Lowell Barron will not be the majority leader in the state senate next session. It appears a bi-partisan coalition of senators, the majority of which are Republican, but led by a Democrat, will take control in January. This is the biggest shift in Alabama legislative politics in many years. The coalition is expected to be able to bring much of Governor Riley’s agenda to the floor, which in the past was stymied by Barron and his cronies. This should make for a very interesting legislative session, but they almost always are.

**UPDATE: I’m surprised we haven’t heard from Jeff Vreeland on this one yet. He didn’t think the bi-partisan coalition stood much of a chance.