John Sparkman

My next book on Alabama politics will expound on who I believe have been the top 60 political leaders in Alabama over the past 60 years. More than likely in any political historian’s book George Wallace and Senator Richard Shelby would rank as the top two.  The question is, “Who gets the number one spot?” … Continued

Monday, U.S. Senator Doug Jones, D-Alabama, spoke in the U.S. Senate chamber honoring the late U.S. Senator and former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Howell Heflin. Senator Jones began his career in 1979 as Staff Counsel to Senator Heflin on the Senate Judiciary Committee. That was Jones’ first job following finishing law school. “It is … Continued

Our Senior U.S. Senator, Richard Shelby, turns 85 this week. In March he reached another milestone – he surpassed Senator John Sparkman as the longest serving U.S. Senator in Alabama history. Shelby has been our senator for 32 plus years. Alabama has a treasure in Richard Shelby. He is not only the longest serving U.S. … Continued

In my book, “Of Goats and Governors: Six Decades of Alabama Political Stories,” I suggest that based on seniority, tenure, power and prestige that Alabama’s greatest senators have been Lister Hill, John Sparkman, and Richard Shelby. Folks, Richard Shelby has probably forged to the front of that triumvirate with his elevation to the chairmanship of … Continued

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

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Saturday, August 12, 2017: State Representative Jim Carns (R-Vestavia) told the Mid-Alabama Republican Club (MARC) that he expects Governor Kay Ivey (R) to run for the position in 2018. Jim Carns was delivering his State Legislature report to the gathered Republican activists at the Vestavia Library.  Carns said that … Continued