Senate hopeful Lynda Blanchard today announced a campaign event happening tomorrow in her hometown, Wetumpka, Alabama, at the historic Bibb Graves Bridge. Blanchard will officially switch races and announce her candidacy for governor.
Blanchard is currently running for U.S. Senate. It has been rumored for months that she would run for governor of Alabama, challenging incumbent Kay Ivey. The former ambassador to Slovenia, Blanchard was a major donor to the Donald Trump campaign but never received his endorsement for her run in the Senate. CNN reported that Trump met with Blanchard, and she was receptive to the prospect of her running for governor.
Blanchard, who has previously used her full name, Lynda, in campaign material, is using the name Lindy, a name used by friends and family. Todd Stacy from Alabama Daily News reported that Susie Wiles will be the lead consultant for her campaign.
Wiles is a Florida-based political consultant tasked with overseeing Trump’s fundraising operation and creating a system for issuing endorsements from the former president. According to a Politico report, Wiles previously managed the campaigns of Florida Sen. Rick Scott and Gov. Ron Desantis.
As Alabama Today reported in August, in a matchup of possible gubernatorial candidates, Ivey had only 41.5%, well below the threshold to win without a runoff at 50% plus one vote. Incumbents below 50% are considered vulnerable. Ivey’s perceived silence on personal support for Trump and his policies now has Ivey scrambling for his approval.
Blanchard posted on Twitter, “I’m excited to announce a campaign event tomorrow! If you believe in the constitution and are committed to protecting our freedoms, then we share common goals. I look forward to meeting you!”
