GOP Hopes Dashed in Deep South Race
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MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Democrat Glen Browder won a solid victory Tuesday in a special congressional election, dashing Republican hopes to use the race as a building block toward GOP gains in the Deep South.
With all of the 656 precincts reporting, the unofficial count showed Browder with 53,031 votes, or 65%, to Republican John Rice’s 28,787, or 35%.
The seat was left vacant in December with the death of Rep. Bill Nichols, a conservative Democrat from Sylacauga who held the mostly rural, 13-county east Alabama district for 22 years.
The district, which is about 75% white and dotted with small towns, appeared ready-made for the GOP’s plan to bring such conservative-leaning Southern seats into the Republican House column next year. President Bush captured more than 60% of the district’s votes last November.
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