By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery AL – Republican Governor Bob Riley and Democratic Lieutenant Governor Lucy Baxley won their parties gubernatorial nominations in yesterday's primary election. Baxley defeated former Governor Don Siegelman and five other candidates and says she thinks voters related to her background ... rising from a poor farm girl to a successful state politician. Baxley earned nearly 60-percent of the party's vote. Riley defeated challenger Roy Moore with nearly 67-percent of ballots. The Governor credited his victory to his track record of making government more ethical, having a well-organized response to Hurricanes Katrina and Ivan, and passing a tax cut for low-income workers. Also, voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Alabama. Those unions are already illegal in the state, but supporters of the amendment say it grants "additional protection for traditional families". Returns show the amendment passed by wide margins in both rural and urban areas across Alabama.