By TODD STACY, Alabama Daily News
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Two new statewide polls show a highly competitive race between first time candidate Katie Britt and Congressman Mo Brooks in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate.
In a survey of likely Republican Primary voters conducted by The Strategy Group, Brooks led a ballot test 28% to Britt’s 23%, with Mike Durant at 7%, Lynda Blanchard at 3% and Jessica Taylor at 1%. A full 31% remained undecided, according to the survey results.
The poll was conducted on behalf of the Alabama House Republican Caucus as part of an issue survey and obtained by Alabama Daily News. It surveyed 784 likely Republican Primary voters on Nov. 1-4 via live calls, text and IVR with a margin for error of +/-3.8%.
Another poll conducted by Cygnal on behalf of Alabama Conservatives Fund, which supports Britt, shows Britt leading Brooks 24% to 22%, with Durant at 9%, Blanchard at 1%, and Taylor at 1%. According to the polling memo, Britt also led Brooks in a head-to-head runoff scenario 35% to 29%.
The Cygnal/ACF poll surveyed 650 likely Republican voters vial email, text and IVR on Nov. 4-5 and has a margin for error of +/-3.85%. YellowHammer’s Jeff Poor first reported on the poll.
These new polls come right on the heels of an internal survey from the Britt campaign with similar numbers showing her with a slight lead.
The plethora of polls is shaking up a race many thought was being dominated by the Trump-backed Brooks.
In an August poll conducted by Cygnal for Alabama Daily News, Brooks led Britt 42% to 18%. Taking these new polls into account, that would suggest a Brooks point slide of at least 12 and at most 20 along with a Britt gain of at least five and at most 12 since August.
One factor at play is a series of radio, television and digital advertising supporting Britt’s campaign from the ACF super PAC. Alabama Daily News previously reported the group would spend six figures in ads touting Britt’s candidacy.
So, to review, three new polls have been released this week…
Britt Internal Poll by TargetPoint, Nov. 3-8
| Candidate | % |
|---|---|
| Katie Britt | 31% |
| Mo Brooks | 30% |
| Mike Durant | 12% |
| Jessica Taylor | 7% |
| Undecided | 20% |
MOE +/-5.66%
Alabama Conservatives Fund by Cygnal, Nov. 4-5
| Candidate | % |
|---|---|
| Katie Britt | 24% |
| Mo Brooks | 22% |
| Mike Durant | 9% |
| Jessica Taylor | 1% |
| Lynda Blanchard | 1% |
MOE +/-3.85%
Alabama House Republican Caucus by The Strategy Group, Nov. 1-4
| Candidate | % |
|---|---|
| Mo Brooks | 28% |
| Katie Britt | 23% |
| Mike Durant | 7% |
| Lynda Blanchard | 3% |
| Jessica Taylor | 1% |
| Undecided | 31% |
MOE+/-3.8%