By Alabama Public Radio
Auburn, AL – State House Minority Leader Mike Hubbard of Auburn says a Republican legislative victory will help the GOP recruit more candidates. Republican Nick Williams defeated Democrat Gloria Dolbare in a southwest Alabama district traditionally held by Democrats. The special election was held to fill the House seat of Dolbare's late husband who died in August. Complete but unofficial returns from the special election showed Williams with about 38 percent of the almost 7,000 votes cast. Dolbare received about 33 percent of the vote, while write-in candidate Wayne Lathan received 29 percent. Lathan originally entered the race as a Democrat but became a write-in candidate after he was disqualified for being late in filing a campaign finance report. Hubbard, meanwhile, says all legislative districts will be up for election in 2006. He says the Alabama Republican Party's goal is to increase numbers at the Statehouse.