MONTGOMERY (AP) — Conservatives got their way with few exceptions in Alabama on Election Day.

From Gov. Robert Bentley’s convincing victory to other races on the ballot, Republicans defeated challengers with relative ease. Also, constitutional amendments supported by the Republican-controlled Legislature were approved or appeared on their way to ratification.

Here are some key races and issues:

REPUBLICAN CONTROL

Republicans already controlled every statewide office in Alabama, and they kept it that way Tuesday.

GOP incumbents who faced poorly funded Democratic challengers easily won every contested election for a constitutional office.

In the race for attorney general, incumbent Luther Strange turned back a tougher-than-expected challenge from Democrat Joe Hubbard.

Hubbard mounted a media campaign against Strange with the help of donations from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Hubbard received the tribe’s backing after Strange filed suit trying to close its casinos, and that support hurt him with some voters.

“I feel Hubbard is going to bring gambling to our state, and I don’t want that,” said Mary Reynolds, a 71-year-old retired federal employee who voted for Strange in Montgomery.

CONGRESSIONAL VOTE

Republicans won the lone open seat in Alabama’s congressional delegation.

GOP policy analyst Gary Palmer defeated Democratic college professor Mark Lester in central Alabama’s 6th District. It’s the seat being vacated by longtime Republican Rep. Spencer Bachus.

Republican incumbents easily won re-election in four other contested districts. Reps. Bradley Byrne of Mobile; Martha Roby of Montgomery; Mike Rogers of Anniston; and Mo Brooks of Huntsville will return to Congress.

Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, and Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, were re-elected without opposition.

GOP Sen. Jeff Sessions won with opposition.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Voters approved at least three of five statewide constitutional amendments on the ballot. Two are supported by the National Rifle Association and involved a favorite topic for many in Alabama: Guns.

Amendment 3, which would make owning firearms a fundamental right in the state, passed by a lopsided margin. It would also require that measures to control firearms would have to pass the toughest review by state courts.

A big majority of voters also favored Amendment 5, the so-called “Sportsperson’s Bill of Rights,” which said citizens have a right to hunt and fish subject to reasonable regulations. The measure also states that those regulations should promote conservation and management and guarantee the future of fishing and hunting.

Amendment 1 also won approved. It would prohibit Alabama courts from paying attention to laws that violate public policies or constitutional rights in the state

Aaron Fobian, 28, of Calera supported both the hunting and the firearm amendments and said she wished more people would pay attention to such measures.

“It’s a bad thing that people don’t really read them and just vote no,” said Fobian, a clinical psychologist at UAB.

The outcome of two other proposals remained in doubt hours after the polls closed. Amendment 2 would allow for $50 million from the Alabama Trust Fund be used for constructing and maintaining armories. Amendment 4 would require the approval of at least two-thirds of the Legislature before a law could be enacted making a local school board spend more than $50,000 in local money if the state isn’t providing funding.

WHITE DEMOCRATS

White Democrats were battling to avoid extinction in the Alabama Legislature.

Only four white Democrats serve in the 35-person Senate — Billy Beasley of Clayton; Roger Bedford of Russellville; Marc Keahey of Grove Hill; and Tammy Irons of Florence. Keahey and Irons aren’t seeking re-election and Republicans were leading to replace them.

Bedford was narrowly trailing Republican Larry Stutts, but Beasley had a big lead.

In the House, there are 10 white Democrats among the 105 members. One of them, attorney general candidate Joe Hubbard, lost his seat through redistricting. Another, Rep. Charles Newton of Greenville, lost in the primary.

Only two of the remaining eight Democrats lack Republican opposition. Those facing GOP challengers include Rep. Craig Ford of Gadsden, the House minority leader.

WHAT’S NEXT

With the election done, state leaders will once again turn to the tough task of funding state government.

After an organizational session of the Legislature in January, lawmakers will return to Montgomery on March 3.

 

VOTING TOTALS