Burton LeFlore, Democratic candidate for Congress in Alabama’s First District, has an uphill battle ahead of him if he hopes to become the first Democrat to hold the seat since LBJ was occupying the Oval Office. Cook Political Report rates the First District “R+15,” meaning a generic Republican candidate would start with a 15-point advantage over a generic Democrat.

But LeFlore said he is determined to become the first Democrat elected to the seat in almost 50 years.

“Forty-seven years of Republicans dominating this congressional district is enough,” said LeFlore. “It’s time for a change, it’s time for something new, it’s time for a Democrat.”

And “something new” is a big part of his campaign message. LeFlore used his Congressional announcement to take a swipe at former Alabama Governor George Wallace and his “good old conservative values.”

“I would like to propose a new hypothesis for you,” the democratic candidate said. “Let’s work to promote and represent a NEW SOUTH ALABAMA and good NEW SOUTHERN ALABAMA values. It’s time we start to work collectively for a NEW SOUTH ALABAMA.” [emphasis is LeFlore’s]

LeFlore defines his new south alabama values as good paying jobs, economic improvement, educational opportunities for students, and quality housing.

Jobs may be at the top of LeFlore’s agenda, but he says there’s also a need to protect South Alabama’s environment.

“Alabama has a wealth of natural resources like farmland, forestland, lakes, rivers, the Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico,” LeFlore said. “This makes it imperative that we take every step to conserve our environment.”

LeFlore, who previously ran unsuccessfully for Alabama House of Representatives in District 97, is facing Lula Albert-Kaigler in the AL-01 Democratic primary, which will take place on Sept. 24.

District One includes Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Washington, Clarke and Monroe counties. The AL-01 seat was left vacant after Jo Bonner resigned to take a job with the University of Alabama System.