(updated 11/9/02)
Republican Congressman Bob Riley apparent win will be challenged by Governor Don Siegelman and Democratic officials

On election night, Bob Riley shows the press unofficial election totals
from the Associated Press that he says makes him Alabama's next Governor

According to official results that were certified on Friday, Republican Bob Riley defeated Governor Don Siegelman by a 672,222 - 669,105 margin. However, Alabama is still waiting to see how far Governor Siegelman will push his challenge of those totals.

Governor Siegelman and his supporters first requested a statewide ballot recount. But Attorney General Bill Pryor released an advisory opinion that a total recount is illegal under Alabama's election laws. Pryor said ballot that had already been sealed could not be unsealed and recounted without a court order.

"You can't break the seal based on not liking the count," Pryor said.

That prompted Siegelman's campaign to accuse the Republican Attorney General of ignoring state regulations, and changing the law on behalf of Riley. Siegelman's camp has also accused the Republican party of tampering with vote totals in the disputed Baldwin County precinct. However, federal poll monitors say they have heard no evidence that implies the election was marred by voter fraud.

Siegelman's most likely option is to file an election contest with the Alabama Legislature. That challenge would have to show that illegal ballots were counted or legal ballots weren't counted, and that a recount would change the election's outcome. The new Legislature would consider the challenge when it meets for its organizational session in January.

The election is being contested so fiercely because Democrats lost a lot of ground to Republicans in the November 5th General Election. The GOP gained the Governorship in Georgia, South Carolina, Arkansas, and apparently Alabama.

Alabama's gubernatorial race is the last undecided governor's campaign in the nation.

Click here for Governor Bor Riley's State of the State address delivered on March 4th, 2003

Click here for Governor Bob Riley's Inaugural Speech

Click here for the 11/20/02 story - Governor Don Siegelman Concedes

Click here for the 11/9/02 story - Governor Don Siegelman Challenges Close Election

Click here for the 11/6/02 story - Introducing, Alabama's Next Governor ... ?

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