Delegate qualifying opens today
Both the Alabama Republican and Democratic Parties opened presidential delegate qualifying on Monday. The Alabama Republican Party also opened candidate qualifying on Monday, while Democrats have had their candidate qualifying open since September. Individuals interested in serving as delegates to the 2024 DNC Convention may submit a Declaration of Candidacy and pay the appropriate qualifying fees at the ADP Headquarters at 501 Adams Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104) or online. Qualifying for both parties will close on Friday, November 10, 2023, at 5 p.m. CST, 116 days before the primary election, as required by Alabama Code § 17-13-5(a). Tom Miro, Executive Director of the Alabama Democratic Party, stated, “It’s a very exciting time for Democrats because we’re getting a new Congressional District. After discussions with Chair Randy Kelley, we want to ensure that our delegate selection abides by DNC rules and regulations. Delegates are apportioned by congressional districts; therefore, we decided to hold off on opening our delegate selection until we have a firm idea of what this new and competitive seat is to look like.” “The Alabama Republican Party is excited about the upcoming 2024 election cycle and working with all our candidates during the qualifying process,” said Republican Party Chairman John Wahl. “This is going to be an important election year with a lot at stake on both the national and local level. The Republican Party is proud to stand for the timeless principles of freedom and limited government that made our nation great, and we look forward to helping all of our candidates as they stand for these conservative values in 2024. We also have our eyes on the national level as the presidential race heats up. As a Super Tuesday state, our goal is to see Alabama play a key role in choosing the party’s nominee and to highlight the state of Alabama during this process. We’ve seen this with recent visits from America’s leading conservatives, and we plan to continue this effort as we get closer to the primary election. Running for office is a calling, and one which requires sacrifice and dedication. I want to thank each candidate that steps forward to run for office. I have such respect for anyone willing to put themselves out there in hopes of making a difference for the people of Alabama. I want each of them to know they have a friend in the ALGOP.” The Alabama Republican Party announced that people interested in running for office as a Republican or serving as a delegate at the Republican National Convention can file a declaration of candidacy and pay the appropriate fees in person at ALGOP Headquarters at 3505 Lorna Road in Hoover or online. “We are excited to work with candidates that stand for Democratic values and who will move Alabama forward.” “I would like to commend those who are seeking elected office and answering the call to serve others. Running for office is an endeavor that requires many sacrifices in a candidate’s life,” said Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Randy Kelley. “Your time and efforts will make a difference for the people of Alabama. The Alabama Democratic Party will be here to support our candidates and guide them to victory.” Candidates on the 2024 ballot include President of the United States, all seven U.S. House seats, several Alabama Supreme Court positions – including Chief Justice – Public Service Commission President, as well as seats on the Alabama State School Board, Courts of Criminal and Civil Appeals, Circuit Courts, District Courts, and all Circuit Clerk positions. To run for a position in county government, contact your local Republican or Democratic Party County Chairman. The major party primaries will take place on March 5, 2024. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Mike Rogers flips support to Jim Jordan
Fox News is reporting that Congressman Mike Rogers (R-ALL03) has flipped from being the most outspoken “Never Jordan” member of the House of Representatives to being a supporter. Rogers’ flip makes it much more likely that Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) can win over enough moderate Republicans that he can be the next Speaker of the House. After Jordan won the Republican nomination for Speaker of the House, Rogers vowed to reporters that he would “never support” Jordan. There were even reports of Rogers negotiating with Democrats to form some sort of unity government to prevent Jordan from being elected as Speaker. That changed on Monday when Rogers went to the social media site X to announce he would support Jordan’s speakership bid. “@Jim Jordan and I have had two cordial, thoughtful, and productive conversations over the past two days,” Rogers said on X Monday. “We agreed on the need for Congress to pass a strong NDAA, appropriations to fund our government’s vital functions, and other important legislation like the Farm Bill.” “As a result, I have decided to support Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House on the floor,” Rogers followed up. “Since I was first elected to the House, I have always been a team player and supported what the majority of the Republican Conference agrees to,” Rogers added. “Together, our Republican majority will be stronger to fight Joe Biden’s reckless agenda for America.” Jordan thanked Rogers for his support. Jordan stated, “Your leadership is just what our Conference needs right now. We must all keep coming together and get back to work.” Just last week, Rogers had said that “there was nothing that Jordan could do to get his support as Speaker of the House.” Rogers is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Jordan is the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. A key point of disagreement between Republicans is whether or not to continue supporting massive amounts of military aid for Ukraine. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) and a group of eight disgruntled Houe members used the Ukraine issue as a pretext for voting with Democrats to oust Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-California). Jordan secured the Republican party’s speaker nomination on Friday, defeating Georgia Congressman Austin Scott. Jordan had lost to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) in a prior vote, but Scalise was unable to win over conservatives. Jordan Defeated Scott by a vote of 124 to 81. Jordan has been negotiating with GOP moderates like Jordan over the weekend in order to get to the 217 votes needed to secure the position of Speaker in a floor vote that could come as early as Tuesday. Congressmen Barry Moore, Gary Palmer, and Jerry Carl have all already publicly announced their support for Jordan. If Jordan cannot get the 217 votes necessary to win the Speakership, the Republican conference would likely have to nominate someone else. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Robert Aderholt qualifies for reelection
On Monday, Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL04) qualified with the Alabama Republican Party to seek another term in representing Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District. “Our nation is at a crossroads, and this next election will determine which path we take,” said Rep. in a statement. “If we choose to go down the same path Joe Biden and the Democrats have us on, then this nation will continue to be on a downward spiral.” Aderholt said if America reelects Biden and gives Democrats control of Congress, America’s problems will continue to grow. “Our debilitating national debt will only rise, the tide of illegals pouring over the southern border will become a tsunami, woke culture will replace real education in our schools, the two-tiered justice system will march on unchecked, and America will continue to look weak and feeble to both our friends and our adversaries alike,” Aderholt said. “Since Republicans took control of the House of Representatives last year, we have been pushing back on these liberal, woke policies,” Aderholt said. “And even though the mainstream media doesn’t report it, we have had many legislative wins. Democrats and their allies have tried almost every trick to keep the status quo. Most of them seem unconcerned with open borders, woke culture, and spending money we don’t have. Furthermore, they embrace using the judicial system to punish their political enemies like President [Donald] Trump. “ “I’m confident a Republican can win back the White House next year. And that’s why the House of Representatives needs to stay in Republican control and why we need experienced leadership ready to tackle our nation’s problems on day one,” Aderholt said. “This is not the time for on-the-job training.” Republican qualifying for the 2024 election opened on Monday. “While I will continue to fight for Alabama every day in Washington, one of my priorities will remain helping every person in the 4th District navigate the red tape of the federal bureaucracy,” Aderholt promised. “It’s why I’ve made sure our constituent services are second to none. People know when they call my office with a problem, whether it be VA benefits, Social Security problems, or any other federal issue, my office will move heaven and earth to address their needs.” “It is my honor to serve the people of Alabama’s 4th Congressional District,” Aderholt continued. “In the 2022 election, I was humbled to receive 84% of the vote, the most of any Congressional candidate in Alabama. I thank you for that vote of confidence. But I never take your vote for granted, and I am asking for your vote again. Aderholt is the longest-serving member of the Alabama Congressional Delegation – having represented Congressional District 4 since his first election in 1996. “Together, with my Republican Alabama colleagues and those who will be elected across America, we can fight back and Make America Great Again,” Aderholt concluded. Robert Aderholt is the Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education. The Fourth Congressional District is the most Republican-leaning district in the entire U.S. House of Representatives. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Heather Moore addresses Montgomery GOP
Heather Moore – the wife of Congressman Barry Moore (R-ALO4), was the keynote speaker on Thursday at the Montgomery County Republican Party’s annual Lincoln – Reagan dinner. Approximately 150 Republicans, including several dignitaries, were in attendance on the sixth floor of the RSA Plaza Building next to the Alabama State House for the annual event. “I love politics,” Heather said. “When Barry was in the State House, I would drive up for the day to watch the action on the floor and drive home before the kids got home.” Heather reminisced that once the State Legislature voted to extend unemployment benefits in the wake of the Great Recession, and one member of the House voted no on extending those benefits. Heather was sitting in the gallery with her friend, Bill Goolsby – who was also in attendance on Thursday. “Who is the one idiot who voted no?” Heather asked Goolsby. “That would be your husband,” Goolsby replied. Heather texted Barry, “You voted the wrong way,” but Barry could not be swayed from his stance. “That was the day that Barry was the one no vote to extend unemployment benefits.” Barry Moore has been an outspoken supporter of Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) as the next House Speaker. “Jim and Polly Jordan have become great friends,” Heather said. Bill Harris, Moore’s district director, said that Congressman Moore wanted to attend but could not because of the open Speaker of the House race and the possibility that there could have been a vote that night. Barry Moore is in his second term representing Alabama’s Second Congressional District. “We are $33 trillion in debt,” Rep. Barry Moore told the Montgomery GOP in a taped statement. “Inflation is up. Gas prices are rising.” Rep. Moore accused the Biden Administration of illegally giving “billions of dollars to Ukraine while 53% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.” Moore said that spending has soared since 1997 because Congress has failed to do its job by passing appropriations through normal order by using 12 spending bills. “The House has already passed several of these appropriations bills, but we are on a short notice to finish the rest and send them to the Senate,” Congressman Moore said. Moore said that Heather is “my favorite teammate of 31 years.” Harris said that Moore said of Heather, “She would have written my speech anyway, so I might as well send her.” Heather Moore grew up in the Sand Mountain area of Dekalb County. “I came from a very political family on my mother’s side,” Heather said, “My granddaddy was a farmer and a cotton broker. He was a Republican and a staunch supporter of Ronald Reagan.” “We are Appalachians, so we all live a quarter mile from each other, so my grandparents had a great role in my upbringing,” Heather said. “My dad’s side of the family were all yellow dog Democrats,” Heather said. “Staunch Republicans and the other side were yellow dog Democrats. I realized that the Republican side was always the happy side while the Democrat side was always mad.” “I was a huge Ronald Reagan fan,” Heather said. “I remember going to Donald Trump’s inauguration.” Heather Moore said that originally, she was not impressed with Barry Moore, but that position changed. “I did say that I would not go out with Barry Moore if he was the last man on Earth. I married him ten months later,” Mrs. Moore recounted. “We started our small business in Enterprise,” Heather said. “Barry never had any intention of getting involved in politics, but I did. I joined the Coffee County Republican Executive Committee.” Heather continued, “In 2006, some of our friends said your husband should run. Barry wouldn’t hear it. In 2008 (Barack) Obama was elected and said we are not a Christian nation, but a nation of citizens.” That is when Barry Moore became interested in running. He ran and was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2010. “Barry is a horrible politician,” Heather said. “He is terrible at it. Barry is going to say what he believes. There is one Barry.” “Who thought three years ago that we could fall so far,” Heather said. “In 2020, Barry was running for Congress, and we thought Donald Trump was going to be President, and we were going to get so much done.” While Barry Moore was elected, Donald J. Trump was defeated by Joe Biden, and Republicans lost control of both Houses of Congress. The GOP gained limited control of the House of Representatives in 2022. “Barry is the eternal optimist,” Heather said. “He says that everything is going to be OK. I had to tell him, ‘No, Barry, things are not going to be OK.’” “It has been one crisis after another,” Heather said. “Back in the good ole days, it was Democrat versus Republicans. Now, it is not. It is normal versus crazy. It’s crazy versus normal. That is what we are having to fight as a nation.” Barry Moore’s Second Congressional District was recently redrawn along racial lines by a federal three-judge panel, making it highly likely that a Democrat will win Congressional District 2. The Moores’ Coffee County was drawn into Congressman Jerry Carl’s (R-Mobile) First Congressional District, potentially pitting the two GOP incumbents against each other. “The states have the right to choose their federal representative,” Heather said. “That is what the Constitution says. The Constitution of Alabama says that the Legislature draws those maps. I pray that Steve Marshall fights this all the way to the Supreme Court.” “He has loved every county in this district,” Heather said of Barry. “We represent every county. Barry has loved on every county, and some of those counties are Black.” “When you call our office, we don’t ask what color you are,” Heather said. “We don’t ask if you are a Republican or Democrat. We ask how can we help you.” “I don’t care what skin color my Congressman, or my President, is as long as they represent me with Republican values,” Heather said. “Read the Bible – read the Old Testament. There were evil kings in the Bible,” Heather said. “We are
Jim Jordan receives House Republican nomination to be Speaker of the House
On Friday, the House Republican Caucus nominated House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) to be the next Speaker of the House. This was only hours after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) told his fellow Republicans that he was withdrawing his nomination after failing to secure the 217 votes needed for election. Jordan received 124 votes on Friday – a marked improvement over the 100 votes he received when he finished second to Scalise earlier this week. Congressman Austin Scott (R-Georgia) was the second-place finisher. This fight has bitterly divided the caucus and even the Alabama congressional delegation. Jim Jordan is supported by both Congressmen Barry Moore (R-AL02) and Gary Palmer (R-AL06). On Friday, Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03) told reporters that there is nothing that Jordan can say to make him change his mind on opposing Jordan. Rogers Chairs the powerful House Armed Services Committee. This drama became necessary after eight disgruntled GOP Caucus members led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) joined with Democrats to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California). To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Gary Palmer and Jerry Carl support Jim Jordan for Speaker
On Friday, Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL06) released a statement announcing that he continues to support Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for Speaker of the House. This statement was released after Jordan was elected as the GOP nominee for Speaker by the House Republican Conference. Congressman Jerry Carl (R-AL01) also supports Jordan for Speaker of the House. “Jim Jordan is the strong conservative voice we need to unite the Republican Conference at this time,” said Rep. Palmer. “I supported Jim in the first vote for Speaker earlier this week, again today in Conference, and will vote for him on the House floor. Jim’s record as a conservative is unquestioned, but his ability to work with all members to unite our party and get things done is what sets him apart as especially qualified to be Speaker at this critical time. Jim will continue to work to secure our border, push policies that will help American families, and will hold firm against the reckless agenda of the Biden Administration and the Democrats in Congress. I look forward to working with Speaker Jordan.” “I voted for Jim Jordan for Speaker this past week in our Republican Conference, and I will be supporting him this week when the vote comes to the House Floor,” Rep. Carl said. “We’ve got to unite behind a conservative Speaker who can unite us and move this country forward.” The last GOP nominee for Speaker, Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), defeated Jordan in an earlier Conference vote but had no way of actually winning the Speaker’s position because some members on the Republican right still refused to support him in a vote of full House. The vote for Speaker is scheduled for Tuesday. Jordan will have to find some way to sway Republican moderates if he has any hope of achieving the 217 votes needed to be the next Speaker of the House. Mindless squabbling among the Republican Conference meant that the last Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy (R-California), took 16 votes of the full House of Representatives before he was elected back in January. McCarthy was ultimately betrayed by members of his own majority who voted with House Democrats to oust him. It will be difficult for Jordan, or anybody else, to unite the whole Conference, and there is a strong possibility that the GOP will nominate someone else before the end of the week. Whoever is ultimately elected as Speaker will still have to work with a tiny GOP majority in the House and then negotiate with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) on any legislation that gets out of Congress to President Joe Biden’s desk. First and foremost, on that agenda is passing the 12 appropriations bills or a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded to avoid a government shutdown. As neither House of Congress has passed all 12 appropriations bills for the 2024 fiscal year that began on October 1, the nation is currently operating on a 45-day CR for the past 16 days. There are only 29 days left before a potential government shutdown, and nobody knows who the Speaker of the House will be, much less how they will address this fiscal crisis. Any budget Schumer will advance in the Senate and President Biden will sign is unlikely to be popular with conservative Republicans. Palmer is in his fifth term representing Alabama’s Sixth Congressional District. He has already announced that he will be running again in 2024. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Jim Jordan next to try shot for speaker of the House
By Casey Harper | The Center Square House Republicans have nominated Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, to be speaker of the House, but it remains unclear if Jordan can get the needed 217 votes from his own fractured party. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., a lesser-known member, threw his name in the hat for the position as well and got significant support in the nomination vote, though possibly only as a vote against Jordan instead of a true vote for Scott. Later, though, Scott threw his support behind Jordan. “I highly respect Jim Jordan. He is an asset to the Republican Party and our nominee for Speaker,” Scott wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Our conference has spoken, and now we must unite behind Jordan so we can get Congress back to work.” Jordan has conservative chops and support from the party base, but many moderates may not be willing to go his way. “For years, I’ve stayed out of House leadership elections, but this time I endorsed [Jordan],” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, wrote on X. “Jim is a good friend and a strong conservative. My philosophy on political endorsements is to support the strongest conservative who can win. That is Jim Jordan.” U.S. House Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., was the leading contender to be the speaker of the House Thursday morning, but he later withdrew his bid before taking it to a public vote after he failed to get enough support. Meanwhile, lawmakers in the House face a partial government shutdown in mid-November along with growing pressure to supply funds, ammunition, and weapons to both Ukraine and Israel, which has declared war on the terrorist group Hamas. Until lawmakers land on a speaker, legislation cannot move forward. As The Center Square previously reported, another key issue for lawmakers to handle is whether one lawmaker will still be able to file a motion to vacate the speaker, an unusual allowance given by McCarthy to secure the needed votes after the series of speakership votes earlier this year. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., used that very allowance to file the motion that led to the ousting of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. The current Speaker Pro Tempore is Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., who will determine the times of any speaker votes until a lawmaker wins the speakership. “The DC Uniparty does not want a Speaker who would threaten their status quo,” Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., wrote on X. “We need a strong conservative for Speaker of the House!” Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
