Democratic candidate Marilyn Lands won a special election for a state House seat in Alabama after making in vitro fertilization and abortion rights central to her campaign. Lands, a licensed professional counselor, defeated Republican Teddy Powell, a former Defense Department budget analyst, to secure the seat in the Huntsville-area 10th District. Lands emphasized the need to repeal Alabama’s abortion ban, restore access to IVF, and protect contraception. She received 63% of the vote, while Powell garnered 37%.
In her victory statement, Lands highlighted the message sent by Alabama women and families to Montgomery and the nation. She urged the legislature to take action on key reproductive rights issues. Powell graciously accepted the outcome of the election, wishing Lands success in serving the people of District 10 in the House of Representatives. Lands received endorsements from organizations such as Planned Parenthood, the Alabama AFL-CIO, and Everytown for Gun Safety during her campaign.
Lands focused her campaign on advocating for IVF and access to abortions, expressing support for repealing Alabama’s near-total ban on abortions. Republican Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill protecting IVF after a state Supreme Court decision threatened the procedure, sparking widespread backlash. Tuesday’s election served as an early test for Democrats emphasizing IVF in the wake of the court ruling. The special election arose following the resignation of incumbent David Cole, a Republican who defeated Lands in 2022 but resigned after pleading guilty to a voter fraud charge.
The issue of abortion has been a recurring theme in elections following the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision, consistently favoring pro-choice advocates. It is expected to remain prominent in the upcoming November elections, although the extent of its influence remains uncertain. Lands’ victory signals a potential shift in the political landscape of Alabama, as she campaigned on a platform of reproductive rights that resonated with voters in the state House special election. The results may indicate a growing support for Democrats advocating for IVF and abortion rights in the conservative-leaning state.
