Ex-Rep. Artur Davis addressing the 2012 Republican National Convention
Ex-Rep. Artur Davis recently returned to the Democratic Party in preparation for a campaign for a seat on the Montgomery County Commission, but his fledgling bid
may come to an end Oct. 16.
The Alabama Democratic Party has a law, known as the Radney Rule, that prevents a candidate who opposed the Democrats anytime over the past four years from running as a Democrat. Because Davis was a Republican until recently, at least two-thirds of the Executive Board of the State Democratic Executive Committee needs to vote to waive the Radney Rule in order for him to challenge Democratic incumbent Dan Harris. Last year, the state party voted to allow Parker Griffith, another Democrat-turned-Republican former congressman, to seek the Democratic gubernatorial nod, and Davis is arguing that they should follow precedent and give him the same right.
No one seems sure what how the committee will rule. Other former Republicans have been reinstated as Democrats, and some Alabama Democrats seem to think that it's only fair to treat Davis the same way. It's also quite possible that Davis will sue the committee if they reject him and force them to argue in court why they let Griffith and other defectors in but not him. The state part may just decide that the easiest course of action is to avoid a mess and just give Davis what he wants.
However, there's little doubt that Yellowhammer State Democrats are still angry with Davis. The former congressman voted against Obamacare while he was still a Democrat, and he memorably campaigned for Mitt Romney in 2012. Davis himself seems pretty apathetic about rejoining the party, saying that Alabama Democrats "don't have to support me in this race. In fact, they can work very hard for other candidates." We'll see soon if they do just that.