The ultimate Alabama underdog is ready for a fight

Alabama state Rep. Phillip Ensler acknowledges that, as the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor of the deeply red state, he’s a long shot. 

“I have no illusions about the odds of winning this race,” says his campaign website. “I am undoubtedly the underdog and have enormous challenges to overcome.” 

Yet in an interview this week with me, he said, “we have a pathway to victory. On the campaign trail, I hear from Alabamians of all political leanings that they are ready for change. We have a strong statewide strategy to build a winning coalition.” 

Ensler, 36, handily won the primary nomination. In the fall general election, he will face former Republican Party state chairman John Wahl. The Democratic gubernatorial nominee is former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones. Savvy political handicappers say the Jones-Ensler ticket looks like Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, and that only an Alabama blue tsunami can bring them victory. 

“I do believe they are tilting at windmills here in Alabama,” said Troy University professor Dan J. Puckett, who specializes in Southern Jewish and 20th century Alabama history. While Ensler eschews divisive culture war issues and identity politics, he strongly supports reproductive choice, IVF and LGBTQ rights. “Those are not the issues that most Alabamians are focused on,” Puckett told me in a recent Zoom interview.  

“State residents are most concerned about the price of gas, utilities and groceries. They are concerned about hospitals closing and lack of access to affordable healthcare,” Ensler said.

“Ensler’s a little blue dot in a sea of red,” said Puckett. “Still, for Democrats this is a very strong lineup. This time they have a slate that is better than any time I can think of.” 

“I think he is........

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