Nation’s Most Conservative Legislature Shows Little Chance of Swinging Left Anytime Soon

While the original interior of the Capitol’s dome was whitewashed and plain, an early 20th century renovation (1906–07) resulted in the rotunda space gaining ornate moldings and cornices as well as a stained-glass skylight. Then, from 1927 to 1930, eight large murals showcasing important points in Alabama’s history were painted and installed as mixed media on canvas by Scottish-born artist, Roderick Mackenzie, who maintained a studio in Mobile, Ala. Nagel Photography/Shutterstock

News Analysis

When it comes to legislative decisions, there is no state in the country more conservative than Alabama. According to a report from the Center for Legislative Accountability, Alabama’s lawmakers voted from “a conservative position” 74 percent of the time last year, the highest level in the nation. And if anyone is worried that the introduction this year of gambling legislation is going to start the state’s slide left, they aren’t paying attention to a slew of conservative bills now being considered at the state house in Montgomery.