Having gotten a lock on the governor’s mansion, the Alabama Legislature and the state supreme court, Alabama Republicans are now focused on capturing local offices long held by Democrats.

Bill Armistead, state chairman of the Alabama Republican primary, said the party is increasing its focus on local elections this cycle, and hopes to break decades of Democratic control over local offices in Alabama’s counties.

Armistead, a former state senator, visited Dothan on Monday, along with Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and Florida Gov. Rick Scott.

Armistead said he’s been focusing on recruiting quality candidates to run in local elections that have long been dominated by Democrats. Armistead said gains by Republicans would help advance GOP policy initiatives and develop talent that could later move up to higher elected office.

Armistead said that although his party has strong majorities in the Alabama Legislature, his job as party chair remains challenging. Armistead said he now must “herd cats,” to prevent factional infighting that could jeopardize the party’s ability to govern.

“We’ve been elected, but now we have to deliver or we’ll be out again,” he said.

Armistead said one major accomplishment he’s achieved since becoming the head of the state Republican Party is getting the Alabama presidential primary set at an advantageous time. Armistead said the Legislature adopted his suggestion to have the primary in mid-March, which resulted in more attention to the state from presidential hopefuls.