This will be a great political year, with some fantastic, interesting, and close contests. However, there will be only one hotly contested open congressional seat this year in the Heart of Dixie. The other six incumbent congressmen will coast to reelection, either unopposed or with token opposition.

This is not unusual in today’s national politics. It is next to impossible to defeat an incumbent congressperson. The winning percentage for sitting congressmen is 95%. The Russian Communist Politburo does not have that high a reelectability rate.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at steve@steveflowers.us.