year terms and then you are through. Kay Ivey would have been term limited as Lt. Governor. She could not have run again for that post even though she ascended to governor last year. Young … Continued

March 28, 2018

Inside the Statehouse: Breaking down the governor’s race

When talk turns to politics in Alabama, it usually leads to the Governor’s race. In Alabama politics, the Governor’s office is the Brass Ring. It is talked about more than anything else around coffee clubs and kitchen tables from Sand Mountain to the Wiregrass. It is comparable to college football being the king of all sports in Alabama. … Continued

March 21, 2018

Milton McGregor still on the scene

By Steve Flowers Inside the Statehouse As the June primaries for our statewide races get closer, there is a lot of media attention and stories written about the power being wielded by special interests, PACs and big money. They focus on the large amount of cash and influence being bet on the horses for governor and … Continued

March 7, 2018

Inside the State House: Elections

By Steve Flowers Inside the State House The 2018 legislative session will be short and sweet. It is an election year. Historically, during the last year of a quadrennium, the legislature convenes early and passes the budgets, then goes home and campaigns for reelection to another four year term. Our forefathers, who wrote our 1901 Constitution must … Continued

February 21, 2018

Inside the State House: The Capitol Press Corps

By Steve Flowers Inside the State House I have written about the legendary capitol reporters who use to cover Goat Hill. There was Bob Ingram of the Montgomery Advertiser, Al Fox of the Birmingham News, Hugh Sparrow of the Birmingham News, Rex Thomas of the Associated Press, Don Martin of UPI and Clarke Stallworth of … Continued

February 14, 2018

Steve Flowers: Shelby, Ivey can brush off Senate special election critiques

By Steve Flowers Inside the Statehouse A few weeks back my column illuminated the career and influence attained by our senior U.S. Senator Richard Shelby. In the column and in my book, “Six Decades of Alabama Political Stories,” I reference the fact that our current senior senator will be regarded as one of Alabama’s greatest … Continued

February 7, 2018

Alabama’s Year of the Woman

By Steve Flowers Inside the Statehouse This political year of 2018 may very well be the Year of the Woman in Alabama politics. In Alabama’s 200 year history, only one woman has been elected governor. Lurleen Wallace won in 1966. Only two women have served as governor, Governor Lurleen and our current governor, Kay Ivey. … Continued

January 31, 2018

Sen. Jones has little wiggle room facing 2020

By Steve Flowers Inside the Statehouse As the 2018 state elections begin, let’s take one last look at the 2017 Special Election to fill the remaining three years of Jeff Sessions’ six-year term which, by the way, comes up in two years in 2020. It is assumed by most astute political observers that the winner, … Continued

January 24, 2018