Rep. Parker Griffith became the fourth congressional incumbent this year to be defeated in a primary. Griffith, Davis rejected in Alabama

Party-switching Rep. Parker Griffith (R-Ala.) on Tuesday became the fourth congressional incumbent this year to be defeated in a primary, losing decisively in his first test before voters in his new party.

With his loss, Griffith became the second party switcher to fall short in as many weeks, following the May 18 defeat of Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.), a former Republican who lost the seat he had held for three decades in a Democratic primary.


Madison County Commissioner Mo Brooks led Griffith 51 percent to 33 percent with 93 percent of precincts reporting, a vote total that allowed Brooks to avoid a July runoff. Businessman Les Phillip finished a distant third with 16 percent.

Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.), meanwhile, suffered a crushing primary defeat against state Agricultural Commissioner Ron Sparks, ending his quest to become Alabama’s first African-American governor. With 92 percent of precincts reporting, Sparks led Davis by a commanding 63 percent to 37 percent.

The stunning result came despite pre-primary polling showing Davis leading Starks by as much as 8 percent as recently as two weeks ago.

Griffith’s loss did not come as a surprise, however, after his rocky reception from local GOP leaders. While Republican leaders in Washington headlined fundraisers on his behalf, local party activists remained wary of Griffith so soon after his tough 2008 election against Republican Wayne Parker.

Both Phillip and Brooks sought to portray the party-switching incumbent as untrustworthy, with Brooks’s TV ads highlighting the idea that he would be a congressman “we can trust.”

Griffith fought back, registering a down-the-line GOP voting record and pouring $255,000 of his own money into the race in an effort to cast Brooks as a career politician.

In the Democratic primary for governor, Davis pursued a risky strategy of remaining at arms length from the state’s African-American establishment while making a play for white voters — a move that left a sizable block of the liberal electorate to Sparks, who had blasted Davis for voting against the health care reform bill.

On the Republican side, a runoff loomed after a crowded field of gubernatorial contenders splintered the vote and none managed to meet the 50 percent threshold needed to win the nomination outright. With 96 percent of the precincts reporting, former state Sen. Bradley Byrne led the field with 26 percent of the vote and real estate developer Tim James — the son of a former governor who gained notoriety for running an ad advocating for the states driving exam only to be given in English — and state Rep. Robert Bentley running neck and neck for a slot in the runoff.

In New Mexico, Susana Martinez, a tough-on-immigration Dona Ana County district attorney, won the GOP gubernatorial nomination over a crowded field of primary opponents that included former state GOP Chairman Allen Weh and attorney Pete Domenici Jr., the son of the former senator. Martinez had been boosted in the final weeks of the race by an endorsement from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

With 95 percent of precincts reporting. Martinez won 51 percent of the vote to 28 percent for Weh and 12 percent for businessman Doug Turner. Domenici won 7 percent.

Martinez’s decisive victory positions her to run against Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Tuesday also featured several competitive House primaries with tea party-inspired contenders seeking to play spoiler against well-funded establishment candidates.

With 97 percent of the precincts reporting, Mississippi state Sen. Alan Nunnelee, a favorite of national Republicans, had 52 percent, placing him just over the threshold necessary to avoid a June 22 primary runoff against his nearest opponent, former Eupora Mayor Henry Ross, who had 33 percent. Former Fox News analyst Angela McGlowan finished a distant third with 15 percent.

Nunnellee will face vulnerable Democratic Rep. Travis Childers in the conservative-minded 1st District in the fall.

In Alabama’s 2nd District, GOP establishment pick and Montgomery City Councilwoman Martha Roby appeared headed to a runoff against businessman and tea party candidate Rick Barber. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Roby led Barber 49 percent to 29 percent.

The winner of the runoff will take on freshman Democratic Rep. Bobby Bright.

Democrats looking to succeed Davis in Alabama’s 7th District also appeared headed to a runoff. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, attorney Terri Sewell led the field with 37 percent to 29 percent for Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Smoot. State Rep. Earl Hilliard Jr., whose father held the seat for five terms, was running third with 27 percent of the vote.